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How do ohm meters measure high resistances?
When we should use only an “Analog” multimeter?Batteries have zero voltageWhy are these readings violating ohm's law? (Are they?)Simple KVL Problem Not So SimpleApplication of Ohm's law to a single resistor and to a series circuitCurrent Flow into MCU pinDoes a generator produce voltage or current?Why is my circuit's current far lower than expected with 2.6v / 220Ohm / and LED?Ohms law and voltageWhy are voltage and current directly proportional?Same LED, different voltage drops with different supply voltages
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
$begingroup$
I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm an apprentice and this doesn't make sense to me. I'm given to understand that an ohm meter measures resistance by passing a small current through a circuit and then internally calculating the resistance from the drop.
But my meter can measure in the kohm range. Isn't this enough resistance to completely block the small amount of current from the meter? What am I not understanding?
ohms-law
New contributor
Srmass is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm an apprentice and this doesn't make sense to me. I'm given to understand that an ohm meter measures resistance by passing a small current through a circuit and then internally calculating the resistance from the drop.
But my meter can measure in the kohm range. Isn't this enough resistance to completely block the small amount of current from the meter? What am I not understanding?
ohms-law
New contributor
Srmass is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
You are an apprentice, so always start with the basics. Do you know Ohm's Law? Can you state it?
$endgroup$
– Eric Lippert
5 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm an apprentice and this doesn't make sense to me. I'm given to understand that an ohm meter measures resistance by passing a small current through a circuit and then internally calculating the resistance from the drop.
But my meter can measure in the kohm range. Isn't this enough resistance to completely block the small amount of current from the meter? What am I not understanding?
ohms-law
New contributor
Srmass is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm an apprentice and this doesn't make sense to me. I'm given to understand that an ohm meter measures resistance by passing a small current through a circuit and then internally calculating the resistance from the drop.
But my meter can measure in the kohm range. Isn't this enough resistance to completely block the small amount of current from the meter? What am I not understanding?
ohms-law
ohms-law
New contributor
Srmass is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Srmass is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
JYelton
16.6k28 gold badges94 silver badges195 bronze badges
16.6k28 gold badges94 silver badges195 bronze badges
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asked 9 hours ago
SrmassSrmass
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262 bronze badges
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Srmass is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
You are an apprentice, so always start with the basics. Do you know Ohm's Law? Can you state it?
$endgroup$
– Eric Lippert
5 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You are an apprentice, so always start with the basics. Do you know Ohm's Law? Can you state it?
$endgroup$
– Eric Lippert
5 mins ago
$begingroup$
You are an apprentice, so always start with the basics. Do you know Ohm's Law? Can you state it?
$endgroup$
– Eric Lippert
5 mins ago
$begingroup$
You are an apprentice, so always start with the basics. Do you know Ohm's Law? Can you state it?
$endgroup$
– Eric Lippert
5 mins ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
A typical digital multimeter has a 9V battery inside. Putting 9V across a 100kΩ resistor will produce a current of 90µA, which is easily measurable by a modern digital meter.
Even the old analogue multimeters were remarkably sensitive, often measuring down to 50µA at full scale deflection.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Resistance doesn't "block" current. Current passing through a resistance will cause a voltage to appear across the resistance, and your meter measures this voltage. Then, using Ohm's Law, the meter determines the value of the resistance.
A current of 1mA passing through 1k$Omega$ causes a voltage of 1V, which is easily measured.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple Ohmmeter would use a d'Arsonval movement meter as the basic measuring device. A good movement will include a mirror (curved to follow the sweep of the needle) behind it so that you can avoid parallax issues when reading the movement by eye. A good movement will also be rated as $50:mutextA$ and perhaps $2:textkOmega$ (implying $100:textmV$ to reach full-scale.) These are harder to find, these days, as they aren't so cheap to make (they are mechanical) and ICs and MCUs have greatly moved the cost/benefit away from d'Arsonval movements. But the TekPower TP7040, for example, appears to include such a movement and it's not expensive. So I recommend these to students. These also have advantages over digital meters. (See analog meter advantages.)
For a meter that supports several Ohmmeter ranges, it's not uncommon to find more than one voltage source being applied. Some of the old Simpson meters would include a $1.5:textV$ battery along with, say, a separate battery system composed of four $1.5:textV$ batteries in series to form a higher voltage supply for larger-valued resistor measurements. They also used switches to select the range, where different valued resistors might be placed in series with the meter movement. A separate variable resistor is used to calibrate the display for the zero-reading on the scale with the maximum resistance reading ($infty:Omega$) being adjusted by a small screw on the d'Arsonval movement.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
The values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ are established by the switch setting and the design of the meter. It's also true that the applied voltage supply might also be different.
$R_x$ and $R_1$ form a voltage divider (which can be replaced with the Thevenin equivalent) that then feeds to $R_2$ and the calibration potentiometer, $R_3$, before reaching the meter movement. Together, this causes a small current which then moves the needle and allows the resistor value to be read from the movement's scale.
By changing $R_1$ and $R_2$ when you switch from one reading range to another, the divider changes and the resulting current through the meter is kept within its range and ability. Different scales are provided on the movement and you read your value off of the appropriate one to get the value.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
A typical digital multimeter has a 9V battery inside. Putting 9V across a 100kΩ resistor will produce a current of 90µA, which is easily measurable by a modern digital meter.
Even the old analogue multimeters were remarkably sensitive, often measuring down to 50µA at full scale deflection.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A typical digital multimeter has a 9V battery inside. Putting 9V across a 100kΩ resistor will produce a current of 90µA, which is easily measurable by a modern digital meter.
Even the old analogue multimeters were remarkably sensitive, often measuring down to 50µA at full scale deflection.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A typical digital multimeter has a 9V battery inside. Putting 9V across a 100kΩ resistor will produce a current of 90µA, which is easily measurable by a modern digital meter.
Even the old analogue multimeters were remarkably sensitive, often measuring down to 50µA at full scale deflection.
$endgroup$
A typical digital multimeter has a 9V battery inside. Putting 9V across a 100kΩ resistor will produce a current of 90µA, which is easily measurable by a modern digital meter.
Even the old analogue multimeters were remarkably sensitive, often measuring down to 50µA at full scale deflection.
answered 9 hours ago
Simon BSimon B
5,67610 silver badges18 bronze badges
5,67610 silver badges18 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Resistance doesn't "block" current. Current passing through a resistance will cause a voltage to appear across the resistance, and your meter measures this voltage. Then, using Ohm's Law, the meter determines the value of the resistance.
A current of 1mA passing through 1k$Omega$ causes a voltage of 1V, which is easily measured.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Resistance doesn't "block" current. Current passing through a resistance will cause a voltage to appear across the resistance, and your meter measures this voltage. Then, using Ohm's Law, the meter determines the value of the resistance.
A current of 1mA passing through 1k$Omega$ causes a voltage of 1V, which is easily measured.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Resistance doesn't "block" current. Current passing through a resistance will cause a voltage to appear across the resistance, and your meter measures this voltage. Then, using Ohm's Law, the meter determines the value of the resistance.
A current of 1mA passing through 1k$Omega$ causes a voltage of 1V, which is easily measured.
$endgroup$
Resistance doesn't "block" current. Current passing through a resistance will cause a voltage to appear across the resistance, and your meter measures this voltage. Then, using Ohm's Law, the meter determines the value of the resistance.
A current of 1mA passing through 1k$Omega$ causes a voltage of 1V, which is easily measured.
answered 9 hours ago
Elliot AldersonElliot Alderson
9,5922 gold badges12 silver badges22 bronze badges
9,5922 gold badges12 silver badges22 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple Ohmmeter would use a d'Arsonval movement meter as the basic measuring device. A good movement will include a mirror (curved to follow the sweep of the needle) behind it so that you can avoid parallax issues when reading the movement by eye. A good movement will also be rated as $50:mutextA$ and perhaps $2:textkOmega$ (implying $100:textmV$ to reach full-scale.) These are harder to find, these days, as they aren't so cheap to make (they are mechanical) and ICs and MCUs have greatly moved the cost/benefit away from d'Arsonval movements. But the TekPower TP7040, for example, appears to include such a movement and it's not expensive. So I recommend these to students. These also have advantages over digital meters. (See analog meter advantages.)
For a meter that supports several Ohmmeter ranges, it's not uncommon to find more than one voltage source being applied. Some of the old Simpson meters would include a $1.5:textV$ battery along with, say, a separate battery system composed of four $1.5:textV$ batteries in series to form a higher voltage supply for larger-valued resistor measurements. They also used switches to select the range, where different valued resistors might be placed in series with the meter movement. A separate variable resistor is used to calibrate the display for the zero-reading on the scale with the maximum resistance reading ($infty:Omega$) being adjusted by a small screw on the d'Arsonval movement.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
The values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ are established by the switch setting and the design of the meter. It's also true that the applied voltage supply might also be different.
$R_x$ and $R_1$ form a voltage divider (which can be replaced with the Thevenin equivalent) that then feeds to $R_2$ and the calibration potentiometer, $R_3$, before reaching the meter movement. Together, this causes a small current which then moves the needle and allows the resistor value to be read from the movement's scale.
By changing $R_1$ and $R_2$ when you switch from one reading range to another, the divider changes and the resulting current through the meter is kept within its range and ability. Different scales are provided on the movement and you read your value off of the appropriate one to get the value.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple Ohmmeter would use a d'Arsonval movement meter as the basic measuring device. A good movement will include a mirror (curved to follow the sweep of the needle) behind it so that you can avoid parallax issues when reading the movement by eye. A good movement will also be rated as $50:mutextA$ and perhaps $2:textkOmega$ (implying $100:textmV$ to reach full-scale.) These are harder to find, these days, as they aren't so cheap to make (they are mechanical) and ICs and MCUs have greatly moved the cost/benefit away from d'Arsonval movements. But the TekPower TP7040, for example, appears to include such a movement and it's not expensive. So I recommend these to students. These also have advantages over digital meters. (See analog meter advantages.)
For a meter that supports several Ohmmeter ranges, it's not uncommon to find more than one voltage source being applied. Some of the old Simpson meters would include a $1.5:textV$ battery along with, say, a separate battery system composed of four $1.5:textV$ batteries in series to form a higher voltage supply for larger-valued resistor measurements. They also used switches to select the range, where different valued resistors might be placed in series with the meter movement. A separate variable resistor is used to calibrate the display for the zero-reading on the scale with the maximum resistance reading ($infty:Omega$) being adjusted by a small screw on the d'Arsonval movement.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
The values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ are established by the switch setting and the design of the meter. It's also true that the applied voltage supply might also be different.
$R_x$ and $R_1$ form a voltage divider (which can be replaced with the Thevenin equivalent) that then feeds to $R_2$ and the calibration potentiometer, $R_3$, before reaching the meter movement. Together, this causes a small current which then moves the needle and allows the resistor value to be read from the movement's scale.
By changing $R_1$ and $R_2$ when you switch from one reading range to another, the divider changes and the resulting current through the meter is kept within its range and ability. Different scales are provided on the movement and you read your value off of the appropriate one to get the value.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple Ohmmeter would use a d'Arsonval movement meter as the basic measuring device. A good movement will include a mirror (curved to follow the sweep of the needle) behind it so that you can avoid parallax issues when reading the movement by eye. A good movement will also be rated as $50:mutextA$ and perhaps $2:textkOmega$ (implying $100:textmV$ to reach full-scale.) These are harder to find, these days, as they aren't so cheap to make (they are mechanical) and ICs and MCUs have greatly moved the cost/benefit away from d'Arsonval movements. But the TekPower TP7040, for example, appears to include such a movement and it's not expensive. So I recommend these to students. These also have advantages over digital meters. (See analog meter advantages.)
For a meter that supports several Ohmmeter ranges, it's not uncommon to find more than one voltage source being applied. Some of the old Simpson meters would include a $1.5:textV$ battery along with, say, a separate battery system composed of four $1.5:textV$ batteries in series to form a higher voltage supply for larger-valued resistor measurements. They also used switches to select the range, where different valued resistors might be placed in series with the meter movement. A separate variable resistor is used to calibrate the display for the zero-reading on the scale with the maximum resistance reading ($infty:Omega$) being adjusted by a small screw on the d'Arsonval movement.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
The values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ are established by the switch setting and the design of the meter. It's also true that the applied voltage supply might also be different.
$R_x$ and $R_1$ form a voltage divider (which can be replaced with the Thevenin equivalent) that then feeds to $R_2$ and the calibration potentiometer, $R_3$, before reaching the meter movement. Together, this causes a small current which then moves the needle and allows the resistor value to be read from the movement's scale.
By changing $R_1$ and $R_2$ when you switch from one reading range to another, the divider changes and the resulting current through the meter is kept within its range and ability. Different scales are provided on the movement and you read your value off of the appropriate one to get the value.
$endgroup$
A simple Ohmmeter would use a d'Arsonval movement meter as the basic measuring device. A good movement will include a mirror (curved to follow the sweep of the needle) behind it so that you can avoid parallax issues when reading the movement by eye. A good movement will also be rated as $50:mutextA$ and perhaps $2:textkOmega$ (implying $100:textmV$ to reach full-scale.) These are harder to find, these days, as they aren't so cheap to make (they are mechanical) and ICs and MCUs have greatly moved the cost/benefit away from d'Arsonval movements. But the TekPower TP7040, for example, appears to include such a movement and it's not expensive. So I recommend these to students. These also have advantages over digital meters. (See analog meter advantages.)
For a meter that supports several Ohmmeter ranges, it's not uncommon to find more than one voltage source being applied. Some of the old Simpson meters would include a $1.5:textV$ battery along with, say, a separate battery system composed of four $1.5:textV$ batteries in series to form a higher voltage supply for larger-valued resistor measurements. They also used switches to select the range, where different valued resistors might be placed in series with the meter movement. A separate variable resistor is used to calibrate the display for the zero-reading on the scale with the maximum resistance reading ($infty:Omega$) being adjusted by a small screw on the d'Arsonval movement.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
The values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ are established by the switch setting and the design of the meter. It's also true that the applied voltage supply might also be different.
$R_x$ and $R_1$ form a voltage divider (which can be replaced with the Thevenin equivalent) that then feeds to $R_2$ and the calibration potentiometer, $R_3$, before reaching the meter movement. Together, this causes a small current which then moves the needle and allows the resistor value to be read from the movement's scale.
By changing $R_1$ and $R_2$ when you switch from one reading range to another, the divider changes and the resulting current through the meter is kept within its range and ability. Different scales are provided on the movement and you read your value off of the appropriate one to get the value.
answered 7 hours ago
jonkjonk
37.4k1 gold badge31 silver badges79 bronze badges
37.4k1 gold badge31 silver badges79 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
Srmass is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Srmass is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Srmass is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Srmass is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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$begingroup$
You are an apprentice, so always start with the basics. Do you know Ohm's Law? Can you state it?
$endgroup$
– Eric Lippert
5 mins ago