my multimeter is broken? || unreg

[unreg]

Hi, I’m using alligator clips and wire to act as probes. After switching my meter to measure just ohms (no longer auto-ranging), and touching the two wires together, it gives a stable reading of .5 ohms (or .4 ohms or even .1 ohms). But, then as I slide one of the wires along the other exposed wire end. The numbers reported become insane... anywhere between 100-something ohms to .1 ohms, and the numbers rise and fall haphazardly. What is going on?


The wire ends were just stripped... and the exposed golden wire is nice and straight.

[newey]

Sorry, unreg, had to move this thread, as it didn't belong in References. Have you checked the battery?

[unreg]

Jan 24, 2021 9:19:34 GMT -5 newey said:

Sorry, unreg, had to move this thread, as it didn't belong in References. Have you checked the battery?

Hi newey, that’s perfectly ok; sorry for my confusion over where to post this thread.

Check the battery! That’s a great help; I didn’t see any future for my meter; now there’s a possible solution! 😀

[unreg]

It thankfully was the battery; now touching the wires together gives resistance reading of 0.1 ohm... and moving the wires across the area where they are touching gives temporary readings of like 26 ohms, but then it quickly returns to 0.1 or 0.2 ohms.

Thank you newey so much!


oh, would tinning the wire ends help them to be even more sensitive? Like, would the readings be more accurate? 🛠

[newey]

If you're making good contact, tinning the ends shouldn't matter.

[JohnH]

I've seen this too. At the low ohms setting, there's a fair amount of test current that has to run from the battery. Also, since its picking up readings under an ohm, small variations in the leads and the contacts can make it jump around. Its all more stable if you can measure with a higher range if possible, but you lose decimal places with small values at higher ranges.