I have two brand new 1% tolerance, metal-film resistors that I am looking to use in a project. One is 90M and the other is 50M and I'm using my HP-3456A to measure them.
The 50M tests within 1% (around 49.8M).
The 90M tests at just over 92M which is about 2% over nominal.
2-Wire and 4-Wire show about the same differences.
My meter is not recently calibrated so I know I cannot really trust either measurement; however, does it make sense that if both resistors are indeed within 1% (as they should be given that they're new), would one test correctly and one test incorrectly?
I realize that new parts may not be in spec and at least one of these may be an example of that but these were bought from reputable suppliers (e.g. not eBay purchases) so I suspect they are within tolerance and my meter may be giving me false readings.
If both tested with the same relative difference (e.g. both showed +2%), then that might make better sense but I'm curious as to whether it's possible/probable that if both are in tolerance that the meter would show that kind of variance.
Yeah, I know. Weird question and maybe too many variables but thought I'd see what the experts say.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
