APPLIED ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Morehead State University

CHRIS CHARLES
ITEC 141: DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS
LAB EXPERIMENT 1
MEASUREMENT OF RESISTANCE
INSTRUCTOR: MR. COMBS
GROUP MEMBERS:
ALEX HOLBROOK
DATE: 09-010-2014

Objective
The objective of this experiment was to show us how to use the color code system to determine
the value of resistors. To measure the value of resistors with an Ohmmeter. To determine the
difference between the color code value and the measured value, and too measure the resistance
of potentiometers.
Materials

Digital Multimeter (Agilent U12441A)

Analog Trainer (Global Specialist PB-503)

Calculator

1 10 resistor

3 100 resistors

330 resistor

390 resistor

470 resistor

2.7K resistor

5.1K resistor

51K resistor

Assorted lengths of wire

Procedures
First we had to go and collect our materials, then we had to determine the color code value of
each resistor. After we did that, we measured the resistor and calculated there % difference. Then
we had to measure potentiometer that was turned to different settings.

Findings
Color Of Band

Resistor
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Brown
Brown
Brown
Brown
Red
Orange
Brown
Yellow
Green
Brown
Orange

Green
Black
Black
Black
Violet
White
Black
Violet
Brown
Green
Orange

Red
Brown
Brown
Black
Red
Brown
Brown
Brown
Red
Orange
Black

Silver
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Black/Brown

Color-Code
Value
1.5k10%
1005%
1005%
105%
2.7k5%
3905%
1005%
4705%
5.1k5%
15k5%
3301%

Measured
Value
1.46k
98.4
98.7
10.2
2.66k
387.6
98.1
463.1
5.036k
14.73k
324.5

%
Difference
2.7%
1.6%
1.3%
2%
1.48%
.62%
1.9%
1.47%
1.25%
1.8%
1.7%

Conclusion
In this lab, we found that almost all of the resistors were within their color code tolerance. Only
one was not in the color code tolerance and it was the 5 band resistor that was measured last in
the chart above. I learned how to measure resistors and find the amount of tolerance they are
supposed to have in this lab. This will help me in the future if I am ever wiring a circuit. It will
also help me troubleshoot electrical equipment in the future too.
Evaluation and Review Questions
1. A.) yes, the last resistor we measured, it was a 5 band resistor which was off by .7%
B.) you could either measure with a different meter or check other resistor bands to see if
they are off or not.
2. Between 1 & 2=1 , Between 2 & 3=9
3. A.) Brown-Red-Black-Silver
B.) Blue-Gray-Gold-Silver

C.) White-Brown-Brown-Silver
D.) Yellow-Violet-green-Silver
E.) Brown-Black-Black-Silver
4. A.) 22 5%
B.) 750 10%
C.) 510 5%
D.) 9.1 5%
E.) 820K 10%
5. A.) 28350
B.) 25650
Further Investigation
We did the same thing again except we replace 4 band resistors with 5 band. There was a
total of 5 resistors in this portion. This time however we did not have to measure the
amount of actual resistance, but we did have to find the minimum and maximum amounts
that the resistors should have.