A resistor is a fundamental electrical passive element in an electrical circuit. Almost every circuit will have at least one resistor to provide the resistance to the circuit. For why it is a fundamental element, we will discuss it later. In order to use the correct resistor, we need to understand how to calculate the resistance based on its color code. We will learn how to read a 10K ohm resistor color code.
10k Ohm Resistor Color Code
Resistor color code is a color code to represent the resistance value of that resistor. The color code can be formed with 3, 4, or 5 color bands. Each band represents unique values based on their position in the color band.
The resistor color code follows IEC 60062 used by worldwide productions and applications.
Just as stated above, we will try to practice how to read the color band with a simple 10K ohm resistor color code. 10k Ohm means our resistor has approximately 10,000 Ohm resistance.
Here we will use four bands color code since the value is not that high and it is pretty common to be used. From the resistor color code chart for four bands below,
- The first band represents the number, first digit
- The second band represents the number, second digit
- The third band represents the multiplier
- The fourth band represents the percentage of tolerance.
10k Ohm Resistor
From the chart above, we can use it directly to read the resistance of a resistor shown below.
Keep in mind that the size and color of the resistor body is not related to the color code chart. The size and color may indicate the power rating of the resistor, not its resistance.
The color code above indicates that
Band | Color | Band Color | Value |
1st | Brown |
| 1 |
2nd | Black |
| 0 |
3rd | Orange |
| 1000 |
4th | Gold |
| ±5% |
From the color code chart and the table:
- The first band is brown, indicating that the first digit number is 1.
- The second band is black, indicating that the second digit number is 0.
- The third band is orange, indicating that the multiplier is 1000.
- The fourth band is gold, indicating that the tolerance is ±5%.
The resistance is (1) (0) (x 1000) (±5%) = 10K ±5% Ohm.
Below is the real picture of a 10k ohm resistor. Just as mentioned, the color code is brown – black – orange – gold.
If we use a multimeter or ohmmeter we will get the resistance of 10k ±5%. The 5% is the tolerance from the gold band. It means the resistance will range from 9.5k to 10.5k Ohm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a 10k ohm resistor?
A 10k ohm resistor has 4 color bands: brown, black, orange, and gold for 5% tolerance, respectively.
What color is a 10K ohm resistor?
Color Code Brown / Black / Orange / Gold
How do I know if I have a 10K ohm resistor?
What’s the 10k resistor color code?
The first band is brown as it stands for 1.
The second band is black which means 0.
The third band – multiplier x 1 kΩ – is orange.
The fourth band depends on the tolerance – so any color is possible for the tolerance band.
What is a 10K ohm resistor?
Commonly used in breadboards and perf boards, these 10K resistors make excellent pull-ups, pull-downs, and current limiters.
What does 10K ohm mean?
Imagine you have a voltage source at 6V. If you had a 10K Ohm resistor, you would have 6/10,000 amperes of current flowing in the circuit.
What does a 10K ohm resistor look like?
A 10k ohm resistor has 4 color bands: brown, black, orange, and gold for 5% tolerance, respectively.
I think your color illustration is incorrect you (I believe) have the yellow and gold transposed on the initial two items depicted (R) the last one seems correct
Ok show your own reason
Describe.