If a resistor has a sixth band, what does that mean?

If a resistor has a sixth band, what does that mean?

• A. It is the same as a five band, but with an indicator or temperature coefficient
• B. It indicates the tolerance
• C. It indicates the material
• D. It indicates the power rating

Answer: (A)

A resistor with a sixth color band carries an extra specification beyond the basic resistance value and its tolerance. In a six-band scheme, the first three bands and the multiplier give the nominal resistance, the fifth band identifies the tolerance, and the sixth band indicates the temperature coefficient (ppm/°C). This temperature coefficient tells you how much the resistance will change as the temperature varies, which is crucial in precision circuits or environments with temperature swings. So the sixth band is essentially adding the temperature coefficient to what you get from a five-band code. It’s not the tolerance, material, or power rating—the sixth band specifically communicates how stable the resistor is with temperature.

A resistor with a sixth color band carries an extra specification beyond the basic resistance value and its tolerance. In a six-band scheme, the first three bands and the multiplier give the nominal resistance, the fifth band identifies the tolerance, and the sixth band indicates the temperature coefficient (ppm/°C). This temperature coefficient tells you how much the resistance will change as the temperature varies, which is crucial in precision circuits or environments with temperature swings. So the sixth band is essentially adding the temperature coefficient to what you get from a five-band code. It’s not the tolerance, material, or power rating—the sixth band specifically communicates how stable the resistor is with temperature.