Is 160 ohms reading on a switch bad?

Answer 1

For a switch the reading should be in the zero ohm range. Corrosion or pitted contacts will start to raise the resistance rating on a switch. This size of rating on the switch will start to raise the temperature of the switch because the switch starts to act like a load in the circuit.

Answer 2

A reading of 160 ohms on a switch can indicate several things, depending on the context:

1. Type of Switch: Different types of switches (e.g., mechanical, electronic) can have different acceptable resistance ranges.

2. State of the Switch: Is the switch supposed to be open (off) or closed (on) when you're measuring it?

Here’s a breakdown:

For a mechanical switch:

Closed Position (On): Since a closed switch should produce an almost perfect conductive path, the resistance should ideally be very low, usually less than 1 ohm. A reading of 160 ohms suggests that the switch contacts might be dirty, corroded, or worn out, resulting in poor conductivity.

Open Position (Off): Ideally, the resistance should be very high, often in the megaohms range or infinite, indicating no conductive path. A reading of 160 ohms in the open position is definitely a problem, indicating a partial short or leakage current through the switch.

For an electronic switch (e.g., a transistor or MOSFET):

The expected resistance can vary widely depending on the specific component and its state (e.g., gate voltage for a MOSFET). For most on-state conditions, low resistance is expected. However, 160 ohms might be acceptable in some cases, depending on the design specifications.

Summary:

For a typical mechanical switch, a 160 ohm reading in the closed state is unusually high and likely indicates an issue. In the open state, it suggests a malfunction. For electronic switches, the acceptability of 160 ohms depends on the specific component and application. If you're unsure, consulting the switch's datasheet or comparing it with a known good switch of the same type can provide more clarity.