What is an ohmmeter?
An ohmmeter is a device that reads galvanic resistance in units of ohms. It’s used for measuring the electrical resistance between two points. For example, an ohmmeter can be used to measure whether your car battery is functioning properly, or how well your AC condenser fan motor is working.
There are several types of ohmmeters available; they vary depending on their ability to accurately read and display amperage (amps). Some models have built-in amperes so you don’t need to add additional equipment.
The basics of how an ohmmeter works
There are many different tools used to check the electrical circuits in a car. One of these tools is an ohmmeter. This device works by having the operator use one lead to touch the circuit that they want to measure while using the other lead to touch their hands or another object that is connected to ground.
The ohmmeter will then show the resistance between the two leads on its display. A higher resistance means that there is more current flowing through the circuit than there should be based on the ohm value of the parts being measured.
If this happens, it usually indicates either a shorted wire or open circuit. But if the resistance is lower than expected, it may indicate damage or corrosion at the particular point where the measurement was taken.
Testing the condenser fan motor
When the outside temperature rises, the air conditioning unit kicks into high gear and becomes a necessity. As this happens, the condenser fan motor will work hard to maintain a constant temperature for your home by blowing air across coils and condensing it into liquid coolant before distributing it throughout the house.
This process is important because if the AC stops running for too long, there is a risk of mold or bacteria growth. For this reason, the condenser fan motor must have adequate cooling.
A good way to test the condition of a fan motor’s coil section is to attach an ohmmeter from the inverter output wires directly to the stator windings. Then place a finger over one side of the winding, making sure that you don’t cover any of the copper teeth.
You can also wrap the lead around something like a pencil eraser so that it doesn’t come loose. Then, turn on the power switch to the unit without actually turning on the blower itself. If the electrical currents in the coil are sufficient, the insulation should hold up well enough that you should see a reading on the ohmmeter.
The only thing to keep in mind with this method is that if the coil has been damaged, you won’t get a reading. However, another problem might occur as well: the electrical connection between the windings could be bad causing a false positive reading.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best way to determine if a condenser fan motor is bad is to check if it has ohms of resistance. If the motor does not have any, it is broken and needs to be replaced.
A faulty condenser fan can lead to high utility bills and poor air circulation in a home or office building.