BS 1852

The British standard BS 1852[1] and its replacement, BS EN 60062[2][3], comprises a colour code for fixed resistors; letter and digit code for resistance (R for ohms, K for kilohms and M for megohms) and capacitance values.

Codes

Letter code for resistance and capacitance tolerances and a date code for capacitors and resistors:

coding:

BB - 1/8 WATTS,
CB - 1/4 ″ ,
EB - 1/2 ″ ,
GB - 1/1 ″ ,

5 - ±5% tolerance,
2 - ±20% ″,
1 - ±10% ″,

Steps to find out the resistance or capacitance values:

  1. 1st 2 letters gives the power dissipation capacity.
  2. next 3 digits gives the resistance value.
    1. 1st 2 digits are the significant values
    2. 3rd digit is the multiplier.
  3. final digit gives the tolerance.

Examples

If a resistor is coded :

Examples of resistance values
R47 0.47 ohm
4R7 4.7 ohm
470R 470 ohm
4K7 4.7 kilohm
47K 47 kilohm
47K3 47.3 kilohm
470K 470 kilohm
4M7 4.7 megohm

References

  1. ^ BS 1852:1975, IEC 60062:1974
  2. ^ BS EN 60062:1994
  3. ^ BS EN 60062:2005