Question 1

How do I determine which end to start reading from on a resistor?

Accepted Answer

Start reading from the band closest to one end of the resistor body. The tolerance band (gold, silver, or a wider gap) is always on the opposite end. If ambiguous, the first band is never gold or silver—those are only used for tolerance or multiplier bands.

Question 2

What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band resistors?

Accepted Answer

Four-band resistors have two significant digits and are typically ±5% or ±10% tolerance. Five-band resistors have three significant digits, providing higher precision (±1% or ±0.5%). Five-band types are standard in modern electronics where tighter tolerances are required for analog and precision circuits.