Q&A for How to Measure Resistance

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If I don't have a meter, what can I do to measure resistance?

Bess Ruff, MA
Environmental Scientist
Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

Bess Ruff, MA

Environmental Scientist

Expert Answer

Since a multimeter is specially designed to measure resistance, it can provide you with an accurate reading. It's not a good idea to try to measure resistance without a meter.

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Question

What is the purpose of the multiplier and tolerance color bands of a carbon moulded resistor?

Community Answer

The colored stripes define the resistance in ohms and its tolerance. With the metallic band on the right, the first and second bands define the first two digits of the resistance value, and the third band defines how many zeroes follow the second digit. The colors and the values they represent are as follows: black (0) brown (1) red (2) orange (3) yellow (4) green (5) blue (6) violet (7) grey (8) white (9). A silver stripe defines a +/-10% tolerance, and a gold stripe defines a +/- 5% tolerance.

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Question

Is resistance always measured in ohms?

Community Answer

No. There are many historical units no longer in use. Ohms is just the SI unit, but everyone uses ohms for that reason.

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Question

What are the color codes on electric resistors?

Community Answer

Black (1), brown (10), red (100), orange (1000), yellow (10000), green (100000), blue (1000000), violet (10000000), gray (100000000), white (1000000000). Gold 5%, silver 10%.

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Question

If resistance does not show any reading, what should I do?

Community Answer

If your multimeter (if that is what you are referring to) is showing 0, turn the range down. If it is showing 1 or OL, turn the range up.

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Are there any analogue multimeters which use a potentiometer instead of a bank of resistance in measuring voltage?

Community Answer

Any ammeter, including a multimeter in a current range, has a certain resistance. Most multimeters inherently measure voltage, and pass a current to be measured through a shunt resistance, measuring the voltage developed across it. The voltage drop is known as the burden voltage, specified in volts per ampere.

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How much resistance is too much for a certain component?

Community Answer

Any 'component' has resistance. Variable or not, you need to know said 'component' can handle the voltage due to the current flowing through it. Refer to Ohm's law for reference.

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