University of Engineering and Technology

Department of Biomedical Engineering

New Campus

EE-199 L Basic Electrical and Electronics

Engineering Lab
Experiment No. 2: Introduction to Different Types, Color-Coding Scheme and Power Rating
of resistors to understand nominal and measured value of resistor
& capacitor,

Name of Student: ……………………………………

Registration No.: ……………………………………..

Date of Experiment: ……………………………….

 2.1 Objective

This experiment will familiarize students with difference between nominal and measured
values of resistor and capacitor.

2.2 Equipment

1. Different Valued Resistors and Capacitors

2. DMM (Digital Multimeter)
Theory :
A passive component that is specifically designed to have a certain amount of resistance to the flow of
current is called a resistor (R). The principal applications of resistors are to limit the current in a circuit or to
divide the voltage. It works on the principle of Ohm’s law and the law states that the voltage across the terminals of a
resistor is directly proportional to the current flowing through it. The unit of resistance is Ohm. There are different types
of resistors available in the market with diverse rating and sizes. Some of them are described below.
Types of Resistors:
1. Wire wound Resistors:
These resistors vary in physical appearance and size. These wire-wound resistors are commonly a length
of wires usually made of an alloy such as nickel chromium or copper-nickel manganese alloy. These resistors are
the oldest type of resistors having excellent properties like high power ratings and low resistive values. During
their use, these resistors can become very hot, and for this reason these are housed in a finned metal case.

Figure 2.1: Wire wound Resistors

2. Carbon film Resistor:
Carbon film resistors have the carbon film on the ceramic former and they are covered with insulation
coating material like epoxy (for protection). This type of resistor is not used today, as superior resistor
technologies are available in lower cost. Carbon film resistors are formed by cracking of hydrocarbons on a
ceramic former, which makes carbon film on it. After that connection are added and a helix cut is given to adjust
the value of resistance. Helix cut is the smooth curve on the surface; this makes these resistors inductive and
makes them usable in RF applications. The helix curve is indicated as a trimming line. An electrode cap is
connected to the lead wire for closing the carbon film.
 Figure 2.2: Carbon film Resistor

3. Metal oxide film Resistor:

This type of resistor is widely used today. They are far better than the carbon film resistors. Here, metal
oxides (metal film) like tin oxide are deposited on the ceramic carrier. Then resistance is adjusted by using the
trimming line. These are similar to carbon-film resistors and their resistivity is controlled by the thickness of the
coating layer. The outer covering is covered by an epoxy protection layer (insulation coating). The properties like
reliability, accuracy and stability are considerably better for these resistors and thus make them far superior from
carbon film resistors. These resistors can be obtained in a wide range of resistance values (from a few ohms to
millions of ohms).

Figure 2.3: Metal oxide film Resistor

4. Thick film and Thin film Resistors:

Thin film resistors are made by sputtering some resistive material on to an insulating substrate (a method
of vacuum deposition), and are therefore more expensive than the thick film resistors. The resistive element for
these resistors is approximately 1000 angstroms. Thin film resistors have better temperature coefficients, lower
capacitance, low parasitic inductance and low noise.
 Figure 2.4: Thick film and Thin film Resistors
These resistors are preferred for microwave active and passive power components such as microwave
power terminations, microwave power resistors and microwave power attenuators. These are mostly used for
applications that require high accuracy and high stability. Usually thick film resistors are made by mixing
ceramics with powered glass, and these films have tolerances ranging from 1 to 2%, and a temperature
coefficient between + 200 or +250 and -200 or -250. These are widely available as low-cost resistors and
compared with the thin film, thick film resistive element is thousands times thicker.
5. Surface mount Resistors:
Surface mount resistors come in a variety of packages size and shape agreed by the EIA (Electronic
Industry Alliance). These are made by depositing a film of resistive material and don’t have enough space for
color-code bands owing to small size. The tolerance may be as low as 0.02% and consists of 3 or 4 letters as an
indication. The smallest size of the 0201 package is a tiny 0.60mm x 0.30mm resistor and this three number code
works in a similar way to the color-code bands on wire-ended resistors.

Figure 2.5: Surface Mount Resistors

6. Network Resistors:
Network resistors are a combination of resistances that give identical value to all pins. These resistors are
available in dual inline and single inline packages. Network resistors are commonly used in applications such
as ADC (analog to digital converters) and DAC (digital to analog converters), pull up or pull down.

Figure 2.6: Network Resistors

7. Variable Resistors:
Most commonly used types of variable resistors are potentiometers and presets. These resistors consist of
fixed value of resistance between two terminals and are mostly used for setting the sensitivity of sensors and
voltage division. A wiper (moving part of the potentiometer) changes the resistance that can be rotated with the
help of a screwdriver. These resistors have three tabs, in which the wiper is the middle tab that acts as a voltage
divider, when all the tabs are used. When the middle tab is used along with the other tab, it becomes a rheostat or
variable resistor. When only the side tabs are used, then it behaves as a fixed resistor.
 Figure 2.7: Variable Resistors

8. Special Resistors:
These are classified into two types:
a. Light-Dependent Resistors
b. Thermistors
a. Light-Dependent Resistors (LDR):
Light-dependent Resistors are shortly known as LDRs. LDR is a type of variable resistor in which the
value of resistance changes with the light intensity that falls on it. Light-dependent resistors have a photosensitive
track made up of cadmium and silicon, which is sensitive towards the light. When the resistor is in darkness, its
resistance is very high (MΩ) while in light, the resistance falls down to a few kΩ. These resistors come in
different shapes and colors. Depending upon the ambient light, these resistors are used to turn ‘ON’ or turn
‘OFF’ devices. LDRs are very useful in different electronic circuits, especially in clocks, alarms and streetlights.

Figure 2.8: Light-Dependent Resistors

b. Thermistors:
The thermistor is an electrical resistor whose resistance is greatly reduced by heating, used for
measurement and control. There are two types of thermistors:
Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistor:
In NTC thermistor, resistance decreases with increase in temperature. The symbol of the NTC thermistor
has -t because it has a negative temperature coefficient.

Figure 2.9: NTC Thermistor

There are two ways to change the temperature of the NTC thermistor. First is, by changing atmosphere
temperature and the other is by increasing current in the thermistor. By increasing the current, there will be a
heating effect in the resistor and thus it will change its resistance by its own heat. This is called the self-heating
effect.
Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Thermistor:
In PTC thermistor, resistance increases with increase in temperature. The symbol of PTC thermistor has
+t because it has a positive temperature coefficient. PTC thermistors are used widely as self-regulatory heaters.
When the high amount of current is passed through it, more heat is evolved and thus the resistance of thermistor
increases dramatically. Thus, they are often used in temperature-dependent time delay circuits. PTC thermistors
are also used for measuring temperature but in this process, it consumes the very negligible amount of current,
which makes it very useful for this application.

Power Rating of Resistors:

In addition to have required ohmic value, a resistor should have a wattage rating high enough to dissipate
the power produced by the current flowing through the resistance without becoming too hot. Carbon resistors in
normal operation often become warm, but they should not get so hot that they “sweat” beads of liquid on the
insulating case. Wire-wound resistors operate at very high temperatures; a typical value is 300°C for the
maximum temperature. If a resistor becomes too hot because of excessive power dissipation, its resistance can
change appreciably or it may burn out. The power rating is a physical property that depends on the resistor
construction, especially physical size. Note the following key points:
 A larger physical size indicates a higher power rating.

 Higher wattage resistors can operate at higher temperatures.

 Wire-wound resistors are larger and have higher wattage ratings than carbon film resistors.

Resistor’s Color-Coding:
Fixed resistors with tolerances of 5% or 10% are color-coded with four bands to indicate the
resistance value and the tolerance. This color-code band system is shown in Figure 2.10, and the color-
code is listed in Table 2.1. The bands are always closer to one end of the resistor.

Table 2.1

i. First band … 1st digit Color Digit

 ii. Second band … 2nd digit Black 0

iii. Third band … Multiplier Brown 1

Red 2

Orange 3
Yellow 4

Green 5
Blue 6

Violet 7

Gray 8
White 9

Gold ± 5%
iv. Fourth band … Tolerance
Silver ± 10%

Figure 2.10
Examples of Color-Coding of Resistors:
In Figure 2.11, the first band is red for 2 and the next band is green for 5. The third band
(multiplier) is red which means add two zeros to 25. The fourth band is of golden color, which
means tolerance will be 5%. Finally, this resistor can be expressed as:
5
2500Ω ± 5% = 2500Ω ± (2500 * ) = (2500 ± 125)Ω
100

Figure 2.11
a. Figure 2.12 illustrates that, black for the third band just means do not add any zeros to the first two
digits. Since this resistor has red, green, black and gold color, the resistance value is 25Ω ± 5%.
 Figure 2.12
b. For resistors under 10Ω, the third band is either gold or silver, indicating a fractional decimal
multiplier. When the third stripe is gold, multiply the first two digits by 0.1. The resistor value is 25
× 0.1 = 2.5Ω. Silver as a third band means a multiplier of 0.01. If the third band is of silver color,
the resistance value would be 25 × 0.01 = 0.25Ω. It is important to realize that the gold and silver
colors represent fractional decimal multipliers only when they appear in the third band. The
colors gold and silver will never appear in the first two color bands. The amount by which the
actual resistance can differ from the color-coded value is the tolerance, usually given in percent.
For instance, a 2000Ω resistor with ±10% tolerance can have resistance 10% above or below the
coded value. Therefore, the resistance value will be between 1800Ω & 2200Ω.

Five-Band Color-Code:
Certain precision resistors (typically metal -film resistors) with tolerances of 2%, 1%, or less are
generally color-coded with five bands. Begin at the band closest to one end. The first band is the first digit of the
resistance value, the second band is the second digit, the third band is the third digit, the fourth band is the
multiplier (number of zeros after the third digit), and the fifth band indicates the percent tolerance. In the fifth
band, the brown, red, green, blue and violet colors represent the following tolerances (see Table 2.2).

Table 2.2

Tolerance
Color
(%)
Brown ±1
Red ±2
Green ± 0.5
Blue ± 0.25
Violet ± 0.1

Procedure: (How to find Resistance using color-coding scheme and DMM)

a. Pick up a resistor with color bands printed on it and note down the band colors in Table 2.3.
b. Compute its resistance using color-code scheme and record in Table 2.3.
 1st 3rd
Sr
2nd Band 4th Coded
Ban
. Band Resistance Measured Resistance
d Band No.
N nd Toleran (calculated) (Ω)
o. 1st 2 digit of
ce (Ω)
digit zeros
680 -
Min. 34 =
1 Blue Grey Brown Gold 646 Ω
6 8 0 ± 5%
680 +
Max. 34 =
714 Ω

Min.
2

Max.

Min.
3

Max.

Min.
4

Max.

Min.
5

Max.

Min.
6

Max.

Min.
7

Max.

c. Now measure its resistance using DMM and record in the last column of Table 2.3.
d. Repeat step 1(a) to 1(c) for five different resistors and record your observations in Table 2.3.

Table 2.3
2.3 Conduct of Lab

1. Students are required to perform this experiment using the equipment provided.
2. Students are required to work in groups specified by lab engineers.
3. Students are advised to seek help from the course instructor, lab instructor, and lab attendant.

2.4 Procedure

2.4.1 Resistance Measurement using VOM/ DMM

1. Press the key to activate resistance measurement. Note: pressing the

key twice will activate continuity measurement instead.
2. The mode will switch to resistance mode immediately, as shown below in figure 2-1.

Figure 2-1 DMM display panel

5. Connect the test leads between the terminal and the COM
terminal as shown in figure 2-2

Figure22-2 DMM Probe placement

Note: To turn the automatic range selection On/Off, press the AUTO key. Press the Up or the Down key to
select the Manual range. The AUTO indicator turns Off automatically. If the appropriate range is unknown,
select the highest range.

2.4.2 Nominal value of resistance using color coding:

1. The resistance of many resistors can be determined by reading a series of colored bands
imprinted on the resistor body. In this scheme called “Resistor Colo
represents a different decimal digit.
2. The first three bands of the color code are used to specify nominal value of the resistance, and
the fourth, or tolerance band, gives the percent deviation from the nominal value that the actual
resistor may have. Due to manufacturing variations, the actual resistance may be anywhere in
a range equal to the nominal value plus or minus a certain percentage of that value.
3. The first two color bands specify the first two digits of the nominal value, and the third band
represents the power of 10 by which the first two digits are multiplied. The figure 2-4
demonstrates these computations.

Example: -

Figure 22-3 Resistor and color codes

Figure 22-4 Color coding

2.4.3 Capacitance Measurement

1. Non-polarized capacitor

A non-polarized ("non-polar") capacitor is a type of capacitor that has no implicit polarity.

It can be connected either way in a circuit. Ceramic and mica are non-polarized. The non-
polar capacitors use Paper, Mica, Ceramic, Mylar, Glass, Porcelain, Polycarbonate, and Wax
as Insulator.
2. Polarized capacitor

A polarized ("polar") capacitor is a type of capacitor that have implicit polarity -- it can
only be connected one way in a circuit. The positive lead is shown on the schematic (and
often on the capacitor) with a little "+" symbol. The negative lead is generally not shown
on the schematic but may be marked on the capacitor with a bar or "-" symbol. Polarized
capacitors are generally electrolytic.
3. Nominal value of capacitor using numerical coding

They are used with non - electrolytic capacitors to specify their capacitance. Usually, these
codes are 3 digits long, specifying the capacitance in Pico Farads; the first two digits are
Tens and Units, whereas the third digit is power of 10. For example, a code 104 means:
100000pF = 0.1uF (not 102pF!)

Figure 2-5 Capacitor’s Numerical Coding description

 Figure 2-6 Capacitor’s Numerical Coding
Examples

Figure 2-7 Capacitor’sExaN

muplem
s erical Coding

4. Capacitance measurement using DMM

1. Press the key twice to activate capacitance measurement.

Note: pressing the key once will activate the diode measurement
instead.
2. The mode will switch to capacitance mode immediately, as shown below in Figure 2-
7.

Figure 22-7 DMM in Capacitance mode

3. Connect the test lead between the terminal and COM

terminal; Positive-V, Negative-COM as shown in Figure 2-8. The display

updates the reading.

Figure 22-8 Probe connection for Capacitor
Note: To turn the automatic range selection On/Off, press the AUTO key. Press the Up or the Down key to
select the Manual range. The AUTO indicator turns Off automatically. If the appropriate range is unknown,
select the highest range.

2.5 Lab Activity

1. You have been provided different resistors and capacitors.

2. Separate all resistances, use color coding method to decode the value of each resistance
and fill the table 2-1.

Table 2.1 Resistor color coding measurement

Color Band
Color Bands Nominal Maximum Minimum
Resistors values
Resistance Resistance Resistance
1, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4
Sample Red, Red, Black, Gold 2, 2, 0, 5% 22Ω 23.1Ω 20.9Ω

3. Now measure each resistance using digital multimeter and fill the table 2-2.

Table 2.2 Resistance measurement using DMM

Resistor Measured Value (VOM/DMM) Falls within specified tolerance (Yes/No)

Sample 23Ω Yes
1
2
3
4
5

4. Separate all capacitors, observe numerical coding to decode the value of each capacitor and
fill the table 2-3.

Table 2.3 Capacitor Coding

Sr. Capacitance Capacitance Tolerance Tolerance Capacitance Max. Max.

no code value code value range voltage voltage
code Value
1

2
3

5. Now measure each capacitor using digital multimeter and fill the table 2-4.

Table 2.4 Capacitor DMM measurement

Sr. Measured value using DMM Fall within specified tolerance

No (Yes/No)
1
2

3
4
Assessment Rubrics
EE-199 Basic Electrical & Electronics Engineering –Lab 2
Name: Reg. No.:

Method: Lab reports and instructor observation during lab sessions

Outcome Assessed:
a. Ability to conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data (P).
b. Ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams(A).
c. Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice (P).

Exceeds expectation Meets expectation Does not meet

Performance Marks
(4-5) (3-2) expectation (1)
Selects relevant Needs guidance to Incapable of
equipment to the select relevant selecting relevant
experiment, develops equipment to the equipment to
1. Realization of setup diagrams of experiment and to conduct the
Experiment [a, c] equipment develop equipment experiment,
connections or wiring. connection or wiring equipment
diagrams. connection or wiring
diagrams are
Actively engages and Cooperates with other Distracts or
cooperates with other group members in a discourages other
2. Teamwork [b] group members in an reasonable manner. group members
effective manner. from conducting the
experiment.
Does proper Calibrates equipment, Unable to calibrate
calibration of examines equipment appropriate
equipment, carefully moving parts, and equipment, and
3. Conducting examines equipment operates the equipment operation
Experiment [a, c] moving parts, and equipment with minor is substantially
ensures smooth error. wrong.
operation and process.

Respectfully and Observes safety rules Disregards safety

4. Laboratory carefully observes and procedures with rules and
Safety Rules [a] safety rules and minor deviation. procedures.
procedures
 Exceeds expectation Meets expectation Does not meet
Performance Marks
(5-4) (3-2) expectation (1)
Plans data collection to Plans data collection Does not know how to
achieve experimental to achieve plan data collection to
5. Data objectives, and experimental achieve experimental
conducts an orderly objectives, and goals; data collected is
Collection [a]
and a complete data collects complete data incomplete and
collection. with minor error. contain errors.

Accurately conducts Conducts simple Unable to conduct

simple computations computations and simple statistical
and statistical analysis statistical analysis analysis on collected
using collected data; using collected data data; no attempt to
correlates with minor error; correlate experimental
experimental results to reasonably correlates results with known
6. Data Analysis known theoretical experimental results to theoretical values;
[a] values; accounts for known theoretical incapable of
measurement errors values; attempts to explaining
and parameters that account for measurement errors or
affect experimental measurement errors parameters that affect
results. and parameters that the experimental
affect experimental results.
results.

Total

Lab Instructor:
Name:

Signature:

Date:

Experiment No. 2: Introduction to Different Types, Color-Coding Scheme and Power rating of
Resistors Page 17