When a neon light shorts, can you usually read a short to ground with an ohmmeter?

When a neon light shorts, it typically creates a path for electrical current that bypasses the normal function of the bulb, often leading to a scenario where it's not possible to measure a standard resistance reading with an ohmmeter. This is because the short circuit effectively eliminates the resistance that would typically be present in an intact bulb.

When conducting a measurement on a shorted neon light using an ohmmeter, the device will show very low resistance or even a near-zero reading, indicating that the circuit is shorted rather than providing an accurate resistance value that reflects the state of the bulb. Therefore, the correct understanding is that you cannot effectively read a short to ground with an ohmmeter in the conventional sense since the bulb is no longer functioning as intended.

Additionally, while power being off is a necessary condition for safely testing electrical components, it doesn't directly relate to the nature of the short itself or the behavior of the measurement taken with the ohmmeter.