Hello.
I want to make a 'thingy' using my Arduino that I can use a multi-meter in conjunction with, to measure the resistance of two or more conductors. I will be expanding upon the idea, hence why this is so basic to start.
So for instance I have 3 conductors, wires say:
- Number1 which is isolated from Number 2 and 3
- Number 2 which is connected to Number 3 via a 10 Ohm resistor say
I want to measure the resistance between each wire. So:
- Between No1 and No2 (would be open circuit)
- Between No1 and No3 (would be open circuit)
- Between No 2 and No3 (would be 10 Ohms)
My first question I want to grind through is:
What electrical component can I use to 'switch' between these conductors I want to measure, instead of manually moving the probes of the multi-meter?
I have done some tests with a MMBT4401WT1G NPN Transistor and have quickly realized this wont work, because when I measure between the collector and emitter I get around 1MOhm. Instead of the short circuit I imagined in my head:
#define test 12
void setup() {
pinMode(test, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
digitalWrite(test, HIGH);
}
Am I understanding NPN transistors incorrectly here, do they only function as a single conductor when in circuit, say when you use an NPN like this to turn on an LED? Is there a type of transistor that would work in this way?
Will I have to use relays? I dont want to ideally.
