Multimeter Problem

[rrhoads17]

When I test my pickup on the multimeter, it will give me my desired DC reading, but then it will show 0 for a while then randomly will show that I have DC resistance. What could be the issue?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Multimeter Problem

New battery and try again.

 

[rrhoads17]

Re: Multimeter Problem

When I test my individual coils they read on the multimeter, but when I assemble and wire them together, they read 0.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Multimeter Problem

Obviously, recheck your wiring. There is no "reasonable" way you could get "0" unless you have a direct short to ground.

 

[beaubrummels]

Multimeter Problem

You’ve described two completely different problems.

If the meter is switching from a reading to 0 during the same test, my first thought is you don’t have a good connection from the meter to one of the circuit wires. The battery could also be the issue as hamerfan noted, though I haven’t experienced that one.

Getting a value read in isolation and 0 in circuit tells me your circuit is either not complete or shorted - you’ve got a wire that is not fully connected, somewhere; or a short as GuitarDoc noted.

 

[rrhoads17]

Re: Multimeter Problem

I figured out the issue, the black wire came out of my multimeter.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Multimeter Problem

Well it depends on where you have the leads. A "0" reading means there is no resistance. That means there is a complete circuit, but no resistance in the circuit you are measuring. In my experience that only occurs when one of the meter leads is connected to a ground point and the circuit (at some point) is shorted to ground. Usually, if you are measuring a circuit that has an open connection you will get NO reading or an incredibly huge resistance.