i have a question about replacing resistors, all the resistors i have have a final gold band which indicates +/- 5%. is it acceptable to replace resistors in my radio which have no final band (+/- 20%) or a silver final band (+/- 10%) with these gold band resistors? as long as the other values are the same? someone please help.

:i have a question about replacing resistors, all the resistors i have have a final gold band which indicates +/- 5%. is it acceptable to replace resistors in my radio which have no final band (+/- 20%) or a silver final band (+/- 10%) with these gold band resistors? as long as the other values are the same? someone please help.
:
:Russell,

Yes, the gold band resistors are a tighter tolerance meaning they are closer to the specified resistance and are suitable replacements. As long as you use a replacement resistor of the same resistance value (ohms) and the same or greater power rating (wattage). Also note that the 5% resistors are more expensive than ones of looser tolerance.

I must add that having a silver or no band does not necessarily mean that the resistor is off in value, either. This band simply states the tolerance allowed in production. You can obtain a resistor with a silver band or no band, and it may check out right on its resistance anyway if you test it will an accurate ohm meter. In this case, if it checks out right on value, then it is as good as a gold banded resistor. Usually silver and no band resistors manufactured by the same company under the same conditions are no worse in quality than the gold banded ones. More time is taken, though, to form the resistance material of the gold banded resistors to just the right size and dimention for the resistance required. This increases cost.

Thomas

ok, so i have resistors that match the same color sequences for the resistors in my radio. now how do i determine the wattage? i threw the package away for the resistors long ago. i bought an assortment from radio shack. the radio i have is a motorola 401 whose schematic is located at this link:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/581/M0006581.htm

this is a first time radio for me to repair so im not to savy on reading schematics. help would be appreciated. some of the resistors are decayed so i figured i may as well replace them. ive all ready tested the capacitors, and will get replacements for the bad ones this weekend.

Hi Russell,
The wattage rating for a resistor is determined by the physical size of the resistor. Look at the package of the resistor assortment you bought from Radio Shack. It should tell you if the resistors are 1/4 Watt or 1/2 Watt.

If your old resistors are the same physical size as a new 1/2 W, chances are they are indeed 1/2 W. In all the tube radios I've repaired, I've never found any resistors with a power rating less than 1/2 Watt.

Mark

:ok, so i have resistors that match the same color sequences for the resistors in my radio. now how do i determine the wattage? i threw the package away for the resistors long ago. i bought an assortment from radio shack. the radio i have is a motorola 401 whose schematic is located at this link:
:
:http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/581/M0006581.htm
:
:this is a first time radio for me to repair so im not to savy on reading schematics. help would be appreciated. some of the resistors are decayed so i figured i may as well replace them. ive all ready tested the capacitors, and will get replacements for the bad ones this weekend.

well the resistors i have are tiny, like the size of a big grain of rice. the resistors on the radio vary in in size from rice size all the way up to "crayon broken in half size" any suggestions?

russell

:Hi Russell,
:The wattage rating for a resistor is determined by the physical size of the resistor. Look at the package of the resistor assortment you bought from Radio Shack. It should tell you if the resistors are 1/4 Watt or 1/2 Watt.
:
:If your old resistors are the same physical size as a new 1/2 W, chances are they are indeed 1/2 W. In all the tube radios I've repaired, I've never found any resistors with a power rating less than 1/2 Watt.
:
:Mark

Russell.....check your email. I just sent you a "home made" chart that may help.
Dennis Wess.

:well the resistors i have are tiny, like the size of a big grain of rice. the resistors on the radio vary in in size from rice size all the way up to "crayon broken in half size" any suggestions?
:
:russell
:
:
::Hi Russell,
::The wattage rating for a resistor is determined by the physical size of the resistor. Look at the package of the resistor assortment you bought from Radio Shack. It should tell you if the resistors are 1/4 Watt or 1/2 Watt.
::
::If your old resistors are the same physical size as a new 1/2 W, chances are they are indeed 1/2 W. In all the tube radios I've repaired, I've never found any resistors with a power rating less than 1/2 Watt.
::
::Mark
:

On rare occasion you will find 1/4 watt resistors in places such as a grid biasing resistor on the 1st audio amp tube. These are the same thickness as a dry grain of rice. Otherwise, as Mark said, you don't often find resistors smaller than 1/2 watt. 1/2 watt resistors are usually about 3/16 inches in diameter. Radio shack sells both types of resistors. The 1/2 watt variety are more often attached to cards, and the 1/4 watt variety I usually find in their "assorted bag of resistors," though not every store sells the same thing. I have seen 1/4 watt resistors on cards on occasion.

Thomas