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How to Set Up or Use a Cen-Tech Multimeter for Working on a Dryer

Chris Miksen

A Cen-Tech multimeter helps you determine whether certain components in your dryer – such as the thermal fuse – have continuity. If the component does not have continuity, it needs replaced.

A Cen-Tech multimeter comes in different models, but all serve the same primary purpose and all have an ohms of resistance setting, which is required to test continuity. Setting up a Cen-Tech multimeter requires you to plug in probes and then turn on the multimeter.

Warning

Disconnect power to the dryer prior to using the multimeter on any dryer component.

  1. Separate the black negative probe from the red positive probe. Both probes have a wire attached to them and a plug on the opposite end of the probe. Insert the negative probe plug into the jack labeled “Com.” Insert the positive probe plug into the jack labeled with the ohm symbol.

  2. Turn the multimeter dial to the lowest ohms of resistance setting, which is typically located on the left of most Cen-Tech multimeters. Testing any dryer part requires the lowest ohms of resistance. If turning the dial to ohms of resistance did not power the multimeter on, look for a “Power” button on the multimeter and switch it to the “On” position.

  3. Test a dryer component by touching one of the component’s terminals with the negative probe and another with the positive probe. If the Cen-Tech multimeter reads “0,” the component has continuity. If the multimeter reads something else, the component does not have continuity. For example, suppose you’re testing a thermal fuse. If you touch one probe to one terminal and the other probe to the other terminal and the Cen-Tech multimeter doesn’t read “0,” it means the fuse is blown.

The Drip Cap

  • A Cen-Tech multimeter helps you determine whether certain components in your dryer – such as the thermal fuse – have continuity.
  • A Cen-Tech multimeter comes in different models, but all serve the same primary purpose and all have an ohms of resistance setting, which is required to test continuity.
  • If the multimeter reads something else, the component does not have continuity.
  • For example, suppose you’re testing a thermal fuse.