Ohm meters are easy but before you use one be sure to turn off power to the circuit. If you don't you will burn out the meter. Ohm meters operate by providing their own power to component you are measuring.
If you are looking for continuity between two objects, like wondering if a switch is on or off, connect the black lead to ground and the other lead to the opposite side of the object (connect one side of the switch to the black lead and the red lead to the other side). Set the ohmmeter to the lowest reading (RX1). The meter should go all the way over, or at least almost to the far end of the meter when the switch toggle is turned on.
You can check capacitors if the ohmmeter has an on/off switch. Disconnect one lead of the capacitor from the circuit and connect the ohmmeter across the capacitor. Rapidly flip the on/off switch. The meter needle should rapidly move toward the end of the meter and fairly slowly move back. The smaller the capacitance the faster the meter needle moves back. Constantly flipping the switch will determine if the capacitor is a possable defect. This is not a true method of reading capacitors, just a means of checking them.
If the capacitor is an electrolytic capacitor (contains an electrolyte similar to a battery) then you don't need a switch. Connect the red lead to the red (or "hot") side of the capacitor and the black to negative. The capacitor should charge. You will actually see the meter needle move toward zero then slowly back toward infinity. Reverse the leads and you will see the discharge the same way.
The real reason for an ohmmeter is to measure simple resistance. First select the highest reading (RX1000 or RX1MEG) put both leads together and, with the zero thumb wheel set the meter's needle to zero. Measure across the resistance and read the number that the needle settles on. If it stays left then move the RX--- switch down one notch. Recalabrate again an read again. Do this until the meter needle lies in the bottom 1/3 of the meter. Multiply your reading by the RX--- value and you have the resistance. For example the needle rests at 3.0 and the multiplier is on RX100. The resistor is 300 ohms.
If your ohmmeter is a digital ohmmeter then all you can do is check for continuity and resistance measurements. I hope this helps.
If you are looking for continuity between two objects, like wondering if a switch is on or off, connect the black lead to ground and the other lead to the opposite side of the object (connect one side of the switch to the black lead and the red lead to the other side). Set the ohmmeter to the lowest reading (RX1). The meter should go all the way over, or at least almost to the far end of the meter when the switch toggle is turned on.
You can check capacitors if the ohmmeter has an on/off switch. Disconnect one lead of the capacitor from the circuit and connect the ohmmeter across the capacitor. Rapidly flip the on/off switch. The meter needle should rapidly move toward the end of the meter and fairly slowly move back. The smaller the capacitance the faster the meter needle moves back. Constantly flipping the switch will determine if the capacitor is a possable defect. This is not a true method of reading capacitors, just a means of checking them.
If the capacitor is an electrolytic capacitor (contains an electrolyte similar to a battery) then you don't need a switch. Connect the red lead to the red (or "hot") side of the capacitor and the black to negative. The capacitor should charge. You will actually see the meter needle move toward zero then slowly back toward infinity. Reverse the leads and you will see the discharge the same way.
The real reason for an ohmmeter is to measure simple resistance. First select the highest reading (RX1000 or RX1MEG) put both leads together and, with the zero thumb wheel set the meter's needle to zero. Measure across the resistance and read the number that the needle settles on. If it stays left then move the RX--- switch down one notch. Recalabrate again an read again. Do this until the meter needle lies in the bottom 1/3 of the meter. Multiply your reading by the RX--- value and you have the resistance. For example the needle rests at 3.0 and the multiplier is on RX100. The resistor is 300 ohms.
If your ohmmeter is a digital ohmmeter then all you can do is check for continuity and resistance measurements. I hope this helps.
