Resistor colour code - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dorian27 · 16th Jul 2018, 5:47 pm

My fidelity record player has 2 resistors and I believe they are 2.2k but not sure and I want to get them but when I look on the net and put the colours in I get a whole load of other colours the colours I want are only 3 bands that is Red/Red/Gold I also get a load of different wattage.

What do I need can any one help?

I will try and upload picture.

Many thanks.

ms660 · 16th Jul 2018, 6:08 pm

Fidelity...?

Anyways 2.2 ohms 1/2 watt.

Red, Red, Gold, No colour = 1st number, 2nd number, multiplier, tolerance = 22*0.1 = 2.2 +-20%.

Lawrence.

TonyDuell · 16th Jul 2018, 6:13 pm

Are you sure they're both resistors? The upper one in the photo looks as though it might be a ceramic capacitor.

G6Tanuki · 16th Jul 2018, 6:24 pm

The upper one is a resistor: basically a 'carbon stick' with brass ferrules-with-PCB-through-hole tabs force-fitted to the ends.

The big problem with this design is that the brass embrittles with age, the tubular part of the ferrule cracks along its length and loses its grip on the carbon-stick, so the resistance goes way-high.

CambridgeWorks · 16th Jul 2018, 6:40 pm

Seeing the transistor with a heatsink close by suggests they are next to the output complimentary pair. So, 2.2 ohms look about right for the 2 emitter resistors.
20% tolerance does seem cost cutting to the extreme though!
Rob

AC/HL · 16th Jul 2018, 8:03 pm

A handy online tool: https://info.pcboard.ca/resistor-color-code-calculator/

Mooly · 16th Jul 2018, 8:31 pm

Decca Bradford decoders were full of those little blighters as I recall.

Nuvistor · 16th Jul 2018, 8:38 pm

I thought gold was 5% tolerance, Silver 10% and nothing 20%.

Or is this hot weather getting to muddle my brain.

Cobaltblue · 16th Jul 2018, 8:44 pm

Yes on 3 band + tolerence

But this is two band

so in a two band gold is times 0.1

2.2 Ohms

Cheers

Mike T

Nuvistor · 16th Jul 2018, 8:46 pm

Herald1360 · 16th Jul 2018, 10:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

Yes on 3 band + tolerence

But this is two band

so in a two band gold is times 0.1

2.2 Ohms

Cheers

Mike T

It's actually still three band value + tolerance band as per post #2. (Or simply 4-band as per the little table)

1st band...2nd band...3rd band...4th band
1st digit....2nd digit.....multiplier..tolerance
...red..............red.............gold.......... none
.....2.................2................0.1....... .....20%

Cobaltblue · 16th Jul 2018, 11:05 pm

Herald being an ass it's still 2.2 Ohms

Cheers

Mike T

John10b · 17th Jul 2018, 8:46 am

Just for clarification is there a 2 band colour code? I’ve been checking charts and can’t find one.
Cheers
John

ms660 · 17th Jul 2018, 9:29 am

4 band is the minimum so far as I know to represent the value and production tolerance of the usual range of resistors, same idea as the old Body, Tip(s), Dot...Number (two digits)...Multiplier...Tolerance.

Lawrence.

julie_m · 17th Jul 2018, 2:40 pm

No, it's a three-band code; the confusion stems from the use of a gold band as a multiplier (= * 0.1) as opposed to a tolerance indication.

ms660 · 17th Jul 2018, 3:22 pm

No confusion with me, see Post#2.

For vintage stuff, learn and commit to memory the 4 band/Body Tip(s) Dot code, you won't go far wrong.

Lawrence.

Nuvistor · 17th Jul 2018, 3:29 pm

Probably me who started the confusion, forgotten so much.

Herald1360 · 18th Jul 2018, 11:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

Herald being an ass it's still 2.2 Ohms

Cheers

Mike T

Pedant, perhaps.....

Moot point whether a band should be counted if its absence has a specific meaning as in the 20% tolerance case.

Now, how about just saying two digit or three digit codes?

ms660 · 18th Jul 2018, 11:39 am

Then there was the vintage inbetweeners, coloured bands but read as Body, Tip, Dot.

Lawrence.

Sideband · 18th Jul 2018, 9:02 pm

In danger of confusing Dorian27. Why not just say he needs a couple of 2.2 ohm resistors? Anything 1/2 watt available now will be suitable.

16th Jul 2018, 5:47 pm	#1
Dorian27 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK. Posts: 564	Resistor colour code My fidelity record player has 2 resistors and I believe they are 2.2k but not sure and I want to get them but when I look on the net and put the colours in I get a whole load of other colours the colours I want are only 3 bands that is Red/Red/Gold I also get a load of different wattage. What do I need can any one help? I will try and upload picture. Many thanks. Attached Thumbnails

16th Jul 2018, 6:13 pm	#3
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Resistor Are you sure they're both resistors? The upper one in the photo looks as though it might be a ceramic capacitor.

16th Jul 2018, 6:24 pm	#4
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Resistor The upper one is a resistor: basically a 'carbon stick' with brass ferrules-with-PCB-through-hole tabs force-fitted to the ends. The big problem with this design is that the brass embrittles with age, the tubular part of the ferrule cracks along its length and loses its grip on the carbon-stick, so the resistance goes way-high.

16th Jul 2018, 6:40 pm	#5
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,858	Re: Resistor Seeing the transistor with a heatsink close by suggests they are next to the output complimentary pair. So, 2.2 ohms look about right for the 2 emitter resistors. 20% tolerance does seem cost cutting to the extreme though! Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

16th Jul 2018, 8:03 pm	#6
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Resistor colour code A handy online tool: https://info.pcboard.ca/resistor-color-code-calculator/

16th Jul 2018, 6:08 pm	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Resistor Fidelity...? Anyways 2.2 ohms 1/2 watt. Red, Red, Gold, No colour = 1st number, 2nd number, multiplier, tolerance = 22*0.1 = 2.2 +-20%. Lawrence.

16th Jul 2018, 8:31 pm	#7
Mooly Octode Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,351	Re: Resistor colour code Decca Bradford decoders were full of those little blighters as I recall.

16th Jul 2018, 8:38 pm	#8
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Resistor colour code I thought gold was 5% tolerance, Silver 10% and nothing 20%. Or is this hot weather getting to muddle my brain. __________________ Frank

16th Jul 2018, 8:44 pm	#9
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Resistor colour code Yes on 3 band + tolerence But this is two band so in a two band gold is times 0.1 2.2 Ohms Cheers Mike T Attached Thumbnails __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

16th Jul 2018, 8:46 pm	#10
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Resistor colour code __________________ Frank

16th Jul 2018, 11:05 pm	#12
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Resistor colour code Herald being an ass it's still 2.2 Ohms Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

17th Jul 2018, 8:46 am	#13
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,884	Re: Resistor colour code Just for clarification is there a 2 band colour code? I’ve been checking charts and can’t find one. Cheers John

17th Jul 2018, 9:29 am	#14
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Resistor colour code 4 band is the minimum so far as I know to represent the value and production tolerance of the usual range of resistors, same idea as the old Body, Tip(s), Dot...Number (two digits)...Multiplier...Tolerance. Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 17th Jul 2018 at 9:34 am.

17th Jul 2018, 2:40 pm	#15
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Resistor colour code No, it's a three-band code; the confusion stems from the use of a gold band as a multiplier (= * 0.1) as opposed to a tolerance indication. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

17th Jul 2018, 3:22 pm	#16
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Resistor colour code No confusion with me, see Post#2. For vintage stuff, learn and commit to memory the 4 band/Body Tip(s) Dot code, you won't go far wrong. Lawrence.

17th Jul 2018, 3:29 pm	#17
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Resistor colour code Probably me who started the confusion, forgotten so much. __________________ Frank

18th Jul 2018, 11:39 am	#19
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Resistor colour code Then there was the vintage inbetweeners, coloured bands but read as Body, Tip, Dot. Lawrence.

18th Jul 2018, 9:02 pm	#20
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,571	Re: Resistor colour code In danger of confusing Dorian27. Why not just say he needs a couple of 2.2 ohm resistors? Anything 1/2 watt available now will be suitable. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....