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Ohm Bands

Printed codes

A surface-mount resistor has no bands. It carries three or four characters, andthree different systems are in use at once — a single board will show you all of them. These are the 2188 codes that correspond to a value somebody actually manufactures.

Three-digit codes — 379

Two significant digits and a multiplier — the everyday marking on ±5% and ±2% parts. An R stands in for the decimal point below 100 Ω.

Four-digit codes — 1136

Three significant digits: precision parts, ±1% or tighter. This is how a resistor writes 4.99 kΩ.

EIA-96 codes — 673

Two digits naming a rank in the E96 series, then a letter for the multiplier. Used when the part is too small for four characters.