The 560 ohm color code for a standard 4-band resistor is Green, Blue, Brown, Gold. For a 5-band precision resistor, the sequence shifts to Green, Blue, Black, Black, Gold (or Brown for 1% tolerance). Because a 560Ω resistor sits right on the boundary of requiring a third significant digit in precision circuits, confusing the 4-band multiplier with the 5-band multiplier is one of the most common bench mistakes in electronics.
Below is the complete reference data for identifying, verifying, and troubleshooting 560Ω resistors across all standard band configurations.
The 560 Ohm Color Code Reference Tables
Resistor color codes are globally standardized under IEC 60062. Unlike mains wiring—where you must navigate NEC (US), IEC 60446 (EU), or old UK regional color codes—resistor bands do not have regional variants. A 560Ω resistor manufactured in Tokyo, Berlin, or Chicago will always use the exact same color sequence.
| Band Position | Function | Color | Numeric Value | Calculation Step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Significant Digit | Green | 5 | Base tens digit |
| 2 | 2nd Significant Digit | Blue | 6 | Base ones digit |
| 3 | Multiplier | Brown | ×10 (10¹) | 56 × 10 = 560 |
| 4 | Tolerance | Gold | ±5% | Actual range: 532Ω - 588Ω |
| Band | 5-Band Function | 5-Band Color | 6-Band Function | 6-Band Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Digit | Green (5) | 1st Digit | Green (5) |
| 2 | 2nd Digit | Blue (6) | 2nd Digit | Blue (6) |
| 3 | 3rd Digit | Black (0) | 3rd Digit | Black (0) |
| 4 | Multiplier | Black (×1) | Multiplier | Black (×1) |
| 5 | Tolerance | Brown (±1%) | Tolerance | Brown (±1%) |
| 6 | N/A | N/A | Temp. Coefficient | Red (50 ppm/°C) |
Decoding the Bands: What Each Row Means in Practice
Understanding the math behind the colors prevents misidentification when you are sorting through a mixed bin of through-hole components. For the 4-band 560Ω resistor, you read the first two digits (5 and 6) and multiply by the brown band's value (10).
For the 5-band and 6-band variants, the introduction of a third significant digit changes the multiplier entirely. Because 560 is written as 5-6-0, the third digit is Black (0). Consequently, the multiplier must be Black (×1 or 10⁰) to keep the value at 560. If you mistakenly apply the 4-band Brown multiplier (×10) to a 5-band sequence, you will calculate 5600Ω (5.6kΩ) instead.
The 6-Band Temperature Coefficient: In precision analog circuits, such as the feedback loop of an op-amp or a DAC reference, the 6th band indicates how much the resistance drifts with heat. A Red 6th band means 50 ppm/°C (parts per million per degree Celsius). If your bench ambient temperature rises by 20°C, a 560Ω resistor with a 50 ppm/°C rating will drift by a maximum of 0.56Ω—critical data for high-resolution ADCs.
Common Misreads: Rows and Bands People Get Wrong
Even experienced technicians misread resistors under poor lighting or when dealing with manufacturing inconsistencies. Here are the specific failure modes for the 560Ω color code:
- Green vs. Blue Confusion: Under warm incandescent bench lighting or on cheap carbon-film bodies, the Green (5) and Blue (6) bands can look remarkably similar, both appearing as a muddy teal. If you read it backwards as Blue-Green-Brown-Gold, you will calculate 650Ω. Always verify with a meter if the lighting is questionable.
- The 'Missing' Zero in 5-Band: Hobbyists often forget that 560 requires a zero as the third digit. They will look for a 5-band resistor with Green-Blue-Multiplier-Tolerance, skipping the Black (0) third digit band, leading them to grab a 56Ω resistor (Green-Blue-Black-Gold) by mistake.
- Reading Backwards (Tolerance Trap): Gold and Silver can only ever be the tolerance band, making orientation easy for 4-band 5% or 10% resistors. However, a 5-band 1% resistor uses a Brown tolerance band. Because Brown is also a valid multiplier and digit, you can easily read a 560Ω 1% resistor backwards. Rule of thumb: The tolerance band is usually spaced slightly further away from the other bands, or the first digit band is printed closer to the lead wire.
When a 1/4W carbon film resistor operates near its maximum power dissipation for extended periods, the body heat can cause the Green (5) band to fade into a pale brown. If you see a resistor that looks like Brown-Blue-Brown-Gold (160Ω) but the circuit schematic calls for 560Ω, suspect heat fading. Always verify with a multimeter before replacing it with the wrong value.
Safe Interpretation When Markings Are Faded or Missing
When visual inspection fails due to heat damage, conformal coating, or dirt, you must rely on your digital multimeter (DMM). However, measuring a resistor while it is still soldered into a circuit is the most common troubleshooting error in electronics.
The In-Circuit Measurement Trap:
If you probe a 560Ω resistor on a populated PCB, your DMM will inject a small test current and measure the voltage drop. If there is a parallel 1.2kΩ resistor elsewhere in that specific circuit node, your meter will read the parallel equivalent (approximately 381Ω), not the 560Ω of the component itself. You will falsely conclude the resistor has failed or is the wrong value.
The Correct Verification Procedure:
- De-energize the circuit: Remove all power sources and discharge any large capacitors. Measuring resistance on a live circuit will blow the internal fuse of your DMM (typically a 0.5A fast-blow) and can damage the meter's ADC.
- Isolate one leg: Use a temperature-controlled soldering iron (set to ~350°C for leaded, ~380°C for lead-free) and desoldering wick to lift just one leg of the 560Ω resistor off the PCB pad. You do not need to remove the component entirely.
- Zero your leads: Touch your DMM probes together. If your meter reads 0.2Ω, subtract this from your final measurement (or use the relative/delta mode on advanced meters like the Fluke 87V).
- Measure and interpret: Probe the lifted leg and the grounded leg. A reading between 532Ω and 588Ω confirms a healthy 4-band 560Ω resistor. If it reads infinite (OL), the internal carbon trace has fractured—common in resistors that have absorbed a voltage spike.
For further reading on standard component identification and resistor network theory, refer to the All About Circuits Resistor Calculator and the Electronics Tutorials Resistor Colour Code guide. Always default to bench measurement when visual standards conflict with schematic expectations.
