How do you test a dimmer switch with a multimeter?

Answer 1

You cannot use an ordinary multimeter to assess the difference between a normal power transformer winding and a shorted power transformer winding. You need a Q meter and/or to power it up at a reduced voltage with limited current to see what happens. Note that a shorted power transformer is capable of exploding, so you need to take appropriate safety precautions.

Answer 2

First of all, without anything else connected, check that both windings have a finite resistance. The high voltage winding should have a higher resistance than the low voltage side.

Then check that there is infinite resistance between the windings.

Beyond that, ask an electrician because we can't advise making ad-hoc connections to high voltage devices on the kitchen table.

Answer

There's not a lot you can do with a multimeter beyond checking continuity and measuring the resistance of the lower-voltage and higher-voltage windings. You cannot use a multimeter to check the resistance between windings as its reading will be meaningless; to do this, you need to use a megger (megohm meter) (or, for power and distribution Transformers, a high-voltage test set), which applies a high voltage between the windings.

Answer 3

Set the multimeter in Ohms, range to 10 ohms. Attach the multimeter lead to the pair lead of the transformer. IF it has 8 leads 4 at each side, test 1 of each side (=2) at the same time.

Answer 4

connect to prob and check......... simple