Back to Main Menu PART # 82.5.

20130
25
25

28

28
22

30
23

30
22

22
23

23
22, 23
20

16

10
20

18

14
25
24 17
24 17

33
1010229 & UP
TEST FOR OPEN / OHMMETER - SERIES CIRCUIT

The ohmmeter section of your multimeter can be used to check for continuity between two points in a circuit.

FUSE

Ignition
B A switch

STEP 1
Before proceeding with test you must isolate the component or segment of the circuit
that you will test. The current source must be disconnected. This can be done
by turning the ignition switch to the off position or removing the circuit fuse if circuit is
powered at all times.

STEP 2 Turn selector switch to OHMs scale section (Ω)

STEP 3 Connect meter probes to points A and B.

1. A break or open between “A” and “B” will indicate a high infinite
resistance which will appear on your meter as

1. 0L
1. OR
000

2. If there is continuity between points “A” and “B” (no break) a

very low resistance, usually zero OHMs will appear on your
meter as
000

Page 43
TEST FOR OPEN / OHMMETER - PARALLEL CIRCUIT

FUSE

A series circuit as shown on the previous page has only

one current path. However, a parallel circuit as shown
at the left can have several current paths. You must
keep this in mind when troubleshooting parallel circuits.

Unlike a series circuit, an open in a parallel circuit does

not disable the entire circuit.

LEFT DIVERTER RIGHT DIVERTER

ROCKER SWITCH ROCKER SWITCH

LEFT DIVERTER RIGHT DIVERTER

VALVE VALVE

DISCONNECT HERE
FOR BRANCH The branch to be tested must be isolated from
ISOLATION the other branches. You can do this by disconnecting
the other branches at the fuse terminal as shown at the
left.

Once you have isolated the branch circuits from each

other you may then proceed to test for continuity (open)
using an ohmmeter as described on the previous page
for series circuits.

LEFT DIVERTER RIGHT DIVERTER

ROCKER SWITCH ROCKER SWITCH

LEFT DIVERTER RIGHT DIVERTER

VALVE VALVE

Page 44
 TEST FOR OPEN (USING A VOLTMETER)

FUSE

A B C
D E
IGNITION
SWITCH

F
BATTERY

GROUND
(frame)

1. Turn selector switch on multimeter to

DC volts scale.

2. Connect negative probe of meter to

suitable ground. (vehicle frame)

3. Connect positive meter probe to point A to determine if there is voltage available from the source. If no voltage is indicated,
an open is present between ground and point A. Some possibilities could be a blown fuse, batteries not connected or dead,
ignition switch open, broken connection or wires etc. If voltage is present, then proceed as follows.

4. Leave negative meter probe connected to ground, and move positive probe to point B. If the meter shows voltage here,
it indicates that the conductor from point A to B is complete. If not, check connections at each end, and the wire for a break.
See page on continuity check.

5. If the above check indicated voltage at point B, move meter probe to point C. If there is no voltage at this point this might
be caused by faulty contacts or the wire may have been connected to the wrong contact on the switch. Determine normal
position of switch contacts. (Normally open or closed) and perform continuity check.

6. Follow on through to points D and E. If voltage is available at point E and the circuit component or lamp in this case is still
inoperative then the problem lies in open circuit between point E and F (ground). Check connections at each end, and
the wire for a break (see continuity test). If point F is inaccessible, it may be necessary to run an alternate line from point E
to a suitable grounding point.

Page 45
 LOCATING A SHORT IN PARALLEL CIRCUITS
An open in a branch of a parallel circuit disables only that A short across a branch of a parallel circuit disables
branch of the circuit. the entire circuit.

OPEN FUSE
OPEN

SHORT CIRCUIT

ONE BRANCH DISABLED ALL BRANCHES DISABLED

A short circuit has almost no resistance since it by-passes circuit resistance. This permits the flow of an extremely large
amount of current. When this current exceeds the fuse current rating the fuse blows (opens) and disables the entire circuit.
With all branch circuits disabled, each branch must be examined separately to locate the short.

OPEN HERE FOR

BRANCH ISOLATION

Leg

STEP 1
Leg
Isolate branch circuits at fuse.

STEP 2
Set meter for OHMs (Ω)

STEP 3 Connect one meter probe to ground (frame).

STEP 4 Connect other probe to one end of circuit leg.

4.1 A high resistance indicates no short.
4.2 A very low resistance, usually zero OHMs indicates a short in that leg of the circuit.

STEP 5 Repeat step 4 for each leg of the circuit, and each branch as necessary to locate short.

Page 46
 WIRING HARNESS TEST FOR DEFECTIVE WIRE
WIRING HARNESS

C (ADJACENT WIRES)
BLUE

B
BLUE

FRAME
(ground)

OHM

A wiring harness is the main branch with leads which feed the electric circuits. Wires enter a common sheath joining other
wires and emerge at other points in the circuit.

Individual wires in a harness may be replaced by cutting off the defective wire at each end of the harness. Discard the
removed ends of the wire.

Run new wire along the existing harness and attach with plastic clips and electrical tape.

Do not attempt to thread the wire through the harness, as this may cause damage to other wires.

CAUTION! When replacing a defective wire, always use the same gauge wire. A smaller wire will not carry the required
current and overheat will result.

RESULTS IF WIRE IS DEFECTIVE

1. Test for open A to B
(broken wire) A to C Infinite resistance
A to D

A to D - Zero resistance
2. Test for short A to C - Infinite resistance
(bare wire touching frame) A to B - Zero resistance if wire is still intact but grounded
check for blown fuse A to B - Infinite resistance if wire is broken and grounded

3. Test for short A to C - Zero resistance

(two bare wires) A to B - Zero resistance
in contact A to D - Infinite resistance

BLOWN FUSES
A blown fuse does not necessarily mean you have a short circuit.

Some other possible causes for a blown fuse are:

1. A temporary circuit overload caused by a malfunctioning component.
2. Use of incorrect size fuse.
3. Poor contacts in the electrical circuit or component.

Page 47
 RESISTOR COLOR CODING

1. First significant digit

2. Second significant digit
3. Multiplier value
4. Tolerance

RETMA color code for resistors

1 2 3 4
COLOR FIRST SECOND
SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT MULTIPLIER PERCENT TOLERANCE
DIGIT DIGIT
Silver 0.01 10
Gold 0.1 5
Black 0 1.0
Brown 1 1 10 1
Red 2 2 100 2
Orange 3 3 1,000 3
Yellow 4 4 10,000 4
Green 5 5 100,000
Blue 6 6 1,000,000
Purple 7 7 10,000,000
Gray 8 8 100,000,000
White 9 9 1,000,000,000
No color 20

EXAMPLES
NOMINAL PERCENT BAND
VALUE TOLERANCE 1 2 3 4 TOLERANCE RANGE
22,000 Ω =20 Red Red Orange No band =4,400 Ω 17,600-26,400 Ω
100 Ω =5 Brown Black Brown Gold =5 Ω 95-105 Ω
10 Ω =10 Brown Black Black Silver =1 Ω 9-11 Ω
1.2 k Ω =5 Brown Red Red Gold =60 Ω 1140-1260 Ω
6.8 M Ω =20 Blue Gray Green No band =1.36 M Ω 5.44-8.16 Ω

Page 48
 Wheel diagram for selecting the proper equation for
CURRENT, VOLTAGE, RESISTANCE, and POWER

SYMBOL QUANTITY UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

E Voltage Volts
I Current Amps
R Resistance Ohms
P Power Watts

Page 49
 Kässbohrer All Terrain Vehicles Inc.
750A South Rock Blvd. Reno, Nevada 89502 (775) 857-5000