Oklahoma Locksmith Practice Exam

What setting should a meter be placed on to read a circuit without removing a side?

1. Volts

2. Ohms

3. Amps

4. Watts

The correct answer is: Ohms

When reading a circuit without removing a side, the meter should be set to measure resistance, which is indicated by the ohms setting. This allows the technician to assess whether there is continuity in the circuit or to determine the resistance of specific components, without disrupting the circuit itself. Setting the meter to ohms enables the measurement of how much opposition exists to the flow of electricity in the components of the circuit. The volts setting measures the electrical potential difference and requires the circuit to be powered, which would not be feasible when trying to avoid disconnecting it. Setting the meter to amps measures the current flowing through a circuit, which typically necessitates breaking the circuit to insert the meter in series, making it unsuitable for the scenario presented. The watts setting is a measure of power and is a combination of volts and amps, thus also requiring that the circuit be powered and monitored directly, which does not align with the need to read the circuit without disassembly.