testing a lamp with a multimeter

[Dave0098]

just a quick 1 really, when testing a lamp to see if its still working using a multimeter, should we be getting continuity or not, and whatever the answer is does this go for all lamps? i.e filament, halogen, son's, high pressure mercury etc...

i know it seems maybe a daft question to ask but i may have confused myself here lol (doesnt take much). but my thoughts are that we should be getting continuity.

cheers Dave

 

[ezzzekiel]

if you have a unbroken length of wire with no break inbetween (switch) would you have continuity?

 

[Dannyg83]

yes u should get continuity , unbroken circuit

 

[Dave0098]

yes, my thoughts exactly, so why when i test a brand new out of the box high pressure mercury lamp do i get no continuity? and its not just 1 i have tested its a few with the same result?

my meter is working fine aswell.

 

[Doomed]

because there is not an unbroken 'wire' in high pressure mercury lamps.
The light is generated by an arc between the starting electrode and the adjacent main electrode warming the gas and prodcing light.
There probably is some other componants in the unit (ballast and starter) unless it is a lamp requiring external gubbins to work it.