Protective coating (glass + epoxy) · 103 = 10 kΩSolder tab (tin)Alumina body · 0805: 2.0 × 1.25 mm

Small chip with a black top, “103” code on top, shiny tin caps at both ends, mm scale
0805: 2.0 × 1.25 mm · 0603: 1.6 × 0.8 mm

Resistors

SMD chip resistor

In simple terms

What is this?

A resistor smaller than a grain of rice; it has no legs and sticks straight onto the board.

What is it for?

Does the same job as a large resistor but takes up very little space on the board.

Where do you see it?

Hundreds of them are found on phone and computer boards.

How do you spot it?

A small black rectangle; both ends are shiny metal caps, with a three- or four-digit code on top.

Caution:

It gets lost easily because it is so small; take care when reading the code on it.

Technical definition

A small leadless resistor soldered to a board’s surface. Thick-film resistor material is printed on ceramic with solder caps at both ends. A three- or four-digit code gives its value; precision types use EIA-96.

Package0805 / 0603

Power0.125 W (0805)

Tolerance±1% · ±5%

Schematic symbol IEC and ANSI differ

IEC 60617: the drawing style used in Türkiye and Europe.

Pins 2

1Terminal 1Tin-plated solder cup, no orientation1

2Terminal 2Tin-plated solder cup, no orientation2

SMD code reader

3 digits · 4 digits · EIA-96

472

4.7kΩ

47 and 2 zeros: 3-digit code (5% series)

Features typical

Power (0603): 0.1 W
Power (0805): 0.125 W
Power (1206): 0.25 W
Tolerance: ±1% · ±5%
Code examples: 103 = 10 kΩ · 4702 = 47 kΩ · 4R7 = 4.7 Ω
Technology: Thick film (precision types are thin film)
Example part: 0805, code 103 = 10 kΩ

Common mistakes

Reading the code wrongThe last digit is the number of zeros: 103, 10 and three zeros means 10 kΩ. “R” stands in for the decimal point: 4R7 = 4.7 Ω.

Underestimating size0603 and below are very small; hard to hold by hand without tweezers and a magnifier. For starters choose 1206 or 0805.

Test with a multimeter

Test whether this part is good with the multimeter on the measurement screen.

Take a measurement

On real boards

USB-C Li-ion charger board
Charge current setting · Red LED current limit · Blue LED current limit · CC1 pull-down resistor · CC2 pull-down resistor · Protection supply resistor · Protection current-sense input

Where it is used

Microcontroller boardsSensor modulesPhone and computer circuits