Is it shorted?

[LiquidCap]

I'm trying to test a laptop motherboard to see if it is shorted. The way i've been told i can find a short is to do a continuity test from each power inductor to the ground of the motherboard and if my meter reads 000 to 002 then that is considered a short in the area where the power inductor is located.
All inductors i tested were fine except for one which read 045 and gave me a beep on my multimeter. Is this considered a "short" as well? Is this the correct way to test short-circuits?

Please also note that i do NOT have much experience with electronics. Thanks in advance.

[twbranch]

Re: Is it shorted?

Show pictures of the MoBo and where you plan to test. Also, what kind of DMM are you using? To test for shorts you use the DC volts setting you should read zero for a short with power to mobo (not recommended since you have no experience). Put the meter on ohms (horseshoe looking icon) and it should read zero with power off (Highly recommended). I don't like the continuity tester for reasons that I have been burned using crappy DMMs in the past that gave false readings in this mode. To each his own.

If you are testing an inductor then you are going to get a beep anyhow. An inductor is basically just a coil of wire. The coils and length form an inductance if you will.

If you supply us with a schematic and what you are trying to troubleshoot we can probably walk you through the process. Good Luck!

[anno]

Re: Is it shorted?

I think 045 is not a short. I measured some time ago the output conductor to the graphics card and cpu and it was a very low value, i thought it was shorted, but the reading is normal. If you can measure with power on and you get the normal voltage reading on the inductor then it is not shorted.

[LiquidCap]

Re: Is it shorted?

Thanks for the help. I found the problem, it was a faulty mini-pci graphics card. The laptop would not turn on when this card is inserted. I also tested for a short on the mini-pci card itself and indeed i did find one.

@twbranch -yes i don't trust the continuity tester either.
@anno -you are correct, the 045 reading wasn't a short after all.

ps: This is great forum.

[twbranch]

Re: Is it shorted?

Stick around awhile and you will be fixing all kinds of stuff.