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Temperature Coefficient

Understanding the 6th Band (Temperature Coefficient)

The 6th band on a precision resistor indicates the temperature coefficient, measured in parts per million per degree Celsius (ppm/°C). This critical specification determines how much the resistance value changes with temperature variations.

For example, a resistor with a temperature coefficient of 10 ppm/°C will change its resistance by 10 parts per million for every degree Celsius of temperature change. In practical terms, a 1kΩ resistor would change by 0.01Ω per °C.

Why it matters: In precision circuits, temperature stability is crucial. Lower ppm/°C values indicate better temperature stability, making these resistors essential for applications like precision amplifiers, measurement equipment, and reference circuits where accuracy must be maintained across varying temperatures.

Common temperature coefficients range from 1 ppm/°C (ultra-precision) to 100 ppm/°C (standard precision), with lower values commanding higher prices due to their superior stability.