1. Marking of Passive Components
Learning in
Electronic Circuits
Marking of Passive Components
© 2015 Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (EPSEVG)
José Antonio Soria Pérez - Associate Professor at UPC (EPSEVG Campus).
C/ V. Balaguer, 1. Vilanova i la G. (Barcelona - Spain). Telf: Fax:
Office hours: VG3-D101 – EEL TUE 11-13h, THU: 16-18h (Yellow zone)

2. In this lesson you will learn...
... the different marking systems used in electronic componetnts
R, C and L marking systems (IEC60063)
Electronic colour code and E-series
The 3 & 4-digit systems
The EIA-96 system

3. Resistor marking 3 0.47Ω ±2.4mΩ 390kΩ ±39kΩ 339Ω 3 9 x1 1% → ± 3.39Ω
Thru-Hole
Small power (≤1W): Colour code
High power: 3-digit based
Symmetric
Tolerance
Code letter
±0.1pF B
±2.5% H
±0.3pf C
±5% J
±0.5pf D
±10% K
±1% F
±20% M
±2% G
±30% N
Number oz zeros on the right
Value deviation
Base values
Colour/Band
1st
2nd
(3rd )
Precission only
4th.
multplicity
5th.
Tolerance
Silver -
x 0.01
±10%
Gold
x 0.1
±5%
Black 1
Brown
x 10
±1%
Red 2
x 102
±2%
Orange 3
x 103
Yellow 4
x 104
Green 5
x 105
±0,5%
Blue 6
x 106
Purple 7
Grey 8
White 9
Example:
2nd. Example:
Example:
Units
Multiplicity M
x106 K
x103
R (Ω) x1 m
x10-3 μ
x10-6 n
x10-9 p
x10-12
Maximum average power
Value (3.3Ω)
Tolerance (5%)
5W R47 J 5W
3R3 J
Asymmetric
Tolerance %
Code letter
+30/-10 Q
+100/-10 V
+30/-20 R
+20/0 W
+50/-20 S
+50/0 Y
+50/-10 T
+80/-20 Z
+80/0 U
+100/-20 -
1st
Dot position
2nd
3rd
4th
5th 3
0.47Ω ±2.4mΩ
390kΩ ±39kΩ
339Ω 3 9 x1
Nominal value:
Range: [335.61, )Ω 1%
→ ± 3.39Ω

4. Resistor marking Thru-Hole Small power (≤1W): Colour code
High power: 3-digit based
The E-12 series
E12 means that every decade (0.1-1, 1-10, ,…) is divided into 12 steps whose size has multiplicity 1.21
It also means that tolerance values are 10% overlaped (21/2 ≈ 10%)
Other E-series:
Every value is roughly
20% higher than the previous one
≈ 1.21
1/12 21
E-6
E-12
E-24
E-48
E-96
E-192
Tolerance
20%
10% 5% 2% 1%
0.5%, 0.25%, 0.1%
x 1.2
x 1.2
x 1.2 10
100
E12-series
82+10%
100-10%
3 Colour-band (or digit)
LOW ACCURACY 12 15 18 22 27 33 47 56 68 82 39
Decade
4 Colour-band (or digit)
HIGH ACCURACY

5. Resistor marking Values in the E-series E-192 Series E-96 Series
Integer
E-192 Series
E-96 Series
E-48 Series
E-24 Series
E-12 Series
E-6 Series 1
1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.09, 1.10,
1.11, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.17, 1.18, 1.20, 1.21, 1.23,
1.24, 1.26, 1.27, 1.29, 1.30, 1.32, 1.33, 1.35, 1.37,
1.38, 1.40, 1.42, 1.43, 1.45, 1.47, 1.49, 1.50, 1.52,
1.54, 1.56, 1.58, 1.60, 1.62, 1.64, 1.65, 1.67, 1.69,
1.72, 1.74, 1.76, 1.78, 1.80, 1.82, 1.84, 1.87, 1.89,
1.91, 1.93, 1.96, 1.98
1,00, 1.02, 1.05, 1.07, 1.10,
1.13, 1.15, 1.18, 1.21, 1.27,
1.30, 1.33, 1.37, 1.40, 1.43,
1.47, 1.50, 1.54, 1.58, 1.62,
1.65, 1.69, 1.74, 1.78, 1.82,
1.87, 1.91, 1.96
1,00, 1.05,
1.10, 1.15,
1.21, 1.27,
1.33, 1.37,
1.40, 1.47,
1.54, 1.62,
1.69, 1.78,
1.87, 1.96
1,0, 1.1, 1.2,
1.3, 1.5, 1.6,
1.8
1,0, 1.2, 1.5,
1.0, 1.5 2
2.00, 2.03, 2.05, 2.10, 2.13, 2.15, 2.18, 2.21, 2.23, 2.26,
2.29, 2.32, 2.34, 2.37, 2.40, 2.43, 2.46, 2.49, 2.52, 2.55,
2.58, 2.61, 2.64, 2.67, 2.71, 2.74, 2.77, 2.80, 2.84, 2.87,
2.91, 2.94, 2.98
2.00, 2.05, 2.10, 2.15, 2.21, 2.26,
2.32, 2.37, 2.43, 2.49, 2.55, 2.61,
2.67, 2.74, 2.87, 2.94
2.05, 2.15,
2.26, 2.37,
2.49, 2.61,
2.74, 2.87
2.0, 2.2, 2.4,
2.7
2.2, 2.7
2.2 3
3.01, 3.05, 3.09, 3.12, 3.16, 3.20, 3.24, 3.28, 3.32, ,
3.44, 3.48, 3.52, 3.57, 3.61, 3.65, 3.70, 3.74, 3.79, 3,83,
3.88, 3.92, 3.97
3.01, 3.09, 3.16, 3.24, 3.32, 3.40,
3.48, 3.57, 3.65, 3.74, 3.83, 3.92
3.01, 3.16,
3.32, 3.48,
3.65, 3.83
3.0, 3.3, 3.6,
3.9
3.3, 3.9
3.3 4
4.02, 4.07, 4.12, 4.17, 4.22, 4.27, 4.32, 4.37, 4.42, 4.48,
4.53, 4.59, 4.64, 4.70, 4.75, 4.81, 4.87, 4.93, 4.99
4.02, 4.12, 4.22, 4.32, 4.42, 4.53,
4.64, 4.75, 4.87, 4.99
4.02, 4.22,
4.42, 4.64, 4.87
4.3, 4.7
4.7 5
5.05, 5.11, 5.17, 5.23, 5.30, 5.36, 5.42, 5.49, 5.56, 5.62,
5.69, 5.76, 5.83, 5.90, 5.97
5.11, 5.23, 5.36, 5.49, 5.62, 5.76,
5.90
5.11, 5.36,
5.62, 5.90
5.1, 5.6
5.6 - 6
6.04, 6.12, 6.19, 6.26, 6.34, 6.42, 6.49, 6.57, 6.65, 6.73, 6.81, 6.90, 6.98
6.04, 6.19, 6.34, 6.49, 6.65, 6.81, 6.98
6.19, 6.49, 6.81
6.2, 6.8
6.8 7
7.06, 7.15, 7.23, 7.32, 7.41, 7.50, 7.59, 7.68, 7.77, 7.87, 7.96
7.15, 7.32, 7.50, 7.68, 7.87
7.15, 7.50, 7.87
7.5 8
8.06, 8.16, 8.25, 8.35, 8.45, 8.56, 8.66, 8.76, 8.87, 8.98
8.06, 8.25, 8.45, 8.66, 8.87
8.25, 8.66
8.2 9
9.09, 9.20, 9.31, 9.42, 9.53, 9.65, 9.76, 9.98
9.09, 9.31, 9.53, 9.76
9.09, 9.53
9.1

6. Resistor marking Thru-Hole
Small power (≤1W): Colour code
High power: 3-digit based
The E-12 series
SMD: The “3 & 4-digit” system and the “EIA-96” system
In the3 & 4-digit system, the first two (or three) digits represent the significant values, whereas the last digit indicates multiplicity
312
7920
R382
38C
3-digit example:
4-digit example:
Exercise: Obtain the resistor values under these notation systems 31 2
792
450 =
273 =
7992 =
1733 =
45 x 100 = 45 Ω
27 x 103 = Ω (27kΩ)
799 x 102 = Ω (79.9kΩ)
173 x 103 = Ω (173kΩ)
Significant values
Multiply Factor
Significant values
Multiply Factor
3 & 4-digit system
Resistance = 31
x 102
= 3100Ω
Resistance =
792
x 100
= 792Ω

7. Resistor marking Thru-Hole
Small power (≤1W): Colour code
High power: 3-digit based
The E-12 series
SMD: The “3 & 4-digit” system and the “EIA-96” system
In the 3 & 4-digit system, the first two (or three) digits represent the significant values, whereas the last digit indicates multiplicity
Decimal position is specified by the letter “R” for values lower than 10Ω
2R3
R382
068 0Ω
2.3Ω
792
0.382Ω
0.068Ω

8. Resistor marking Thru-Hole
Small power (≤1W): Colour code
High power: 3-digit based
The E-12 series
SMD: The “3 & 4-digit” system and the “EIA-96” system
In the 3 & 4-digit system, the first two (or three) digits represent the significant values, whereas the last digit indicates multiplicity
In the EIA-96 system (high precision resistors), two numbers (1) codify the resistor value and one letter (2) specifies the multiplier
2) Multiply Factor
1) Code Table
792
51C
Example:
Resistance =
= 332
x 100 = 1) 2)
= 33200Ω (33.2kΩ)

9. Resistor marking The EIA-96 Table 1) Code Table 2) Multiplicity Factor
Value
1) Code Table
Code
Multiplicity
2) Multiplicity
Factor 01
100 02
102 03
105 04
107 05
110 06
113 07
115 08
118 09
121 10
124 11
127 12
130 13
133 14
137 15
140 16
143 17
147 18
150 19
154 20
158 21
162 22
165 23
169 24
174 25
178 26
182 27
187 28
191 29
196 30
200 31
205 32
210 33
215 34
221 35
226 36
232 37
237 38
243 39
249 40
255 41
261 42
267 43
274 44
280 45
287 46
294 47
301 48
309 49
316 50
324 51
332 52
340 53
348 54 55
365 56
374 57
383 58
392 59
402 60
412 61
422 62
432 63
442 64
453 65
464 66
475 67
487 68
499 69
511 70
523 71
536 72
549 73
562 74
576 75
590 76
604 77
619 78
634 79
649 80
665 81
681 82
698 83
715 84
732 85
750 86
768 87
787 88
806 89
825 90
845 91
866 92
887 93
909 94
931 95
953 96
976
357 Z
0.001
Y/R
0.01
X/S
0.1 A 1
B/H 10 C
100 D
1000 E
10000 F
100000
This system prevents confusion with othe marking systems but pay attention with letter “R” (used in 4-digit)

10. Capacitor marking Thru-Hole
Reference unit is pF (picofarad –10-12) unless otherwise specified
Traditionally polyester capacitors used the colour code system…
…but a 3-digit based system similar to high-power resistors (including nominal voltage) has been adopted
The two upper bands represent the base values
3rd. Mutiplicity
4th. Tolerance
5th. Nominal voltage
** We are not going to spend much explainning how it is used
Ceramic:
Polyester:
Electrolytic:
Tantalum:
Negative lead
33nF
10%
100V
1uF
220nF
600V
Positive lead
120pF
10%
1KV
2.2nF
20%
440V
100nF
10uF
35V
68uF
400V
*Values for electrolytic capacitors are from 1uF and can be up to 1F !!
*Values for ceramic and polyester capacitors are from 0.5pF and up to 1uF

11. Capacitor marking Thru-Hole SMD:
Reference unit is pF (picofarad –10-12) unless otherwise specified
Traditionally polyester capacitors used the colour code system…
…but a 3-digit based system similar to high-power resistors (including nominal voltage) has been adopted
SMD:
Ceramic and mica shipped in wrapped strips or reels
Main Electrolytic & Tantalum marking
Ceramic SMD
Capacitors
Strip
Coil
Negative terminal
Capacitance
(in uF)
Lot number
Maximum Voltage
Mark
Voltage
SMD
Tantalum
Capacitor
(Top View)
Negative terminal
Capacitance
(in uF)
Negative terminal
Capacitance
(in uF)
Maximum
Voltage
Series Identification
Lot number
Material
Positive Terminal j A C E V H J 2A
6.3V
10V
16V
25V
35V
50V
63V
100V
SMD
Electrolitic
Capacitor
(Top view)
Organic
Polymer
Series Identification
Black dot for
lead-free (square)
Lot number
Capacitance
(3-digit format in pF)
Maximum Voltage
Kemet
(Tantalum ID)
Production Date
Year
Week
Maximum
Voltage
C,D & X
Case size
Only electrolytic and tantalum capacitors include component information in the package
Ø < 10 mm
Ø > 12.5 mm

12. Two most significant values Least Significant Value
Inductor marking
Thru-Hole
RF chokes use a resistor colour-based system (>1μH)
Be careful not to confuse with standard 1/4W resistors
≡2 70μH ± 13.5 μH
Military standard
(if band included)
Two most significant values
Multiplicity Factor
Least Significant Value
Tolerance
Dot Position
This is a RF choke because the background colour is green…
Colour
(1st Band)
2nd Band
3rd Band
4th Band
5th Band
These are common 1/4W resistors because either they have different background color or 4 bands
<10μH
>10μH
Precision resistors, on the other hand, normally have 5 colour bands and blue background

13. Unshielded SMD power inductors Shielded SMD power inductors
Inductor marking
Thru-Hole
RF chokes use a resistor colour-based system (>1μH)
Ferrite-cored inductors use 3 and 4-digit based systems
SMD
Some small RF chokes come in wheels and they are not marked
Others use a dot colour-based system
And power inductors use 3 and 4-digit based systems
Examples:
Table Reference
* Packages: 0201, 0302, 0402, 0403 and some 0603
0603, 0805 and 1008 packages
Significant values (in μH)
Multiplicity
Significant values
(no multiplicty)
Dot position
Tolerance
We’ll move to the theme of Component Package later on
Tolerances
F = ± 1%
G = ± 2%
J = ± 5%
K = ± 10%
M = ± 20%
1008, 1206, 1812 and Mid packages
Unshielded SMD power inductors
Shielded SMD power inductors
101
4R7J
=100μH
=4.7μH ± 5%
Values represented by the dot are indicated in datasheet tables
The dot only has identification purposes
and does not represent polarity
1st Dot
2nd Dot
Multiplicity
1st black dot
Table reference
3rd black dot
=470nH
Values are in nH
Identifier
Values below 10nH use 1st and 3rd black dot