UNI-T UT61E Continuity on Car Battery and AA cell. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Neelar
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 07:07:15 pm
content: Hello Everybody,Today I got new UNI-T UT61E DMM and I tested it on my car for continuity test.I noted that if I select continuity mode with buzzer even on all continuity modes,and put the probes on battery 24V ( red on + ) (black on - ) or ( red on - ) (black on + ).It makes beep and value shows zero, with this behavior I couldn't track my broken wires.Also I tested on 1.5 AA Cell and still same result as mentioned above.Attached snapPlease help me to solve my problem thanks.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 07:10:51 pm
content: /Continuity, and resistance, along with diode terst, are meant only to be used on an unpowered circuit. The ranges are not designed to be used with power present. If you are trying to measure the resistance of a battery you need to select the voltage range, and apply a known load ( a resistor or lamp) and then measure the voltage unloaded, then the voltage with a lod, and measure the current draw separately, then calculate using those values. You cannot measure them directly.

author: Neelar
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 07:22:41 pm
content: Thanks to reply,I have my old DMM Exell cheap Brand it dosen't do like UNI-T UT61E and that one I'm was using since two years now it is water damage and not working. Is there anyway to track broken wires with continuity mode with UNI-T UT61E.Really very appreciated to having some knowledge thanks in advance.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 07:39:40 pm
content: Quote from: Neelar on December 13, 2015, 07:22:41 pmThat's exactly the purpose of the continuity mode, to check if there's a connection between the two points you put the probes on.What you did (measure the continuity between the ends of a battery) is a silly and uncommon test. The normal way to check circuits is to remove the power and perform measurements, otherwise the power going through the circuit can influence measurements.

author: Neelar
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 07:50:15 pm
content: Thanks to reply,You mean to say that I need to remove power cable from my car battery terminal then do a continuity test.That's good idea but may be I could lost some saved code also?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 09:37:14 pm
content: Let's go back to the beginning. Why do you think you need to put your metre across a battery in continuity load? Continuity mode is for measuring the continuity across a wire. You could for example measure a small stretch of water well powered and it would probably still work but this is not a good idea. The other way of looking for a broken wire without disconnecting the battery is to follow the wires path from the battery through the circuit using the voltage mode not the continuity mode. So you start at your battery and measure 24 V then keep probing further down the line until you stop seeing 24 V you have now found breaking your circuit. The continuity mode is for measuring conductors that are not being powered so the meter provides the power itself in your case you already have a powered circuit.

author: DG5SAY
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2015, 05:43:11 pm
content: Quote from: Neelar on December 13, 2015, 07:07:15 pmlook at this :