Technical Question - pickups & output

[GuiTony]

I have a few spare pickups lying around, which I decided to test with my multimeter.

A couple of Wilkinson P90s (new, I believe) gave me output ratings of 7.5 Ohms.  Which sounded about right.  A Wilki SC had a slightly lower output reading, but still above 5 Ohm.  That suggests to me that my multi-meter is working properly, and I'm using it properly.

When I tested a Seymour Duncan SH1-N, the output reading was way down - around 2.5 - 3ohms.  Does that mean that the p/up is bust in some way?

[Philly Q]

Something's wrong, it should be over 7K.  Is it a 4-conductor model?  If it is, you should be able to tell if one coil's defective.  

I have a nearly-dead DiMarzio stacked Tele pickup that's supposed to be about 9K but is actually less than 2K - it turned out that only the bottom, noise-cancelling, coil was working.

[GuiTony]

Thanks for the quick reply.  Yes, it's a 4 conductor model.  I tried testing across the black to white wires, and got 3 ohms.  Then I tried across the red to green, and got the same output reading.   :?:

[Philly Q]

Hmm, that's odd.  Have you got red and white twisted and/or soldered together (for standard humbucking operation)?

[WezV]

Thanks for the quick reply.  Yes, it's a 4 conductor model.  I tried testing across the black to white wires, and got 3 ohms.  Then I tried across the red to green, and got the same output reading.   :?:

if itsa duncan i think you have just tested each coil seperately, join the red and white together and test from black to green

[GuiTony]

Just twisted the red & white together, and testing those together to the black wire, and still getting a reading of just over 3 ohms ???

[Philly Q]

Just twisted the red & white together, and testing those together to the black wire, and still getting a reading of just over 3 ohms ???

Yeah, you're still only testing one coil.  Leave them twisted and try black to green, as Wez suggested.

[GuiTony]

Thanks for the quick reply.  Yes, it's a 4 conductor model.  I tried testing across the black to white wires, and got 3 ohms.  Then I tried across the red to green, and got the same output reading.   :?:

if itsa duncan i think you have just tested each coil seperately, join the red and white together and test from black to green

Top man  :D

I now have a reading of 6-7 ohms ... still not as high as I'd expected, but at least it's getting better.

Thanks Philly too.