When measuring the resistance of a resistor using a multimeter does it matter if I turned the resistor around and have the probes at opposite leads?
Should I get the same results?
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\$\begingroup\$ I recommend you to test it and find out. Especially since the question is part of your experiment :) \$\endgroup\$– nidhinCommented Oct 21, 2015 at 18:14
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5\$\begingroup\$ If the resistor is in circuit, the circuitry around it (including diodes, transistors, ICs) can make a difference when you swap the meter probes around. \$\endgroup\$– user16324Commented Oct 21, 2015 at 18:42
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3 Answers
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A simple resistor has no polarity as far as its resistance is concerned. The resistance is the same regardless of the orientation of the probes across it.
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With an ordinary resistor, you should get the same answer both ways round.
If the leads and probes have different surface impurities, or finger-grease, you may set up enough contact voltage to disturb the reading a little.
Lead temperature effects, while possible, should be below the resolution of most meters.
Resistor diode effects should only appear in the most horrible old corroded resistors.
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Yes resistance as a electrical property can in certain circumstances have polarity, tested by swapping probes and finding that polarity swaps.
The slightly strange circumstance occurs with a LDR optocoupler type NSL32SR3 and you seek to power the circuit from the same resistance you are creating.This suggests a improbable state, a bit like already being across the road looking back,to where you were before you were crossing it, But the by product is creation of a resistance with polarity.
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\$\begingroup\$ Your answer is a bit off topic, and is already commented on 7years ago. \$\endgroup\$– MatsKCommented Dec 27, 2022 at 10:32