How do you check a resistor with a multimeter?
- Remove power from the circuit containing the resistor.
- Isolate the resistor from the circuit.
- Inspect the resistor.
- Read the resistor value visually.
- Prepare a digital multimeter (DMM) to measure the resistor.
- Measure the resistance.
- Determine the actual resistance of the resistor.
If I understand your question, then yes - resistors are reversible, in the sense that they can be connected to the circuit in either direction. Resistors are not like diodes or capacitors. They do not have a polarity. The conduct (or resist) current equally in both directions of current flow.
- Resistors are blind to the polarity in a circuit. Thus, you don't have to worry about installing them backwards. Current can pass equally through a resistor in either direction. In schematic diagrams, a resistor is represented by a jagged line, like the one shown in the margin.
- The large, 20,000 µF electrolytic unit shown in the upright position has its positive (+) terminal labeled with a “plus” mark. Ceramic, mylar, plastic film, and air capacitors do not have polarity markings, because those types are nonpolarized (they are not polarity sensitive).
- The negative pin of the cap is usually indicated by a “-” marking, and/or a colored strip along the can. They might also have a longer positive leg. Below are 10µF (left) and a 1mF electrolytic capacitors, each of which has a dash symbol to mark the negative leg, as well as a longer positive leg.
- Position the resistor with the gold or silver color band to the right..
- Read the color sequence that must be decoded to determine resistance.
- Determine the coded number for the resistive value.
- Determine the tolerance of the resistor.
- Determine the decoded number for the resistive value.
- 100R / 100 ohm Resistor Colour Code
Value 100 Ω Type 4 Band Colour Code System Colour Code Brown, Black, Brown, Gold Multiplier Brown, 10 Tolerance Gold Band ±5%
- If I understand your question, then yes - resistors are reversible, in the sense that they can be connected to the circuit in either direction. Resistors are not like diodes or capacitors. They do not have a polarity. The conduct (or resist) current equally in both directions of current flow.
- 100k / 100k ohm Resistor Colour Code
Value 100 kΩ Type 4 Band Colour Code System Colour Code Brown, Black, Yellow, Gold Multiplier Yellow, 10000 Tolerance Gold Band ±5%
Current in the drawing above is shown entering the + side of the resistor. Resistors don't care which leg is connected to positive or negative. The + means where the positive or red probe of the volt meter is to be placed in order to get a positive reading. This is called the "positive charge" flow sign convention.
- The positive end of a diode is called the anode, and the negative end is called the cathode. Current can flow from the anode end to the cathode, but not the other direction. If you forget which way current flows through a diode, try to remember the mnemonic ACID: “anode current in diode” (also anode cathode is diode).
- The direction of an electric current is by convention the direction in which a positive charge would move. Thus, the current in the external circuit is directed away from the positive terminal and toward the negative terminal of the battery. Electrons would actually move through the wires in the opposite direction.
- To provide a definition of current independent of the type of charge carriers, conventional current is defined as moving in the same direction as the positive charge flow. So, in metals where the charge carriers (electrons) are negative, conventional current is in the opposite direction as the electrons.
Updated: 29th September 2018