When testing a capacitor with an analog or digital ohmmeter, the meter should:

• A. Measure low resistance then return to a high reading
• B. Remains at zero resistance
• C. Show a steady mid-range resistance
• D. Show increasing resistance only

Answer: (A)

When you test a capacitor with an ohmmeter, the key idea is how a capacitor behaves in DC: an uncharged capacitor acts like a short circuit at first, then it charges up and the current drops, so the measured resistance rises toward infinity. So the meter should show a very low resistance initially and then steadily increase to a high (near open-circuit) reading as the capacitor charges. On an analog meter you’d see the needle snap toward zero and then move upward; on a digital meter the display would jump to a small ohm value and then climb higher. This pattern confirms the capacitor is charging properly; if the reading stays low or never rises, the part may be shorted or leaky. Always discharge the capacitor before testing to avoid misleading readings or damage.