"Infinite" resistance??? What's that?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Germantown WI
"Infinite" resistance??? What's that?
My 1995 FSM tells be to measure the resistance between two points. If the resistance is "infinite" go to A, else goto B to trouble shoot further.
My multimeter displays values from 0.00 to 1.00 ohms (0.00 when leads are touching each other, 1.00 when not touching). Which would represent "infinite" resistance on my meter?
I am not "electrical smart", so if I am asking a stupid question . . . so sorry!
My multimeter displays values from 0.00 to 1.00 ohms (0.00 when leads are touching each other, 1.00 when not touching). Which would represent "infinite" resistance on my meter?
I am not "electrical smart", so if I am asking a stupid question . . . so sorry!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
You have that backwards,zero OHMS is when you are reading a blown fuse.
Infinite is when you put the leads together, meaning no resistance.
OHMS meters measure the resistance from say one end of a spark plug wire to the other.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 14
From: Cumming Ga
My 1995 FSM tells be to measure the resistance between two points. If the resistance is "infinite" go to A, else goto B to trouble shoot further.
My multimeter displays values from 0.00 to 1.00 ohms (0.00 when leads are touching each other, 1.00 when not touching). Which would represent "infinite" resistance on my meter?
I am not "electrical smart", so if I am asking a stupid question . . . so sorry!
My multimeter displays values from 0.00 to 1.00 ohms (0.00 when leads are touching each other, 1.00 when not touching). Which would represent "infinite" resistance on my meter?
I am not "electrical smart", so if I am asking a stupid question . . . so sorry!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
To the OP, does your multimeter have some kind of range or something? Like is it set on MOhms or KOhms or something? If it just reads from 0 to 1 ohm, that's not a very useful multimeter...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Germantown WI
Ron
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Powhatan Virginia
Huh?????
No my friend--YOU have it completly backwards--If you own a VOM go test your theory.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MS
With both leads together what is your intent? Are you measuring resistance or continuity? In Ohm function your
multimeter or analog reads zero which indicates simply no resistance. Cont function will indicate continuity w an audio cue.
Aren't these discussions about how to use your multimeter/analog?
KISS-Keep it simple stupid!
Cheers
Last edited by jim_hewett; Jun 21, 2008 at 11:32 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
Really?
If you think about what he's saying, he's saying the ohms are 0 when the resistance is infinite. And the ohms are infinite with the resistance is 0.
I know sometimes things work out complex like that, but in this case it's quite simple. Ohms = resistance. No ohms is no resistance. Lots of ohms (like infinity) is lots of resistance.
If you think about what he's saying, he's saying the ohms are 0 when the resistance is infinite. And the ohms are infinite with the resistance is 0.
I know sometimes things work out complex like that, but in this case it's quite simple. Ohms = resistance. No ohms is no resistance. Lots of ohms (like infinity) is lots of resistance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
I'd think then the 1.0 would mean 100 Ohms or 1,000 Ohms depending on which setting you had it on. Try cranking it up to 20M and see if it still says 1.0.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Powhatan Virginia
Depends on which circuit
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Elkton MD
Unbelievable
Rbuet,
In your question, 1.00 or not touching is infinite.
Don't feel bad; the only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.
Zero ohms means a dead short (like a good fuse); in other words, the connection is good.
Infinite means open circuit=no conductivity=blown fuse; in other words there is no connection.
These new digital meters are sometimes difficult to interpret. Frequently, 'OC' is displayed to indicate open circuit and '0.0' or some other low number is displayed to indicate a closed ("short") circuit.
An analog gauge might be easier to understand. If the needle doesn't move, open circuit or infinite. If the meter moves all or most of the way over, short circuit or good contact.
PS I'm an EE post doc.
Perhaps some more explanation is needed to put meaning to the words. Please pm me if you need.
In your question, 1.00 or not touching is infinite.
Don't feel bad; the only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.
Zero ohms means a dead short (like a good fuse); in other words, the connection is good.
Infinite means open circuit=no conductivity=blown fuse; in other words there is no connection.
These new digital meters are sometimes difficult to interpret. Frequently, 'OC' is displayed to indicate open circuit and '0.0' or some other low number is displayed to indicate a closed ("short") circuit.
An analog gauge might be easier to understand. If the needle doesn't move, open circuit or infinite. If the meter moves all or most of the way over, short circuit or good contact.
PS I'm an EE post doc.
Perhaps some more explanation is needed to put meaning to the words. Please pm me if you need.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MS
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Ohms is the measure of how well a conductor will pass an electric current. If it does not resist the flow of current, its resistance is zero, or 0 ohms. If it will not allow the flow of current at all, then it has infinite resistance. Very high resistance might be say, 20 million ohms.
Ohms law says that the current in a simple circuit composed of a battery and a conductor, the current flowing will be I (current) = E (voltage) divided by R (resistance). You can see that as R get larger, I gets smaller and as R approaches infinity, I approaches zero.
Commercial ohmeters indicate different things when the probes are apart and the meter has essentially infinite resistance across the probes. The OP's meter reads, "1". My cheap VOM from Harbor Freight also reads, "1". An analog ohmeter, the meter needle stays still and some even have the symbol for infinity on the end of the ohms scale.
Ohms law says that the current in a simple circuit composed of a battery and a conductor, the current flowing will be I (current) = E (voltage) divided by R (resistance). You can see that as R get larger, I gets smaller and as R approaches infinity, I approaches zero.
Commercial ohmeters indicate different things when the probes are apart and the meter has essentially infinite resistance across the probes. The OP's meter reads, "1". My cheap VOM from Harbor Freight also reads, "1". An analog ohmeter, the meter needle stays still and some even have the symbol for infinity on the end of the ohms scale.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 524
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte Fl
Ohms is the measure of how well a conductor will pass an electric current. If it does not resist the flow of current, its resistance is zero, or 0 ohms. If it will not allow the flow of current at all, then it has infinite resistance. Very high resistance might be say, 20 million ohms.
Ohms law says that the current in a simple circuit composed of a battery and a conductor, the current flowing will be I (current) = E (voltage) divided by R (resistance). You can see that as R get larger, I gets smaller and as R approaches infinity, I approaches zero.
Commercial ohmeters indicate different things when the probes are apart and the meter has essentially infinite resistance across the probes. The OP's meter reads, "1". My cheap VOM from Harbor Freight also reads, "1". An analog ohmeter, the meter needle stays still and some even have the symbol for infinity on the end of the ohms scale.
Ohms law says that the current in a simple circuit composed of a battery and a conductor, the current flowing will be I (current) = E (voltage) divided by R (resistance). You can see that as R get larger, I gets smaller and as R approaches infinity, I approaches zero.
Commercial ohmeters indicate different things when the probes are apart and the meter has essentially infinite resistance across the probes. The OP's meter reads, "1". My cheap VOM from Harbor Freight also reads, "1". An analog ohmeter, the meter needle stays still and some even have the symbol for infinity on the end of the ohms scale.