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HomePage > Blog > Knowledge Base > Quick Guide to Decoding the 10K Resistor Color Code
In the 1920s, with the rapid development of the electronics industry, the application of resistance became very widespread. However, if the resistance needs to be measured first every time it is used, this will undoubtedly increase the tedious work. As a result, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) developed a color-coding system. This simple and standardized way can visually represent resistance values and tolerances, helping engineers quickly identify resistance specifications. After the introduction of the color coding system, it was quickly accepted by the global electronics industry and became a common standard. Subsequently, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and IEC further improved it, forming today's widely used resistance color ring code standard, IEC 60062.
The color code for 10K resistors represents a set of color markers for resistors with a resistance value of 10,000 ohms. The 10K resistor is usually a small cylindrical electronic component with an outer surface coated with a variety of colors of rings. The common 10K resistor is shown below:
Four rings: Brown, black, orange, gold
The first two rings represent the first two digits of the resistance value.
First ring: brown = 1
Second ring: black = 0
The result is "10".
The third ring represents the multiplier (power of 10).
Third ring: orange =1,000=10^3
The result is "10 x 1,000 = 10,000."
The fourth ring indicates tolerance (margin of error).
Fourth ring: Gold = ±5%
Indicates that the actual resistance value can be in the range of 10,000 ± 5% (that is, between 9,500 and 10,500 ohms). Thus, the final nominal resistance value is 10,000 ohms (10kΩ).
The importance of 10K resistance is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Divider Circuit
In microcontroller circuits, 10K resistors are combined with variable resistors to precisely adjust the reference voltage. In sensor interfaces and ADC (analog-to-digital conversion) circuits, 10K resistors are also often combined with other resistors to distribute the input voltage to generate a specific reference voltage.
2. Current Limiting Circuit
10K resistors can limit the current of the output pins of the microcontroller, thereby protecting the IC or LED. It can also be used to limit current when driving LEDs or other sensitive components to prevent component overload or damage.
3. Bias Circuit
In a transistor or operational amplifier circuit, 10K resistors are used to set the bias points to ensure that the circuit is operating in a specific area. For example, in an amplifier circuit, 10K resistance is used to stabilize the operating point and avoid signal distortion.
4. Signal Conditioning and Feedback Circuit
10K resistors are often used in feedback circuits to adjust gain or stabilize circuit performance, but they are also used to combine with capacitors in filter circuits to form RC networks. For example, the negative feedback resistance in the operational amplifier will often choose 10K resistance to adjust the voltage gain.
The importance of 10K resistance in electronic circuits is not only reflected in its universal application, but also in its versatility and scope of application. Whether it is signal conditioning, bias voltage setting, or current limiting, it can efficiently solve complex circuit design problems at a low cost. This makes 10K resistors the preferred component in many circuit designs.
Color |
Digit Value |
Multiplier |
Tolerance |
Temperature Coefficient (ppm/°C) |
Black |
0 |
×1 (10^0) |
— |
— |
Brown |
1 |
×10 (10^1) |
±1% |
100 |
Red |
2 |
×100 (10^2) |
±2% |
50 |
Orange |
3 |
×1,000 (10^3) |
— |
15 |
Yellow |
4 |
×10,000 (10^4) |
— |
25 |
Green |
5 |
×100,000 (10^5) |
±0.5% |
— |
Blue |
6 |
×1,000,000 (10^6) |
±0.25% |
— |
Violet |
7 |
×10,000,000 (10^7) |
±0.1% |
— |
Grey |
8 |
×100,000,000 (10^8) |
±0.05% |
— |
White |
9 |
×1,000,000,000 (10^9) |
— |
— |
Gold |
— |
×0.1 |
±5% |
— |
Silver |
— |
×0.01 |
±10% |
— |
No Color |
— |
— |
±20% |
— |
Note: · Read the color ring from the end closer to the edge of the resistor. · 4-ring: The 1st, 2nd rings represent significant numbers, the 3rd ring is the multiplier, and the 4th ring is the tolerance. · 5-ring: The 1st~3rd rings represent significant numbers, the 4th ring is the multiplier, and the 5th ring is the tolerance. · 6-ring: The 1st-3rd rings indicate the significant number, the 4th ring is the multiplier, the 5th ring is the tolerance, and the 6th ring is the temperature coefficient (often used for high-precision resistors) in ppm/°C (parts per million of resistance change per degree Celsius). |
1. How to use a multimeter to test resistance?
Set the multimeter to the resistance position and touch the pen to both ends of the resistance to read the resistance value. For detailed steps, please click here.
2. What is the tolerance of resistance? Why is it important?
Tolerance is the allowable range of deviation between the actual value and the nominal value of the resistance. It determines the accuracy of the circuit, so it is, of course, very important.
3. How to choose the right resistance for the circuit?
To choose the right resistance for the circuit, the first consideration is the needs of the circuit, according to the needs of the circuit to choose the right resistance value, of course, but also consider the power and tolerance of the resistance and other parameters.
Understanding and interpreting the color code of resistors is an essential skill in electronic circuit design. This is the end of the color coding of 10k resistance, I believe you will be able to accurately identify the size of the resistance value after reading. If you want to know more about 4.7k resistor, 3.3k resistance, please click here. Mastering the rules and application scenarios of resistance color code can help you choose the right resistance more efficiently and optimize circuit performance.