Folks,
Part of the blame for color confusion lies with the part manufacturer. I
have many older resistors in my junkbox and the color bands are bright and
clear - these older color bands are saturated colors and easy to read at a
glance under most any lighting condition, so I know it is not my eyes
getting dim!!!. Unfortunately though, I don't forsee the situation getting
any better since the component manufacturers primary market is to production
lines using automatic insertion devices, and for that market, any reasonable
marking will do the job, even if it is not 'people readable'. Bearing
witness to this fact is the unmarked SMD capacitors. We folks who have to
read the values manually have to take 'second seat' (or maybe even the rear
seat).
The best tool I have found for myself is a small lighted handheld magnifier
with fresh batteries - you can buy these for less than $5 at places like
Wal-Mart, Target, local drugstore, etc. I use it for viewing the 'fine
print' on capacitors as well, and the only color I have trouble with is
violet and occasionally red/orange because many of the red pigments are not
well saturated, they are more 'bright orange' than an actual red - yes my
wife concurs and she has a keen color eye.
73,
Don W3FPR
----- Original Message -----
After having built a K2, KX1 and numerous other homebrew gear, I have
noted
by my own observations and comments of others some confusion as to
exactly
what colors are being observed on small parts, usually resistors and RF
chokes.
Having been in the printing business for some years, I can say that color
perception is often skewed by the light used for viewing. Incandescent
lighting
seems to be the least accurate for determining the correct colors,
particularly
yellows, oranges, and browns. Many times I have used sunlight (if
available)
or sought out a fluorescent lamp (cool white with at least 5200K
temperature)
to properly interpret colors. When in doubt, I use a meter to confirm the
value.
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