Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name of the faculty : KP pratap
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : ECE
Institution : GMR Polytechnic Gajwel Medak (dt)
Year/semester : 1st year
Subject : Electronic components and devices

Subject code : EC-105

Topic : Capacitors
Duration : 50 minutes
Subject topic : Problems on colour codes
Teaching Aids : PPTs, visuals
EC105. 29 1
Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic you would

be able to understand

• Solve problems on color code.

EC105. 29 2
Problem 1
For a five dot (color) ceramic tubular capacitor first color is
red, second color is brown, third color is yellow, fourth color is
brown and fifth color is black. Find its capacitance?
Fig. 1

• 1st color is red which indicates the temperature coefficient.

Therefore temperature coefficient = -33ppm/°C.

• 2nd color is brown which indicates the first significance digit

therefore first significance digit is 1.

EC105. 29 3
 Problem 1 (Contd)

• 3rd color is yellow which indicates the second significance

digittherefore second significance digit is 4.

• 4th color is brown which indicates the capacitance

multiplier therefore capacitance multiplier is 10.

• 5th color is black which indicates the tolerance

therefore the tolerance is ±20%.

• The capacitance value is 14 X 10 pF ± 20%

= -33 ppm/°C 140 pF ± 20%
EC105. 29 4
 Problem 2
For a six dot (color) ceramic tubular capacitor first color is red,
second color is brown, third color is green, fourth color is blue ,
fifth color is orange and sixth color is green. Find its capacitance?

Fig. 2

• 1st color is red which indicates the temperature coefficient.

Therefore temperature coefficient = 1 ppm/°C
• 2nd color is brown which indicates the temperature coefficient
multiplier (-10)
• 3rd color is green which indicates the first significant digit
therefore first significant digit is 5
EC105. 29 5
 Problem 2 (Contd)
• 4th color is blue which indicates the second significant digit
therefore second significant digit is 6.

• 5th color is orange which indicates the capacitance multiplier

therefore the capacitance multiplier is 1000.

• Sixth color is green which indicates the tolerance

therefore the tolerance is ±5%.

• The capacitance value is 56 X 103 pF ± 5%

= -10 ppm/°C 56 nF ± 5%
EC105. 29 6
Problem 3
For three color ceramic disk capacitor first color is red, second
color is brown and third color is red. Find its capacitance?

• 1st color is red which indicates the first significant digit

therefore first significant digit is 2.

• 2nd color is brown which indicates the second significant digit

therefore second significant digit is 1.

• 3rd color is red which indicates the multiplier

therefore multiplier is 100
Total capacitance = 21 X 102 pF
= 2.1 nF
EC105. 29 7
Problem 4

For five color ceramic disk capacitor first color is orange,

second color is yellow, third color is red, fourth color is orange
and fifth color is green. Find its capacitance?

• 1st color is orange which indicates the temperature coefficient

therefore temperature coefficient is -150 ppm/°C.

• 2nd color is yellow which indicates the first significance digit

therefore first significance digit is 4.

• 3rd color is red which indicates the second significance digit

therefore second significance digit is 2.
EC105. 29 8
Problem 4 (Contd)

• 4th color is orange which indicates the multiplier

therefore multiplier is 1000.

• 5th color is green which indicates the tolerance

therefore tolerance = ±5%.

Total capacitance = -150ppm/°C 42 X 103 pF ±5%

= -150ppm/°C 42 nF ±5%

EC105. 29 9
Problem 5
For a moulded paper tubular capacitor first color is red, second
color is brown, third color is yellow, fourth color is silver, fifth
color is brown and sixth color is black. Find its capacitance
value?

• 1st color is red which indicates the first significant digit

therefore first significant digit is 2.

• 2nd color is brown which indicates the second significant digit

therefore second significant digit is 1.

• 3rd color is yellow which indicates the multiplier

therefore multiplier is 1000.
EC105. 29 10
Problem 5 (Contd)
• 4th color is silver which indicates the tolerance
therefore tolerance is ±10%

• 5th color is brown which indicates the first significant digit of

working voltage therefore first significant digit of working
voltage is 1.

• 6th color is black which indicates the second significant digit of

working voltage.
therefore second significant digit of working voltage is 0
• Therefore the capacitance .
= 21 X 103 pF ±10% 1000V
EC105. 29 11
Problem 6

For a six dot mica capacitor first color is white, second

color is brown, third color is red, fourth color is yellow,
fifth color is black and sixth color is D type characteristic.
Find its capacitance?

• 1st color is white which is identifier of mica capacitor.

• 2nd color is brown which is first significant digit therefore
first significance digit is 1.
• 3rd color is red which indicates the second significant digit
therefore second significant digit is 2.

EC105. 29 12
Problem 6 (Contd)

• 4th color is yellow which indicates the multiplier

therefore multiplier is 10000

• 5th color is back which indicates the tolerance

therefore tolerance = ±20%

• 6th dot indicates the D type characteristic.

Therefore the capacitance
= 12 X 104 pF ±20%
= 12 X 104 X10-12 ±20%
= 120 nF ±20%
EC105. 29 13
Summary

We have discussed about

• The problem on colour code.

EC105. 29 14
Quiz

• What is the value of black colour in

colour code of capacitors

c) One

e) Zero

g) Two

i) Three

EC105. 29 15
2. What is the value of tolerance if the
colour is green

c) 5%

e) 10%

g) 15%

i) 20%

EC105. 29 16
Frequently asked Questions

1. For three colour ceramic disc capacitor first colour

is red, second colour is red and third colour is
brown. Find its capacitance value.

3. For a 5 dot (colour) ceramic tubular capacitor first

colour is red, second colour is brown, third colour
is yellow, fourth colour is red, fifth is orange and
sixth colour is green. Find its capacitance value.

EC105. 29 17
 Assignment Questions

1. For three colour ceramic disc capacitor first colour is

brown, second colour is red and third colour is red
Find its capacitance value.

5. For a 5 dot (colour) ceramic tubular capacitor first

colour is red, second colour is yellow, third colour is
brown, fourth colour is red, fifth is orange and sixth
colour is green. Find its capacitance value.

EC105. 29 18