This page can code and decode different color codes for electronic components. Many of these color codes are not used anymore, but may be needed for servicing old equipment.
The program can handle almost any component color code, and (when using "standard E value" settings) it will often detect (or prevent) entering the color codes backwards.
Capacitor, standard E value: Standard capacitor color coding
Capacitor, any value: Standard capacitor color coding
Resistor, any value: Standard resistor color coding, handles up to 6 color bands
Resistor, standard E value: Standard resistor color coding, handles up to 6 color bands
Capacitor, tubular: capacitor with 5 dots
Capacitor, film: square capacitor with up to 5 bands
Capacitor, tantalum: capacitor with 3 bands and one dot
Capacitor, ceramic: smal capacitor with colored top and maybe a band
Capacitor, mica 6 dot, any value: square capacitor with two rows of 3 dots
Capacitor, mica 6 dot, standard E value: square capacitor with two rows of 3 dots
Capacitor, mica 5 dot, any value: square capacitor with two rows, one with 3 dots and one with 2 dots
Capacitor, mica 5 dot, standard E value: square capacitor with two rows, one with 3 dots and one with 2 dots
Inductor, standard E value: Inductor with 3 to 5 bands, including MIL coding
Inductor, any value: Inductor with 3 to 5 bands, including MIL coding
Diode 1N: Diodes with up to 5 color bands
Diode PE (2 wide rings): Diodes with up to 6 color bands, the two first are wide
Diode PE (body color): Diodes with up to 4 color bands, and colored body
Number: Decode/code a number according to normal color coding
Most function can both code and decode the colors.
Input/output values
Colors are added by clicking on the colored bands, only "legal" colors will be visible. If your make a mistake, use the arrow button to remove the last color from the component.
Conversion from specification to color codes are done on the input line. The values it will accept depends on the selected component, see the description under the specification field.
A few examples:
Resistor, standard E value: 5k 0.7% 30ppm
This will code a 4.99k 0.5% 25 ppm/K resistor, this is the closed standard value.
In the rigt pane some technical information will be show. How far the value is beside the requested value and what other standard values that can be used.
Resistor, standard E value: 17k 5%
With the 5% tolerance the low E values will be used and the result will be a 16k 5% resistor. Change the tolerance to 1% and it will code a precision resistor (16.9k 1%)
Capacitor, tantalum: 10u 10v
This will code an old style color coded tantalium capacitor with the specified value.
Inductor, standard E value: 9u 1% MIL
Coding will switch to MIL coding (First band is silver) for inductors. The nearest E value will be selected and coded.
The differens between requested and coded value will be shown, and a list of other E values that could be used.
Watch out for this message: Partial coding is misinterpreted, this means that the program did a bad job of coding your specification (i.e. the color codes are wrong). Try to change your specifications or complete them.
Using swapped colors the colors your have entered does only make sense if read backwards, check that your have entered the correct colors.
Hints
When coding according to E sequences there are two different codings, one for E3..E24 (2 rings with value) and another for E48..E192 (3 rings with value). The program tries to pick the correct one, specifying a tolerance of 1% or lower will usual force the "3 rings with value" coding.
Use the "standard E value" settings when possible, they are better at catching errors when entering a color code
When coding the program will allways round tolerance and temperatur coefficent to better values
