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| How to check button connections with a multimeter |
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| DeLuSioNal29:
Anyone know the easiest way to check your button connections using a multimeter? I'd like to run a check on my whole panel without having to follow each wire. Things I'd like to know: - Multimeter settings to set it to when I turn it on. - What wire on the multimeter I should put where. - What to look for on the multimeter to confirm. Thanks in advance! ~ DeLuSioNaL |
| huygens:
You want to set the multimeter to resistance (ohms / omega symbol). To test a switch you would connect the test leads (red and black probes) to the two legs of the switch. When the switch is open it should read off the scale. When closed it should read a low value (around 0.5 ohm). Are you trying to test the button switches or the wiring to them? Do all the buttons share a common wire (i.e. common ground)? |
| Kevin Mullins:
If this is a MAME type setup ...... open Notepad or Word and push buttons. |
| DeLuSioNal29:
I tested them using the WinIpac utility and it looks like one of my buttons is not working. Before I replace the switch, I'd like to put one end of the multimeter on the ipac connector, and the other end on the the switch to see if the wire is connecting properly. ~ DeLuSioNaL |
| Neverending Project:
Also, many multimeters have a continuity check - usually denoted by a little speaker or sound symbol. In this mode, the multimeter will beep when there is continuity. So you could put one probe on the ipac gnd and the other on the switch gnd. It should beep. Then you could put the ipac probe to the correct input, and the other probe to the NO on the switch. The multimeter should beep when you press the button only. Hope this helps. Also, here's a nice little tutorial on continuity checking: http://www.ladyada.net/library/metertut/continuity.html |
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