I have a cheap multi meter. It measures voltage fine, but when I put it on 20k ohms, it shows infinite. I touch the probes together, it reads number then goes down to zero; however, when I go to test a resistor it just stays at infinite. Is my meter broken?
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
8
-
1\$\begingroup\$ Sounds like the definition of broken to me. Make sure the battery is fresh, make sure the test leads are in good condition and make sure the resistance you're measuring is really in the right range. If those things are all OK, then your range selector switch is probably the issue. \$\endgroup\$– John DCommented Sep 18 at 15:49
-
1\$\begingroup\$ @SamGibson Understood. I used a comment because I have no idea if his meter is broken or not, or if he's using it improperly, or his battery is dead, etc. So I do not consider my comment an answer to "Is my meter broken", only comments on things to try in order to debug the issue or suggest possible causes. \$\endgroup\$– John DCommented Sep 18 at 16:00
-
1\$\begingroup\$ @JohnD - Comments like that 1st one should be posted as an answer (where you can state assumptions, limitations e.g. these are just suggestions etc. - see here) as that isn't in one of the categories of allowed uses of a comment. || Answers don't have to be perfect - an answer saying that from experience the cause could be X or Y, check A, B and C, is fine. If it turns out that you're right, you can edit such an answer to say that following tests by the OP, problem K was confirmed. || Even if such an answer doesn't pinpoint the fault here, they can help future readers. \$\endgroup\$– SamGibson ♦Commented Sep 18 at 16:09
-
1\$\begingroup\$ @JohnD - Or you could just ask questions to the OP in comments e.g. have you checked the battery, have you checked the test leads etc. The things that make the comment cross the line into being an answer (or, at least, no longer an allowed use of a comment) are the statement "Sounds like the definition of broken to me." because that answers the OP's question "Is my meter broken?" & also the statements "make sure the resistance you're measuring {...}" and "your range selector switch is probably the issue". Those are conclusions, not clarification questions nor constructive criticism. HTH TY \$\endgroup\$– SamGibson ♦Commented Sep 18 at 16:19
-
1\$\begingroup\$ @SamGibson Got it, thanks for the clarification! \$\endgroup\$– John DCommented Sep 18 at 16:33
|
Show 3 more comments
1 Answer
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
4
Not necessarily. Your resistor might be. Or just larger than 20k so it can't be measured with 20k range.
-
-
4\$\begingroup\$ @RobertMesa How do you know if your only meter won't measure it? \$\endgroup\$– JustmeCommented Sep 18 at 16:18
-
\$\begingroup\$ I have another meter and I also know what measurement the resistor is \$\endgroup\$ Commented Sep 18 at 17:12
-
\$\begingroup\$ @RobertMesa Ok, so the batteries may be low and need changing, or the meter is damaged. Or just bad contact on the mode selector switch. \$\endgroup\$– JustmeCommented Sep 18 at 17:46