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Video Transcript: How to Check Appliance Spares with a Multimeter:

Welcome to Buyspares in this video we will show you how to check common appliance spares with a multi meter.

Important: Before replacing a part in any electrical appliance you must ensure that the appliance is first disconnected from the mains.

High power devices like heating elements will have a low resistance.

An oven element will typically have a resistance of 20 to 30 ohms.

A water heating element will also have a resistance of 20 to 30 ohms.

Hotplates may have several elements on one ring so may have resistance readings from 20 ohms minimum to over a 100 ohms.

Motor resistance will vary depending on the motors size and power.

A typical vacuum motor may have a resistance from 20 ohms to over 100 ohms depending on its size and power.

Smaller motors will have resistances of 100 to 200 ohms.

Switches thermostats and fuses should have a very low resistance when the switch closes.

And no measurable resistance when the switch or thermostat is open or has failed.

For more information or the typical resistance of other parts go to our advice centre articles.

For all the spares you need visit the Buyspares website

What resistance readings should I expect?

Here below are some common resistance readings in domestic appliances designed for running on 230 volts

Heater elements in dryers, cookers, washing machines etc.

Typical 2kw 26.5 ohms

1kw element 53 ohms

500 watt element 106 ohms

Pump motor 165 ohms

Main motor ( Brush type )

Armature Between 1.5 ohms and 5 ohms on a washing machine (depends on power & spin speed)

Field windings Between 1 and 5 ohms on a washing machine (depends on power & spin speed).

Tacho coil typically 120 ohms approx.

Thermal cut out less than .1 ohms when closed (not cut out).

Sensor on wash heater

20,000 ohms at 20 degrease C

5000 ohms at 60 degrease C

1300 ohms at 95 degrease C

Bear in mind the resistance readings are directly related to the power used by the device.

For example a 15 watt mains bulb in a fridge would read approximately 3450 ohms

But a 150 watt mains bulb would read 10 times lower at approximately 345 ohms

The resistance of 15 watt bulb designed for a 12 volt system would be 9.6 ohms

And for a 150 watt bulb designed for a 12 volt system the resistance would be 10 times lower at .96 of an ohm

The above readings are given as a guide and may change depending on manufacturer.