What is a 470ohm Resistor? 470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

What is a 470 Ohm Resistor?

Resistors are widely used in electrical circuits to regulate the flow of electric current. These small but crucial components often come with wire leads extending from their sides, making them easy to integrate into various electronic systems. In essence, resistors are designed to provide a precise level of resistance, helping to control the amount of current flowing through a circuit.

A 470 ohm resistor is a passive electronic component specifically designed to limit the current in a circuit. With a resistance value of 470 ohms, it restricts the flow of 1 ampere of current when subjected to 470 volts. When a voltage is applied across it, the resistor limits the current flowing through the circuit. The 470 ohm rating indicates the amount of resistance it provides, which is essential for controlling voltage and current in various applications. Whether you're working on a simple LED circuit or a more complex electronic project, a 470 ohm resistor is a common choice due to its moderate resistance level.

470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

Resistors are color-coded to represent their resistance value, making it easy to identify their resistance without needing to measure them. The color code on a 470 ohm resistor consists of bands that correspond to specific digits and a multiplier. It is available in configurations with 4, 5 or 6 color bands. The four-band version of the 470 ohm resistor is easily recognized by its yellow, violet, and brown color bands. In contrast, the five and six-band versions feature a pattern of yellow, violet, black, and black, with the six-band resistor including additional bands for tolerance and temperature coefficient.

One common challenge is the potential confusion between a 470 ohm resistor and a 4.7k ohm resistor. This makes it essential to carefully verify the color code and, if possible, double-check the resistance value using a multimeter to avoid any mix-ups. Click here to know more 47k ohm resistor color code

470 Ohm Resistor Color Bands

For a standard 4-band 470 ohm resistor, the color bands are:

l Yellow (4)

l Violet (7)

l Brown (1)

l Gold (±5% tolerance)

These bands represent the digits and multiplier that together give the resistance value. In this case, Yellow represents '4', Violet represents '7', and Brown is the multiplier (10^1), resulting in 470 ohms. The Gold band indicates the resistor’s tolerance, meaning the actual resistance can vary by ±5%.

470 Ohm Resistor Color Chart

The color chart for resistors is a reference tool that helps you decode the bands:

Using this chart, you can quickly determine the resistance of any resistor by matching the color bands to their respective values.

How To Read the 470 Ohm Resistor Color Code?

The 470ohm resistor is easy to be read. The color code consists of several colored bands that represent numerical values and multipliers, which together indicate the resistor's resistance.

For a standard 4-band 470 ohm resistor, the bands are:

First Band (Yellow): The first digit of the resistance value, which is '4'.

Second Band (Violet): The second digit, which is '7'.

Third Band (Brown): The multiplier, which is 10^1 or simply '10'.

Fourth Band (Gold): This represents the tolerance, indicating that the actual resistance can vary by ±5% from the stated value.

For example, a 470 ohm resistor with Yellow, Violet, Brown, and Gold bands gives you 4, 7, and 1 as digits。 When you combine the first two digits with the multiplier, you get:

47 × 10 = 470 ohms

The tolerance band (Gold) tells you that the actual resistance could be between 446.5 ohms and 493.5 ohms.

4-Band vs. 5-Band vs. 6-Band 470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

What is the Voltage Drop on a 470 Ohm Resistor?

The voltage drop across a 470 ohm resistor is a crucial aspect of understanding how resistors function in a circuit. The voltage drop is determined by Ohm's Law, which states:

Where:

l V is the voltage drop across the resistor (in volts),

l I is the current flowing through the resistor (in amperes),

l R is the resistance (in ohms).

To calculate the voltage drop, you need to know the amount of current flowing through the resistor. Let’s look at some examples to illustrate how this works.

A Simple Circuit with a 470 Ohm Resistor

Consider a basic circuit where a 470 ohm resistor is connected to a 9V battery. The voltage drop across the resistor will depend on the current flowing through it. Assuming the circuit is simple with just the resistor and the battery, the current I can be calculated using Ohm's Law rearranged as:

I = V / R

I = 9V / 470ohms

I ≈ 0.0191A (or 19.1mA)

Now, using this current, the voltage drop across the 470 ohm resistor would be:

V≈0.0191A x 470ohms

V≈8.977V

In this example, the voltage drop across the 470 ohm resistor is approximately 8.98V, nearly the entire voltage supplied by the battery. This occurs because the resistor is the only significant component in the circuit, and it drops most of the voltage.

Voltage Drop in a Series Circuit

In a more complex circuit, such as a series circuit with multiple resistors, the voltage drop across each resistor depends on the total resistance and the individual resistances.

Let’s say you have a series circuit with a 9V battery, a 470 ohm resistor, and a 330 ohm resistor. First, calculate the total resistance:

R = 470ohms + 330ohms = 800ohms

Now, the current through the circuit is:

I = 9V / 800ohms

I ≈ 0.01125A (or 11.25mA)

The voltage drop across the 470 ohm resistor is then:

V470 = I x 470ohms = 0.01125A x 470ohms ≈ 5.29V

In this series circuit, the 470 ohm resistor drops approximately 5.29V, with the remaining voltage dropped across the 330 ohm resistor.

Why is a 470 Ohm Resistor Used?

A 470 ohm resistor is widely used in electronics because it offers a balance between resistance and current flow, making it versatile for various applications. Here are some common uses:

Current Limiting

One of the most common applications is limiting the current in a circuit. For instance, when used with an LED, a 470 ohm resistor ensures that the current flowing through the LED is kept within safe limits, preventing it from burning out.

Voltage Division

In voltage divider circuits, a 470 ohm resistor can be paired with another resistor to create a specific output voltage from a higher input voltage. This is particularly useful in analog circuits where precise voltage levels are needed.

Signal Conditioning

Resistors like the 470 ohm are often used in signal conditioning circuits to stabilize or filter signals. They help maintain signal integrity, especially in analog systems.

Pull-Up/Pull-Down Resistors

In digital circuits, a 470 ohm resistor can serve as a pull-up or pull-down resistor, ensuring stable logic levels. This is critical in preventing undefined states in digital systems.

General Purpose

Due to its moderate resistance, the 470 ohm resistor is frequently chosen in a variety of circuits where neither very high nor very low resistance is required. Its versatility makes it a go-to component in both educational settings and professional projects.

What is the Tolerance of a 470 Ohm Resistor?

The tolerance of a resistor is a crucial specification that indicates how much the actual resistance can vary from its nominal value. For a standard 470 ohm resistor, the tolerance is often represented by the fourth color band.

Gold Band: ±5% tolerance

Silver Band: ±10% tolerance (less common in 470 ohm resistors)

Red Band: ±2% tolerance (higher precision resistors)

For a 470 ohm resistor with a Gold tolerance band, the actual resistance could range between 446.5 ohms and 493.5 ohms. The tolerance is particularly important in circuits where precise resistance is critical, as it can affect the performance and reliability of the circuit.

How to Remember Resistor Color Code?

A common mnemonic to remember the color code is:

"BB ROY of Great Britain had a Very Good Wife"

Black - 0

Brown - 1

Red - 2

Orange - 3

Yellow - 4

Green - 5

Blue - 6

Violet - 7

Gray - 8

White – 9

This memory is easier to decode resistor values on the fly.

How to Test the Resistance Value of a 470 Ohm Resistor with a Multimeter?

Testing the resistance value of a 470 ohm resistor using a multimeter is a straightforward process that helps ensure the resistor is functioning properly and has not drifted from its intended value. This procedure is especially useful in troubleshooting circuits or verifying the accuracy of components before use. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

l A Digital Multimeter

l 470 Ohm Resistor: This is the component you’ll be testing.

l Probes: The multimeter should come with two probes (usually red for positive and black for negative).

Step 2: Set the Multimeter to Measure Resistance

Switch on your multimeter and turn the dial on your multimeter to the resistance setting, often represented by the Greek letter omega (Ω). If your multimeter has multiple resistance ranges, select a range that can measure 470 ohms, such as the 2kΩ or 200Ω range, depending on your multimeter's options.

Step 3: Connect the Probes to the Multimeter

Plug the black probe into the common (COM) port of the multimeter and the red probe into the port marked with an omega symbol (Ω) or “VΩ”.

Step 4: Measure the Resistance

Hold the resistor by its body to avoid affecting the reading with your body’s resistance. Touch the metal tip of the red probe to one lead of the resistor and the black probe to the other lead. Then the multimeter will display the resistance value in ohms. For a 470 ohm resistor, you should see a value close to 470Ω. Depending on the resistor's tolerance (often ±5% or ±10%), the value may range slightly higher or lower (e.g., between 446.5Ω and 493.5Ω for a ±5% tolerance resistor).

Step 5: Interpret the Results

If the reading is significantly higher or lower than the expected value (e.g., well outside the tolerance range), the resistor may be damaged or degraded and should not be used in critical applications. If the multimeter shows 0Ω, the resistor may be shorted. If it shows infinite resistance (or “OL” for “Over Limit”), the resistor may be open or damaged.