When assisting with field calls, I ask this question in reference to electrical devices several times a day. The answers that I receive back ranges from: 75, none, a lot, nothing, 237K, and many more. I would like to help you better understand what you are checking and how to “read” it.

Electricity wants to flow! This is a fact. What keeps electricity from flowing? Resistance. Resistance is a force that opposes the flow of electricity and is measured in Ohms. The symbol for Ohms looks like an upside down “U”. When checking resistance there are no negative numbers. It starts at Zero and goes up from there and goes into the millions.

Whatever you are checking, whether it’s compressor windings, relay contacts, reversing valve coil, etc. if the meter reads 0.0 then this means electricity can flow with absolutely no trouble where as OL means the opposite that electricity will not flow at all. I recommend checking your meter for integrity periodically. This can be done by putting your leads together. This test should result in 0.0. Anything above 0.0 should be added to your reading when testing something. If the meter is reflecting anything higher than one or two ohms then the test leads and/or battery should be replaced. This ensures your readings are accurate.

Sometimes the meter will not show a number but instead “OL”; this represents Open Line which more or less mean infinite ohms. OL can be tricky, though, because the meter being used will show “OL” when the resistance being checked is higher than the meter can check. For example, if a meter that is rated for 100 ohms is used to check something that is 120 ohms this meter will show OL.