resistor bands

[Somicide]

ok, i know how they work on a 4 band resistor (first two bands are the first 2 significant digits, the 3rd is a multiplier and the fourth is the tolerance, yes?)  but what about on a 5 band resistor?  WT Hell?

[zachary vex]

the first three bands are part of the value and the fourth is the multiplier, and the fifth one (spaced further away) is the tolerance.

for example, 2.7k 1% reads red violet black brown with a brown tolerance band.  red 2, violet 7, black 0, brown multiply by 10, brown 1%.

oh, and whoever decided that metal film resistors have to be light blue should be strung up.  you can't see the colors without a magnifying glass on 1/8 watt resistors.  grr!

[Somicide]

thanks very much, Zach!  I really needed that, I have bunch of stupid resistors that i couldnt figure the value for.  thanks again!