Check Your DMM Batteries

[TRWham]

I was verifying my recently acquired Norton has not been converted to negative earth (ground). The Hioki meter I use for basic troubleshooting showed continuity between the battery negative terminal and earth. Based on other evidence I was skeptical this should be true and double checked with a Greenlee DMM and confirmed the bike is still positive earth.

After a new battery in the Hioki, it now shows the correct result, but based on this incident I encourage everyone to make sure your tools are telling the truth.

 

[P0234]

Kind of crazy that it would show continuity. I figured it would be the other way around.

 

[TRWham]

Kind of crazy that it would show continuity. I figured it would be the other way around.

I didn't spend much time trying to explain it, and there may have been user error involved, but the other meter gave expected results, as did the Hioki once the battery was replaced. After the initial misleading result, I checked across several different voltages and continuities to confirm what I was seeing. There is no question now the bike is still wired positive earth.

 

[PCustoms]

It was probably reading continuity through one only the connected circuits

 

[Cruzan80]

It was a VM, not a DMM, but also take out batteries if it is going to sit for a long time.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Pic of Norton?

 

[TRWham]

Pic of Norton?

1975 Commando 850 Mk3