On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:47:48 -0500, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:

mm wrote:

How do I find a broken wire?

I have a 100 foot orange extension cord that doesn't work.

Usually when I cut one in half with a hedge trimmer, it's fairly easy
to find the defect. And then I fix it.

Other times I use pins to check continuity near the plug or socket,
where cords usually break.

But this time the problem is somewhere in the middle!

you sure? You've replaced both ends? Checked your work? If that
failed, I'd pull the 100feet through my bare hand a couple times to
see where the indent was.

I checked both ends using a pin to pierce the insulation.

Pulling the wire thorugh my bare hand is a very good idea.

I might try non-contact voltmeter if I had one-- but I'm more likely
to make 2 50 foot cords first. One of them will work. If I needed a
25, I might make a couple of them too.

That's a thought.

-snip-
I found for only 45 dollars an Armada Tone Probe, that works with a
tone gneerator, but I guess I want some method that is cheaper!

I sure wouldn't spend $45 for a tool to fix a $25 [16/3] to $60 [12/3]
cord.

Right. That's what I'm NOT going to do.

Jim

It was worth having this thread. I'm sure this won't be the only
extension cord I have trouble with.