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testing plug wires with ohm meter

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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:11 AM
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Default testing plug wires with ohm meter
I'm about to test my msd plug wires for resistance since they are three years old and I'm doing a plug change. I'm just not sure what setting to use on the ohm meter lol. I know you set it to the ohms value and touch the ends of the wire with the leads but it goes from 200-2000k Which one do you use.
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:20 AM
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use the 200k one. If I recall the MSDs are lower than that. Also make sure none of your body is touching the metal part of the test leads because it will also read resistance within your body as well.

Edit: Just checked. The msd wires should only have 40-50ohms of resistance.
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by NBM-LS1
use the 200k one. If I recall the MSDs are lower than that. Also make sure none of your body is touching the metal part of the test leads because it will also read resistance within your body as well.

Edit: Just checked. The msd wires should only have 40-50ohms of resistance.
so which one should I use lol
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:30 AM
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Go with the lowest setting you can without going under 50ohms. so if your meter has 20ohm 200ohm and 2000ohm use the 200ohm setting.
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by NBM-LS1
Go with the lowest setting you can without going under 50ohms. so if your meter has 20ohm 200ohm and 2000ohm use the 200ohm setting.
oh I see. set my scale as close but greater than the wire can produce? Back in a few with the wire results.
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:50 AM
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Test complete. 26.4 on a three year old msd wire looks damn good compared to the following chart:

Granatelli 8mm Steel Solid Core Cable - 0.1 ohms
MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor - 71.6 ohms
Accel 8.8 300+ Ferro-Spiral Race Wire - 166.1 ohms
Jacobs Electronics EnergyCore 8.5mm - 178.3 oms
Taylor Spiro Pro 8mm Silicone - 301 ohms
Mallory Pro Sidewinder 8mm Silicone Suppression Wire - 313 ohms
Moroso Blue Maz Spiral Core 8mm - 661 ohms
Magnecor KV85 Competiton 2.5mm - 2053 ohms
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 12:53 AM
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thats pretty good. Considering some wires I have tested on other cars are in the mega ohms. Some manufactures consider that normal depending on the car.
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 01:04 AM
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Originally Posted by NBM-LS1
thats pretty good. Considering some wires I have tested on other cars are in the mega ohms. Some manufactures consider that normal depending on the car.
thanks for the help man! I kinda know what I'm doing now lol. I had one wire bent all to hell with the wires showing so I went out and bought the multimeter. Ordered a new one to replace it and the other 7 will go back on. MSD makes a great wire.
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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 10:29 PM
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The rule of thumb is 10K per FOOT on carbon and mag sup is like 500 ohms - 1K . MEG OHMS NEVER ????????????????????? I think those wires are shot. If you want exact numbers test the wires on a cylinder scope.
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