2 Making Measurements72 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX User’s GuideMeasuring conductanceConductance is the reciprocal of resistance. High values of conductancecorrespond to low values of resistance. Conductance is measured in Siemens (S).The 300 nS range measures conductance in nano-Siemens (1 nS = 0.000000001Siemens). Because small conductance values correspond to extremely highresistance values, the nS range allows you to easily calculate and determine theresistance of components up to 100 GΩ (0.01 nS resolution)To measure conductance, set up your multimeter to measure resistance as shownin Figure 2-14. Press until the conductance measurement is selected (nSunit shown). Probe the test points, and read the display.High-resistance readings are susceptible to electrical noise. Use averaging tosmooth out most of the noisy readings. Refer to “Capturing Maximum andMinimum Values (MaxMin)” on page 110.NOTE Keep the following in mind when measuring resistance.– The test leads can add 0.1 Ω to 0.2 Ω of error to resistance measurements. Totest the leads, touch the probe tips together and read the resistance of theleads. To remove lead resistance from the measurement, hold the test leadtips together and press . Now the resistance at the probe tips will besubtracted from all future display readings.– Because the multimeter’s test current flows through all possible pathsbetween the probe tips, the measured value of a resistor in a circuit is oftendifferent from the resistor’s rated value.– The resistance function can produce enough voltage to forward-bias silicondiode or transistor junctions, causing them to conduct. If this is suspected,press to apply a lower current in the next higher range.ScaleNullAutoRangeAutoRange
