Checking resistance of a coil using a multimeter

[media]

I have a few ego style batteries I use and enjoy them very much. I want to rewick my vivi novas, but I dont have a pv that can check the ohms of newly made coils itself. I do however, have a nice fluke meter. Is the proper way to just put the contact on the center pin and then the other on the outside threading to check the resistance of my coils?

Thanks in advance.

 

[media]

hmm no answer. I just want to make sure I can build these at home and use on my ego twist safely. I bought 100ft of kanthal wire today and plan on using hemp wick. I want to make sure I get accurate reading for each coil before using them.

 

[Commie]

yup, that should work. Make sure you move your leads around, since the contact they make with the head may be questionable.

If you get the need to do that often, you may want to get a battery connection with two leads soldered to it with gator clips on the ends. That comes out more accurate.

 

[tnt56]

What Commie said.

 

[Rader2146]

Don't forget to subtract the resistance through the leads and meter. Touch the probes together and subtract that reading from the reading of the coil. Or if your fluke has a Zero function, touch the leads together and press "Zero", then measure your coil.

Flukes with good leads are usually pretty low, .01-.02 ohms, but I also have a cheap meter that is .6 ohms. Imagine building a a perfect 1.8 ohm coil that is actually 1.2 ohms.

 

[Kemosabe]

my multimeter is a 1. its the cheapie from harbor freight. you have to hold the leads incredibly still to get the reading. otherwise the numbers jump wildly.
ive seen atty ohm testers housed in a AA box, you just screw it in. but im not sure if these devices would work on a vivi head.

 

[michliu]

I also have the cheap multimeter from Harbor Freight. It seems to be a bit more accurate if you are only touching the tip of the leads to the thread and center. It still doesn't seem very accurate, I get a reading of 2.4 or above for all my low resistance atomizers and vivi nova heads, after subtracting the resistance of the leads and meter. So inaccurate, I had to spring for a Lavatube with ohm resistance check. Hopefully the Lavatube will be more acccurate.

 

[media]

Ok so played around with it this weekend. Thanks for the great responses guys. The leads on my fluke meter came out as 0. I checked a couple stardust heads I had and they all measured between 2.4 and 2.5. So, looks like I should be safe with making some new coils for my tanks and clearos when my wire arrives today. I cant wait to try some newer coils....and not have to buy any heads again.

 

[Kemosabe]

I also have the cheap multimeter from Harbor Freight. It seems to be a bit more accurate if you are only touching the tip of the leads to the thread and center. It still doesn't seem very accurate, I get a reading of 2.4 or above for all my low resistance atomizers and vivi nova heads, after subtracting the resistance of the leads and meter. So inaccurate, I had to spring for a Lavatube with ohm resistance check. Hopefully the Lavatube will be more acccurate.

i doubt the multimeter is that far off. the nova heads i have all test higher than theyre stated, with the exception of the 2.8 and 3.2ohm heads. the 2.8ohm heads all read 2.8 on my provari. the 2.4 heads are also 2.8. the 1.8s are 2.4. i have 5 nova tanks and i havent yet used all the heads, but this has been my experience for the most part.

Ok so played around with it this weekend. Thanks for the great responses guys. The leads on my fluke meter came out as 0. I checked a couple stardust heads I had and they all measured between 2.4 and 2.5. So, looks like I should be safe with making some new coils for my tanks and clearos when my wire arrives today. I cant wait to try some newer coils....and not have to buy any heads again.

its really a great feeling to rebuild. ive only rebuilt 1 coil so far, but it was a success and i couldnt help but be proud of myself after every toot i took from the rebuilt coil. i can only imagine how proud mod makers are when they not only construct their own coil, but the whole shebang!

 

[taofishdude]

i tried the multimeter form harbor freight...it sucks. Bounces around wildly at the low ohm range, and couldn't even get a good read on the lead resistance. kemosabe, where have you seen these atty ohm testers? i dig your avatar, man.


Abide.

 

[kimbo55]

i tried the multimeter form harbor freight...it sucks. Bounces around wildly at the low ohm range, and couldn't even get a good read on the lead resistance. kemosabe, where have you seen these atty ohm testers? i dig your avatar, man.


Abide.

I passed on using the the box type 510 screw in tester because I thought a meter would give a more accurate reading if you placed leads right at the coil contact sites. That way it would not pass thru any othe parts and give a false read. But I'm not at all a Ohms Law dude. Just a noob.