diodes and resistors

[jmmrlm]

I have a Miniatronics Rail Yard Spot Light 72-118-01. It has a diode and a resistor.

Being new to this hobby, could someone please tell me how to distinguish between  the diode and the resistor on this Spot Light ? One is of a brown color, the other is bluish.

thanks,
Jamsheed

[Len]

Normally a diode will only have a single white band on one end, indicating the cathode (negative) end of the diode. Resistors will have multiple bands of different colors showing it's resistance value.

You can also use a multimeter to check. Set it to measure resistance. The diode will show a very low resistance, possibly even '0' when the '+' lead is connected to the anode (positive) end and the '-' lead to the cathode (negative end). Reversing the leads will show a very high resistance, possibly even an 'OL' (Overload) condition. A resistor will read the same, regardless which way the leads are connected.

Len

[jmmrlm]

Len - thank you.

[jward]

Resistors are often a light brown colour with a dumbell shape. There will always be 3 or 4 stripes on a resistor, each stripe indicates a numerical value that taken all together will tell you the value in ohms and tolerence of the piece.

[Len]

If you really want to know, there's a chart here that will let you find the value of the resistor:
http://www.resistorguide.com/standards-and-codes/resistor-color-code/resistor_color_codes_chart/

Len

[jmmrlm]

thank you all for your advice. much appreciated.