47k Ohm Resistor Color Code — Y-V-Orange Family & Analog Bias
47 kΩ color code (Yellow-Violet-Orange-Gold): the full 47 decade family (470 Ω / 4.7 kΩ / 47 kΩ), analog bias networks, and the orange-vs-red multiplier trap.
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Full index: All resistor color code values
47 kΩ completes the Yellow–Violet digit family
Yellow · Violet · Orange · Gold → digits 4 · 7, multiplier ×10³ → 47 kΩ. Same 4 · 7 prefix as 470 Ω and 4.7 kΩ — only the third band changes the decade.
4-band: Yellow · Violet · Orange · Gold → 47 × 1,000 = 47,000 Ω = 47 kΩ (±5%) · 5-band (±1%): Yellow · Violet · Black · Red · Brown → 470 × 100 = 47 kΩ (±1%)
This page is analog bias and the 47-family multiplier table — not I²C (4.7 kΩ guide) or LED math (220 Ω guide).
The full 47 family (yellow · violet · ?)
| Value | 3rd band (multiplier) | Full 4-band |
|---|---|---|
| 470 Ω | Brown (×10) | Y · V · Brown · Gold |
| 4.7 kΩ | Red (×100) | Y · V · Red · Gold |
| 47 kΩ | Orange (×1,000) | Y · V · Orange · Gold |
One wrong band = 10× or 100× error. Meter any yellow-violet part before soldering into a bias network.
Typical analog uses for 47 kΩ
| Circuit role | Why 47 kΩ |
|---|---|
| BJT / JFET bias divider leg | Sets quiescent point with a lower kΩ partner — high enough for low idle current |
| Op-amp feedback (high level) | Appears in guitar-pedal and audio trainer schematics as megohm-to-kΩ ratios |
| Weak pull to mid-rail | Softer than 10 kΩ, stronger than 100 kΩ — trade-off between speed and power |
Idle current at 5 V through 47 kΩ: ≈106 µA — between 10 kΩ (0.5 mA) and 100 kΩ (50 µA).
47 kΩ vs 4.7 kΩ — do not swap on a live board
| Mistake | Effect |
|---|---|
| 4.7 kΩ where 47 kΩ expected | 10× lower resistance — bias point shifts, current rises |
| 47 kΩ where 4.7 kΩ expected (e.g. I²C) | 10× weaker pull-up — rise time fails, bus errors |
Always read the third band: red = kΩ range, orange = tens of kΩ.
FAQ
What is the 47k ohm resistor color code?
4-band (±5%): Yellow, Violet, Orange, Gold. 47 × 1,000 = 47 kΩ (±5%). Actual range: 44.65 kΩ – 49.35 kΩ.
What is the 47k ohm resistor colour code (5-band)?
Yellow · Violet · Black · Red · Brown → 470 × 100 = 47 kΩ (±1%). Range: 46.53 kΩ – 47.47 kΩ.
How do I read a 47k ohm resistor color code?
Read left to right: first bands are digits, then multiplier, then tolerance. For 47 kΩ: Yellow-Violet-Orange = significant digits & multiplier, Gold = tolerance. Use the color code calculator to verify.
Which end do I start reading a 47 kΩ resistor from?
Start from the grouped digit bands (left). The tolerance band (Gold) is on the right — gold and silver are almost always tolerance, not multipliers.
What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band for 47 kΩ?
4-band (Yellow · Violet · Orange · Gold) gives 47 × 1,000 = 47 kΩ (±5%) with typical ±5% gold tolerance. 5-band (Yellow · Violet · Black · Red · Brown) adds a third digit for ±1% precision: 470 × 100 = 47 kΩ (±1%) (46.53 kΩ – 47.47 kΩ).
47k vs 470 ohm color code?
470 Ω uses brown multiplier (×10). 47 kΩ uses orange (×1,000).
Related guides (different topics)
- 4.7 kΩ color code — I²C rise time & bus capacitance
- 470 Ω color code — textbook LED history & Y-V family
- 100 kΩ color code — high-Z biasing & divider top leg
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Learn the method in our beginner's guide · Decode instantly with the color code calculator