Inductor Color Code (3-band style)

📖 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is an inductor?

An inductor is a passive electronic component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. It's typically a coil of wire. Inductors are used to block AC while allowing DC to pass, and in filters and oscillators.

2. How are inductor color codes read?

The system is very similar to resistor color codes. The first two bands represent significant digits, and the third band is the multiplier. The resulting value is typically in microhenries (µH).

3. What is the unit of inductance?

The standard unit of inductance is the Henry (H). However, this is a very large unit, so most practical inductors are measured in millihenries (mH) or microhenries (µH).

4. What does the fourth band on an inductor represent?

For inductors with four or more bands, the fourth band indicates the tolerance, which is the percentage accuracy of the inductor's stated value. Common tolerance colors are Gold (±5%) and Silver (±10%).