How to Test Electrical Armatures

The electrical armature is one of the main elements of a car's electrical motor. It is used to transmit electricity to the motor other parts of the car through the wire windings and brushes attached to it. The brushes create negative and positive magnetic fields, which repel each other, inducing the armature to rotate and send electricity to the motor. If you are having problems getting electricity to the motor or other parts of your car, you can use a multimeter to test its electrical armature.

Instructions

1

Place your rubber gloves and safety glasses to avoid any potential electric shocks.

2

Test the voltage of the armature with your multimeter. The multimeter is used to test voltage as well as to see whether electricity is reaching other parts of your car's system. Place the multimeter in "Register Voltage" mode to test the voltage.

3

Find the two wires that connect the brushes to the motor. Turn the motor on to test whether electricity is flowing. Place one of the multimeter's metal prongs on the bare side of the red wire and the bare side of the black wire. Electricity is flowing if you get a reading. If it isn't, there may be a problem with the connection.

4

Place the multimeter's prongs on the metal ring around the armature. Check for a reading. If there is no reading, then electricity is not flowing to the armature and you may need to replace the brushes.

5

Turn off the motor. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws from the cover. Place the multimeter's prongs at the end of the wire windings. If you don't get a reading, you need to replace the wire windings.