How do you identify the resistance value on a fixed resistor?

Identifying the resistance value on a fixed resistor using color bands is a standard method in electronics. Resistors are often manufactured with colored bands that represent their resistance value and tolerance. These bands follow a specific color code, where each color corresponds to a number. For example, the color brown represents the digit 1, red represents the digit 2, and so on.

To determine the resistance value, you read the colors from one end of the resistor to the other, typically starting from the end that has a gold or silver band. The first two or three bands represent the significant digits, while the next band represents the multiplier, and the final band indicates tolerance. This method allows you to quickly and accurately identify the resistance without needing equipment or complex calculations.

While measuring with a multimeter is indeed an effective method for validating resistance values, it is not the primary identification technique. Using the physical size of a resistor does not provide an accurate representation of resistance, as size can vary significantly among resistors of the same value. Testing with a power source can be dangerous and is not a method for identifying resistance. Thus, using color bands on the resistor is the most reliable and commonly accepted method for identifying resistance values.