Help:Locating break in electric cable

Thread Starter

boblalux

Joined Oct 16, 2015
17
I am often called upon to help people with, for example, a vacuum cleaner which no longer works. First thing I do, I check continuity of the live and neutral wires between the plug and the machine. Most of the problems are just of a continuity nature along the 10-20 foot cable, but where? , Not always at the ends. Just cutting in the middle, and checking both ends for continuity, is pretty destructive. Until now, I use a pin to pierce the wire covering and measure for continuity, and test the continuity until I find its location, therefore not having to cut the cable unnecessarily. Works fine, but I don't like the fact that there are now a number of tiny holes in the wire covering. Is there any better method? I tried using a compass to see if there is only a swing in the live portion of the wire, butdoesn' seem to work.
HELP
 

Thread Starter

boblalux

Joined Oct 16, 2015
17
Thanks, sounds great. If the continuity is broken in the neutral, I'll just swop live/neutral, and test with the' gadget you mention.
Bob
 
Top