E96A

E96A is a designation used in the E96 resistor value series, a standardized set of nominal resistor values used in electronics. The E96 series, defined by standards such as IEC 60063, provides 96 distinct values per decade to aid interchangeability and inventory management. To facilitate manufacturing and cataloging, the E96 values are sometimes split into two complementary subsets, commonly labeled A and B. E96A contains about half of the values, with E96B containing the remaining half; together they form the complete E96 value set.

The values in E96A are expressed as nominal resistance values in ohms (or ranges such as kiloohms and megohms) and are chosen so that the ratio between consecutive values approximates a fixed geometric progression. This arrangement allows designers to select resistor values that closely approximate required circuit impedances while using standard components. The E96 series targets relatively tight tolerances, typically around 1% for many commercial resistors, with temperature coefficients and other tolerancing handled separately by the component specification.

In practical use, engineers reference E96A (and E96B) when selecting resistor values for printed circuit boards, calibration networks, and precision sections of analog circuits. The A/B subdivision is most relevant in product catalogs and older documentation; modern data sheets often present the full E96 set without explicitly dividing it, while some notes continue to reference the A and B groups for compatibility.

See also: E96 series, resistor value standard IEC 60063, preferred numbers.