Which ohm meter range would you use to check if a capacitor is shorted, open, or leaky?

To determine the condition of a capacitor—either checking if it is shorted, open, or leaky—a higher ohm meter range is typically recommended. Using the highest range allows for a more accurate measurement of high impedance components like capacitors.

When a capacitor is functioning correctly, it should exhibit a very high resistance when measured. If a capacitor is shorted, the resistance will read close to zero ohms, while an open capacitor will show an infinite resistance. A leaky capacitor, on the other hand, will exhibit a resistance that is lower than expected but not completely shorted. By utilizing the highest range on the ohm meter, you can discern these distinctions more clearly without the risk of not detecting high impedance readings that might occur in lower ranges.

In contrast, lower ranges might not adequately capture the high resistance of healthy capacitors or could even give misleading results if the capacitor is performing poorly. Therefore, opting for the highest range facilitates accurate diagnostics of the capacitor's condition.