Finished build. Resistance issues. Need help troubleshooting.

[vaplen]

Hi All,

I just completed my build and thought everything was fine.  The tube glow test worked perfect.  When I tried doing resistance checks I can only read the 0 ohm terminals everything else seems infinite. This is probably bad timing but hopefully someone can give some pointers on how to troubleshoot.  I might reflow everything but I don't know what to do.  I also probably would have powered it on if my readings didn't seem so messed up.  I can also post pictures if needed.

Anyways here are what I measured:

Key:
0 is 0.
1 is infinite when it should be 0. 
* is infinite

Terminal

1=0
2=*
3=*
4=*
5=1
6=*
7=*
8=0
9=0
10=*
11=*
12=1
13=*
14=0

15=0
16=*
17=*
18=*
19=1
20=*
21=*
22=0
23=1
24=*
25=*
26=1
27=*

30=~200 Ohms
31=~200 Ohms
32=~200 Ohms
33=*
34=*
35=*
36=1
(I might have measured these wrong. Not sure how to say what the measurement is)
H1= fluctuating between 0 and 1 depending where + probe is placed
H2= bouncing all over the place
H3= bouncing all over the place
H4= bouncing all over the place
H5=bouncing all over the place
H6=bouncing all over the place
H7=bouncing all over the place
H8=0

RCA Jacks
L center pin = 1 Ground tab =1
R center pin =94.8k Ground tab = 0

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Can you post a photo of your meter?

 

[vaplen]

Thanks so much for the quick reply.

Here is the meter I was using

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Set the meter to 2000K, then try the resistance readings again that you were having trouble with.

An autoranging meter makes this much easier.  A meter like you have needs to have the range manually selected.

 

[vaplen]

Yup when I first measured I was adjusting it to the nearest range selection that was available.

Tried 2000k and getting pretty similar results to my initial readings.

Would pictures help?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Try putting your meter on 2000 and measure terminal 3.

Posting build photos could help.  Getting an autoranging meter may also be really helfpul.

 

[vaplen]

Here is the full results using the 2000k selectors (You replied right before I was about to post this).  Also tried terminal 3 on '2000' selector same output.

Also build pic is attached (Tried posting a bunch but apparently hit a size limit or something).  Wasn't sure how to snap them so if you need a better view of the terminals please let me know.
This is exactly how it reads on my meter. 

Terminal

1=0
2=1
3=1
4=1
5=1
6=1
7=1
8=0
9=0
10=1
11=1
12=1
13=1
14=0
15=0
16=1
17=1
18=1
19=1
20=1
21=1
22=0
23=1
24=1
25=1
26=1
27=1
28=1
29=1
30=0
31=1
32=1
33=1
34=1
35=1
36=1
H1=0
H2=1
H3=1
H4=0
H5=0
H6=045
H7=1
H8=0

RCA Jacks
L center pin = 1 Ground tab =1
R center pin =094 Ground tab = 0

Thank you!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

How about the DC resistance between ground and pin 9 on each socket?

 

[vaplen]

I assume that means to use the ohm selector still. 

Still using the 2000k selector:

On the A socket depending where I place the probe it shows either 0 or 1.

On the B socket it shows 1

Is it possible that my multimeter is bad?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Set the meter to 2000, not 2000K, then try that reading again.

Yes, this may be a meter problem if you are unable to measure the resistor from ground to pin 9 on each socket, as that's all that's there to measure.

 

[vaplen]

Alright so socket A showed 1259 and B showed 1.  Using the 2000 selector.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

How about 3, 11, 17, and 25 with the meter set like that?

 

[vaplen]

All with '2000' selected:

3 is 1
11 is 1
17 is 1
25 is 1

 

[Paul Birkeland]

1 would mean that you should keep going up in ranges till you don't see the 1 anymore.

I would recommend an autoranging meter though, that was a lot of fussing around to measure one resistor.

 

[vaplen]

Agreed.

I went all the way to 2000k on the selector and it only showed 1 for each terminal (3,11,17,25).

Of course stores are closed for the holidays right now otherwise I would head out.  Just curious if its something in my circuit causing the issue guess I'll have to wait.

Thanks again Paul.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I would avoid the temptation to turn your amp on and seek out a different meter.

 

[Deke609]

And be sure you're testing resistance with the amp unpowered - I imagine you are, but thought it worth saying just in case.

And before getting a new meter, try a putting a fresh battery into the existing one. they can do weird things with a low battery.

cheers, Derek

 

[vaplen]

Didn't realize the posts continued on page 2.  I did try a different battery but that one seemed more dead than the one I was using... thanks for the suggestion though.  And yep unplugged when testing.  Does the power switch position make a difference?

I am not going to power it on until I am able to test it, the initial readings made me weary to try.  I think the meter I was using was not functioning properly though.

I will probably have access to another manual meter tomorrow, hopefully that will change things for the better.  Otherwise I will have to wait until I can get an automatic meter.

 

[vaplen]

Hi All,

So I tested with a different meter and got better results.  I am now convinced there is something wrong in the circuit.  I tested all terminals at the 2k selector.  There are some terminals I tested at a different range notated with '# tested at ____'

Terminal

1=0
2=1
3=1
4=1 #tested at 2M
5=1
6=1
7=1
8=0
9=0
10=1
11=1
12=1
13=1
14=0
15=0
16=1
17=1
18=1 #tested at 2M
19=1
20=1
21=1
22=0
23=1
24=1
25=1
26=1
27=1
30=.213
31=.213
32=.213
33=1
34=1
35=1
36=1

H1=0
H2=.213
H3=1.380
H4=.215
H5=.215
H6=1.380
H7=.215
H8=0

RCA Jacks
L center pin =1  Ground tab =1 #tested at 200k
R center pin =94.2 Ground tab = 0 #tested at 200k

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Yeah, so when you get a "1", you would go up in values until you get a reading. 

I would strongly suggest getting an autoranging meter.