Why the "k" Matters
2. Navigating Resistance Ranges
Multimeters are versatile tools, but they need to be told what to measure. Thats where the range settings come in. When measuring resistance, you'll usually see settings like 200 ohms, 2k ohms, 20k ohms, 200k ohms, and 2000k ohms (or sometimes 2M ohms, where "M" stands for "mega," meaning million). Choosing the right range is crucial for getting an accurate reading.
If you're trying to measure a 500-ohm resistor, setting your multimeter to the 200-ohm range might result in an "overload" or "OL" display. This simply means the resistance is higher than the selected range. You need to switch to a higher range, like the 2k ohms setting, to get a meaningful reading. Think of it like trying to weigh an elephant on a kitchen scale; you need a scale that can handle the weight!
The 2000k ohms setting is for measuring very high resistances. This might be useful when testing the insulation of a cable or checking for shorts in a circuit. However, it's probably not the range you'd use for measuring individual resistors in most common circuits. Most resistors will fall into lower ranges like the ohms, kilohms, or tens of kilohms. It's about picking the right "zoom level" for the measurement.
Always start with a higher range and work your way down. This prevents accidentally overloading the multimeter, and it also often gives you a more precise reading. The more sensitive the range that you are using to measure, the more accurate your reading will be. Start high, work low. Its a good rule of thumb to follow.
