The 5.6 kΩ (5600 ohm) resistor color code depends entirely on the number of bands printed on the body. For a standard 4-band resistor (±5% tolerance), the colors are Green, Blue, Red, Gold. For a precision 5-band resistor (±1% tolerance), the colors are Green, Blue, Black, Brown, Brown. If you are using surface-mount (SMD) components, the 3-digit code is 562 and the 4-digit code is 5601.
Below is the complete breakdown of how these bands map to the 5,600 Ω value, the international standards that govern them, and how to safely verify the value when the paint is burnt or faded.
The 5.6 kΩ Resistor Color Code Reference Table
Resistor color codes follow a strict positional logic. The table below maps the exact colors you will see on the bench for both the common E24 series (5% tolerance) and the precision E96 series (1% tolerance).
| Band Position | 4-Band (±5% Tolerance) | 5-Band (±1% Tolerance) | 5-Band (±5% Tolerance) | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Green (5) | Green (5) | Green (5) | 1st Significant Digit |
| Band 2 | Blue (6) | Blue (6) | Blue (6) | 2nd Significant Digit |
| Band 3 | Red (×100) | Black (0) | Black (0) | Multiplier / 3rd Digit |
| Band 4 | Gold (±5%) | Brown (×10) | Red (×100) | Multiplier / Tolerance |
| Band 5 | N/A | Brown (±1%) | Gold (±5%) | Tolerance |
| Band 6 (Optional) | N/A | Black (100ppm/°C) | N/A | Temperature Coefficient |
Rows People Get Wrong on the Bench
- The 5-Band Multiplier Shift: Beginners often try to read a 5-band 1% resistor using 4-band logic. They see Green-Blue-Black and assume the third digit is a multiplier. In a 5-band system, the third band is always a significant digit (Black = 0). The multiplier shifts to the fourth band (Brown = ×10). 560 × 10 = 5600 Ω.
- Red vs. Brown Multipliers: In a 4-band 5.6k resistor, the multiplier is Red (×100) because you are multiplying 56 by 100. In a 5-band 5.6k resistor, the multiplier is Brown (×10) because you are multiplying 560 by 10. Swapping these in your head will lead you to misread the component as 560 Ω or 56 kΩ.
- Tolerance Band Spacing: If you are unsure which end to start reading from, look at the gap between the last two bands. The tolerance band (Gold or Brown) is typically spaced slightly further away from the multiplier band than the other bands are from each other.
Standard Variants: IEC 60062 vs. Legacy and Regional Confusion
A common point of confusion for DIYers transitioning from home wiring to electronics is the assumption that regional electrical codes dictate component colors. NEC (NFPA 70) and IEC 60446 wire color codes do not apply to resistors. Black is not 'hot' and Green is not 'ground' on a resistor body.
Resistor color codes are governed globally by a single standard: IEC 60062 (internationally adopted, including by EIA in the US and BSI in the UK). According to Electronics Tutorials, this standard defines the exact RGB values and numerical mappings for the bands.
Legacy UK (BS 1852) vs. Modern IEC 60062
If you are repairing vintage British audio equipment or old tube amplifiers, you may encounter resistors marked under the old BS 1852 standard. While the band colors for the digits (Green=5, Blue=6) remained identical to modern IEC 60062, BS 1852 used the body color of the resistor to indicate its type and reliability, rather than just using a uniform beige or blue body. For example, a salmon-pink body indicated a carbon composition resistor, while a gold body indicated a high-stability carbon film. Today, IEC 60062 relies on the printed bands and the physical size (e.g., 0207 for 1/4W) rather than body paint to convey this data.
Safe Interpretation When Markings Are Faded, Burnt, or Missing
When a 5.6 kΩ resistor is located in the feedback loop of a switching power supply or a high-current snubber circuit, the heat can bake the conformal coating, turning the beige body dark brown and obscuring the Green and Blue bands. Here is the systematic way to handle this on the bench:
- De-energize and Discharge: Unplug the device and safely discharge any bulk filter capacitors using a high-wattage bleeder resistor. Never measure resistance on a live board.
- Lift One Leg: Desolder and lift one leg of the resistor out of the PCB pad. If you measure in-circuit, parallel resistance from surrounding semiconductors and capacitor leakage will give you a falsely low reading (e.g., your 5.6k might read as 1.2k).
- Measure and Compare: Use a digital multimeter (DMM) on the appropriate kΩ range. A healthy 5.6k ±5% resistor will read between 5,320 Ω and 5,880 Ω.
- The 'Burnt Resistor' Rule: If the resistor body is charred black and the bands are entirely gone, do not scrape the coating to look for paint. The carbon film or metal oxide layer has oxidized, meaning the resistance has likely drifted massively upward or the part has failed open. Check the schematic, or if unavailable, trace the circuit to determine if it is a pull-up (likely 1k-10k) or a current sense resistor (likely <1 Ω), and replace it with a fresh, correctly rated component.
For a deeper look at how manufacturers specify these tolerances and thermal limits, refer to the Vishay Dale Resistor Color Code Guide, which details the exact band spacing and TCR (Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) markings for precision axial components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SMD code for a 5.6 kΩ resistor?
Surface-mount resistors do not use color bands; they use printed alphanumeric codes. For a standard 5% tolerance 0805 or 0603 SMD resistor, the 5.6 kΩ code is 562 (56 × 10²). For a 1% precision SMD resistor (usually 0805 size or larger), the 4-digit code is 5601 (560 × 10¹). If you are working with tiny 0402 or 0201 packages, they are typically unmarked entirely and must be kept in their labeled tape reels or measured with micro-tweezers before soldering.
Can I substitute a 5.6k resistor with a 5.1k or 6.2k in a circuit?
It depends entirely on the circuit function. If the 5.6k resistor is acting as an I2C pull-up resistor for an ESP32 or Arduino, substituting a 5.1k or 6.2k is perfectly fine; the bus will still operate correctly within the 2k to 10k acceptable range. However, if the 5.6k resistor is part of a precision voltage divider feeding an ADC reference pin, or setting the oscillation frequency of a 555 timer, a 10% shift (using a 5.1k or 6.2k) will cause measurable timing errors or inaccurate voltage readings. Always check if the circuit relies on absolute precision or just a rough current limit.
Why does my 5-band 5.6k resistor have a brown multiplier instead of red?
This happens because you are holding a 5-band precision resistor, not a 4-band standard resistor. In a 4-band system, you multiply the two digits (56) by 100 (Red) to get 5600. In a 5-band system, you have three digits (560) and you multiply by 10 (Brown) to get 5600. The math yields the exact same 5.6 kΩ result, but the physical band layout shifts to accommodate the extra significant digit required for tighter 1% or 2% tolerances.
