Which windings of a motor will indicate the highest ohms readings?

The start windings of a motor are typically designed to handle a higher resistance compared to the run windings. This is because the start windings are only energized briefly during motor startup and are usually constructed with more turns of thinner wire to create higher resistance, which helps generate a stronger magnetic field to initiate the motor's rotation.

In normal operation, once the motor reaches its operating speed, the start windings are disengaged, and the run windings take over, maintaining the motor's operation. The run windings are designed for continuous use and thus are optimized for lower resistance to allow for efficient operation.

Thus, when measuring ohm readings across the windings of a properly functioning motor, the start windings will generally indicate the highest ohms readings due to their design and function in the motor's startup process. This characteristic aligns with the typical expectation in motor winding resistances, confirming that the start windings are intended to have a higher resistance than the run windings.