What am I doing wrong?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,205
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From: Along Lake Erie
Originally Posted by Bluegrass
GI, I know you not going to like this but testing continuity IS no different than checking resistance, in reaility, if you want to make it simple.
For example if a lamp continuity is tested with a voltage source and a voltmeter to measure that voltage thru the lamp, it is no different than measuring with the Ohm function in the meter that has it's own battery, internally and accomplishing the same thing but giving more information.
The lamp has resistance in either case.
Sometimes continuity testing will not show a resistance that is still to high to work in the circuit.
I also know all the differences.
For example if a lamp continuity is tested with a voltage source and a voltmeter to measure that voltage thru the lamp, it is no different than measuring with the Ohm function in the meter that has it's own battery, internally and accomplishing the same thing but giving more information.
The lamp has resistance in either case.
Sometimes continuity testing will not show a resistance that is still to high to work in the circuit.
I also know all the differences.
My argument was against the grammar.... It's 'checking for continuity' or 'measuring the resistance,' not 'ohming it out'. When you check for continuity, the resistance value doesn't matter, but yes, you check them both the same way when using an Ohmmeter. A test light will check for continuity only.
Just to be argumentative, you can check for continuity without checking the resistance (with a test light), but you cannot check resistance without continuity.
Boy, talk about this thread taking a left turn!
-Joe
Account Deactivated at User's Request
Joined: May 2003
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Checking continuity with a METER means you are measuring resistance with a goal of 0 ohms. 0 ohms means continuity (short), a high ohm value means little or no continuity (open). Those of us who do this sort of thing for a living use the slang "ohming out" for simple continuity checks using a meter.
Now if you're not using a meter, the phrase "ohming out" doesn't make much sense, but you are still measuring continuity, it's just the indicator of 0 ohms is a light rather than a digital or analog readout.
Now if you're not using a meter, the phrase "ohming out" doesn't make much sense, but you are still measuring continuity, it's just the indicator of 0 ohms is a light rather than a digital or analog readout.
