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How to Do an Ohm Check With a Multimeter

Measuring resistance in a circuit is essential to ensure that the circuit behaves as expected. Whether in a resistor, the wiring or a load, knowing the resistance of an element of a circuit is necessary to protect the circuit as well as to supply appropriate power to the loads in the circuit. Digital and analog multimeters both function in similar ways; however, digital multimeters give a more accurate resistance readings.

Digital multimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off power to the circuit. To measure resistance, current must not be present in the element being tested.
- 2
  Connect the two probes from the meter to either side of the element you wish to test. Polarity does not matter in this case as there is no flow of current.
- 3
  Turn the selector dial on your multimeter to measure resistance, usually indicated by the omega symbol.
- 4
  Select the highest resistance setting and continue to turn it down until an accurate reading is attained.
- 5
  Read the display screen, it will indicate the resistance in ohms of the element.

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