Be sure you know which fuse is blown before buying a replacement. Although it is easy to inspect glass fuses for continuity, most fuses are solid and cannot be inspected visually. We like testing our fuses with a multimeter.

How To Test A Fuse With A Multimeter

We have a basic multimeter here. Multimeters can test the flow of current, voltage, and electrical current. It will send a current through one lead and measure it through the other. To test a fuse, you can measure its continuity or ohms, but we will be testing for ohms.

Setting Your Multimeter Up 

Connect the black lead to the common socket and connect the red lead to the ohms (Ω) socket. Since we'll be measuring ohms, move the dial to ohms. We chose to move the dial to 2000M. As pictured above, if the metal tips are separate, your multimeter should be reading 1. To test if your multimeter is working, touch the metal tips together. Your multimeter should read very close to 0. Ours is reading 009 (shown below).

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Testing a Fuse With A Multimeter

Be sure there is no current running through the fuse. Touch the metal tips to the opposite ends of the fuse. Fuses are not polarized, so it doesn't matter which tip touches which end. Since it's glass, we can visually inspect this fuse and see that it is still good. It's clear and the wire is still intact. Our multimeter confirms this by reading 009 - the same number shown when touching the metal tips to each other. If the fuse was blown, our multimeter would read 1 - the number shown when the tips were separate. Other kinds of multimeters might show oL if a fuse is blown. 

• Blown Fuse =  1 or oL (same number as when tips are apart)
• Good Fuse = close to 0 (same number as when tips are touching)

Testing a Midget Fuse 

Testing a midget fuse is similar to testing a glass fuse. Simply touch the metal tips to opposite ends of the fuse.

Testing a Plug Fuse 

Plug fuses/screw fuses are common in homes built before the circuit breaker was available. Most of these fluses have small windows on top to visually inspect the internal wire. If the wire is broken or the glass is black, the fuse is blown. However, testing with a multimeter might be required. Set the fuse upside down. There will be metal threaded sidings a small metal top. Touch one tip to the top metal and one tip to the metal threaded sidings.

Testing An Automotive Fuse

 You can visually inspect an automotive fuse. There is a small wire inside the colorful part connecting the two blades. If the wire is broken, the fuse is broken. To test with a multimeter, touch the metal tips to the two blades.