Resistor suggestions for colorblind person

I use only surface mount resistors. Most 0603 and larger resistors are marked in high-contrast silkscreen with the numerical value of the resistor:

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You may need magnification to read 0603 and 0805 markings.

The smaller ones are not marked at all. You get used to dealing with them. Just keep the different values in separate bags or bins. It is no different than leaded resistors when you can't read the color bands.


Try not to be intimidated by the colours, I think it should be easy to get round this. Certainly I wouldn't let it put you off electronics, too much fun to be had :-)

You would ideally have them sorted into separate marked drawers anyway. For example these storage cabinets are what we use. It has 44 separate drawers that can be divided themselves into three parts with dividers, and a slot at the front for a label card. There are many types/sizes around so find something that suits your needs.

That gets you "pretty certain" that the resistor you take out of the drawer will be the right one.
To make sure though, I would maybe buy a cheap multimeter (or repurpose one) and set it up as a value tester. If you make a little frame to set the probes just the right distance apart, you can quickly place the resistor between them and double check it's value.

This is more for loose resistors, but another option is to keep them in their packets in the drawers until needed, then take out as necessary. Though you can get errors in the packaging/component it's very very rare, and if you test one you can be even more sure all the rest will be the same anyway.

This should ensure you have very little chance of making a mistake (probably about as much as anyone else, many don't go by the colour bands anyway)

Most other components nowadays have values/codes marked on them, and if you are working with SMD (most) resistors do too - it's the unmarked capacitors that are the pain (for everyone) there :-)


If you search the net for these words: color recognition blind iphone software you get more then enough to start with. Add resistor to the words list and joy is all yours.

  1. Ohm sense is an iPhone app that will take a picture of a resistor and calculate the value based on the color bands.
  2. 20 iphone apps for color blind
  3. Someone else has the same problem as you do. Another one, too.

You can also search for android instead of iphone if that is your preferred mobile platform.

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Resistors