The 4-band color code for a 5.6 kΩ (5600 ohm) resistor is Green, Blue, Red, Gold (5% tolerance). The 5-band color code for a precision 5.6 kΩ resistor is Green, Blue, Black, Brown, Brown (1% tolerance). Because 5.6 is a standard base value in the E24 decade series, you will frequently encounter this exact value in both general-purpose carbon film and precision metal film resistors.
The 5.6 kΩ Resistor Color Code Reference
Resistor bands are read from left to right, with the tolerance band (usually gold or silver) spaced slightly wider and placed on the far right. Below are the exact breakdowns for the two most common physical formats you will find on a workbench.
4-Band Standard (5% Tolerance, E24 Series)
| Band Position | Function | Color | Numeric Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | 1st Significant Digit | Green | 5 |
| Band 2 | 2nd Significant Digit | Blue | 6 |
| Band 3 | Multiplier | Red | ×100 (×10²) |
| Band 4 | Tolerance | Gold | ±5% |
Calculation: 56 × 100 = 5,600 Ω (5.6 kΩ). Acceptable range: 5,320 Ω to 5,880 Ω.
5-Band Precision (1% Tolerance, E24/E96 Series)
| Band Position | Function | Color | Numeric Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | 1st Significant Digit | Green | 5 |
| Band 2 | 2nd Significant Digit | Blue | 6 |
| Band 3 | 3rd Significant Digit | Black | 0 |
| Band 4 | Multiplier | Brown | ×10 (×10¹) |
| Band 5 | Tolerance | Brown | ±1% |
Calculation: 560 × 10 = 5,600 Ω (5.6 kΩ). Acceptable range: 5,544 Ω to 5,656 Ω.
Standard Variants: IEC 60062, EIA Bands, and BS1852
A common point of confusion for DIYers crossing from home wiring to electronics is assuming the NEC (National Electrical Code) color standards apply to components. NEC Article 200/250 dictates white/gray for neutral and green/bare for ground in AC mains wiring. It has zero authority over component marking. Resistors globally follow IEC 60062, which standardizes the electronic color code.
While IEC 60062 governs the painted bands globally, regional legacy standards and alternative marking systems still appear on older equipment or specific schematic BOMs (Bill of Materials).
| Standard / System | Format for 5.6 kΩ | Region / Context |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60062 (4-Band) | Green-Blue-Red-Gold | Global (Through-hole carbon/metal film) |
| IEC 60062 (5-Band) | Green-Blue-Black-Brown-Brown | Global (Precision 1% metal film) |
| BS1852 / BS EN 60062 | 5K6 (Letter Code) | UK / Europe (Printed on PCB silkscreens and older schematics) |
| SMD (Surface Mount) | 562 (3-digit) or 5601 (4-digit) | Global (SMD packages like 0603, 0805) |
In older British and European schematics, you will see 5K6 instead of 5.6K. The letter 'K' replaces the decimal point to prevent a catastrophic misread if the schematic is photocopied or damaged (e.g., a smudged '5.6K' could be misread as '56K', but '5K6' remains unambiguous). If you are restoring vintage audio gear or UK-built test equipment, 5K6 means exactly 5.6 kΩ.
Troubleshooting Faded Bands and Common Misreads
Carbon composition and older carbon film resistors are notorious for band fading, especially when subjected to high ambient heat near power supplies or vacuum tubes. Here is how to handle the most common bench errors.
Rows People Get Wrong
- The Multiplier Shift: In a 4-band resistor, Red is the multiplier (×100). In a 5-band resistor, Red is the 3rd significant digit (3), and Brown becomes the multiplier (×10). Reading a 5-band 1% resistor using 4-band rules will yield a completely wrong value.
- Green vs. Blue Under Fluorescent Light: The 5 (Green) and 6 (Blue) bands can look nearly identical under cool-white bench lighting or when coated in conformal coating. Always verify with a secondary light source or a multimeter.
- Gold vs. Silver Tolerance: Gold is ±5%, Silver is ±10%. If the final band is completely missing or burned off, assume a worst-case ±20% (no band) tolerance and verify the circuit's sensitivity to value drift.
Safe Interpretation When Markings are Faded or Missing
If the bands are illegible, do not guess based on the physical size of the resistor; body size (e.g., 0204 vs 0207) dictates wattage (1/8W vs 1/4W), not resistance. Follow this recovery protocol:
- Isolate the Component: Never measure a resistor while it is fully soldered into a live or powered-down circuit. Parallel paths through ICs, capacitors, and other resistors will artificially lower your multimeter reading, often making a 5.6 kΩ resistor read as 1.2 kΩ or lower.
- Lift One Leg: Use a soldering iron and desoldering wick to lift just one leg of the resistor out of the PCB pad. This breaks the parallel circuit.
- Measure and Verify: Place your DMM probes across the leads. If it reads between 5.32 kΩ and 5.88 kΩ, you have confirmed a 5% 5.6 kΩ resistor. If it reads open (OL), the resistor has failed internally (common in carbon comp resistors subjected to voltage spikes).
- Check for Thermal Damage: If the resistor body is blistered or the color code is burned brown, the component has likely exceeded its power dissipation rating. Replace it with a higher wattage variant (e.g., upgrade from 1/4W to 1/2W) and investigate the circuit for a short or overvoltage condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact 5.6 k resistor color code for a 1% tolerance?
The 5-band color code for a 1% tolerance 5.6 kΩ resistor is Green, Blue, Black, Brown, Brown. The first three bands (Green-Blue-Black) represent the digits 5-6-0. The fourth band (Brown) is the ×10 multiplier, yielding 5600 ohms. The final Brown band indicates the ±1% tolerance. Note that ultra-precision 0.1% resistors use a 6-band code, adding a temperature coefficient (TCR) band, usually Red (50 ppm/°C) or Yellow (25 ppm/°C).
Can I use a 5.6 kΩ resistor instead of a 5.1 kΩ or 6.2 kΩ?
It depends entirely on the circuit function. In a pull-up/pull-down network for a microcontroller GPIO (like an I2C bus or button debounce), swapping 5.1 kΩ for 5.6 kΩ is perfectly safe; the logic thresholds will still be met. However, in a precision voltage divider feeding an ADC reference, or in the feedback loop of an op-amp or switching regulator, a 10% shift in resistance will alter the output voltage or oscillation frequency enough to cause system failure. Always check the schematic's tolerance requirements before substituting E24 values.
How do I read a 5.6k resistor if the paint is burned or faded?
If visual identification fails, you must use a digital multimeter (DMM). Desolder at least one leg of the resistor from the PCB to eliminate parallel resistance paths. Set your DMM to the 20kΩ range. If the reading is roughly 5.60, it is a 5.6 kΩ unit. If the reading fluctuates wildly or reads significantly higher than 5.88 kΩ, the carbon track inside has degraded due to thermal stress, and the component must be replaced. For a reliable replacement source, check standard resistor assortment kits which stock all E24 values.
Is the 5.6 k color code the same for wirewound and carbon film resistors?
Yes, the IEC 60062 color code applies universally across carbon composition, carbon film, metal film, and metal oxide film resistors. However, wirewound resistors (used for high-wattage applications like 5W or 10W cement resistors) rarely use painted bands. Instead, they typically have their value (e.g., "5K6" or "5.6Ω") and wattage printed directly in white text on the ceramic or cement body. If you do find a banded wirewound resistor, the color code remains identical to the film types.
