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How do I find a broken wire?
Clever. What song did the power company play? Or does it hum
because it doesn't know the words? -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "The Daring Dufas" wrote in message ... I've used a little AM radio to trace romex inside sheet rock walls. :-) TDD |
How do I find a broken wire?
Are you an artist? Does that offend your sense of
design and standards? -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "mm" wrote in message ... Yes I could use more than one cord in a row, but that's not esthetically pleasing to me. :) |
How do I find a broken wire?
mm wrote:
On Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:57:31 -0800, mike 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. If you can stick a pin in at the end, why can't you stick a pin in the middle and do the same? Half-interval search should get you close in no time. I could but it it would take more than no time. In fact, it took too long just to do the ends. I have to try several times to hit the wire and each time is hard because the rubber or vinyl is tougher than it used to be a few years ago. But it was worth it since it was most likely at the end. I could use an awl instead of a pin, and that would go faster, but I don't want to make holes that big. (When I try multiple times, I can usually use the same outer hole.) I used to have a collection of corsage pins for jobs like this, with big handles, but they seem to have been used up, so I was reduced to using plain straight pins, and they don't work as fast either. You mean "too long" compared to the time you spent on this thread? I'VE spent more time on this thread than it would have taken to do it with a pin. But either way, this is a trip of discovery. To find new ways to do things. To buy new tools (while still making a distinction betwwen 7 dollars and 45 plus S&H.), or by using the radio, and that's the advantage of this discussion, . But this time the problem is somewhere in the middle! If I worked for the electric compnay, or the cable company, or even probably the gas company, I'd have some clever tool that find open circuits in the middle of wires, even underground. Is there something I have around the house or can buy cheaply that will do this? 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've never used one of these, but I can't imagine it will do what you want. The objective of the device is NOT to find the distance to the break of one open wire in a cable. What you can do with stuff you have around the house is critically dependent on what stuff you have around the house. Based on what I have around the house... I'd start with a physical inspection. I'm not saying that it can't happen, but I've never seen a broken wire without some outward sign of abuse. Next, I'd use the pin. Third choice would be a time domain reflectometer, but if you had one around the house, you'd probably not have asked the question. Fourth, I'd measure the capacitance across the plug from each end. ratio of distances to break should be approximately the ratio of capacitances. If I wanted a simple, zero cost, dead accurate (pun intended) method and I were stupid, I'd short one end and hook lotsa volts across the other end and flex the cable until it exploded at the break. If you use a stun-gun, you'll probably be able to hear the arc, but it won't be nearly as exciting as an explosion and fire...but having a couple a hundred thousand volts up near your ear could have exciting consequences and make a wet spot on the floor where you collapse. The PIN is sensible. |
How do I find a broken wire?
On Feb 26, 9:02*pm, mike wrote:
mm wrote: On Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:57:31 -0800, mike 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. If you can stick a pin in at the end, why can't you stick a pin in the middle and do the same? Half-interval search should get you close in no time. I could but it it would take more than no time. In fact, it took too long just to do the ends. *I have to try several times to hit the wire and each time is hard because the rubber or vinyl is tougher than it used to be a few years ago. *But it was worth it since it was most likely at the end. *I could use an awl instead of a pin, and that would go faster, but I don't want to make holes that big. *(When I try multiple times, I can usually use the same outer hole.) *I used to have a collection of corsage pins for jobs like this, with big handles, but they seem to have been used up, so I was reduced to using plain straight pins, and they don't work as fast either. You mean "too long" compared to the time you spent on this thread? I'VE spent more time on this thread than it would have taken to do it with a pin. But either way, this is a trip of discovery. *To find new ways to do things. *To buy new tools (while still making a distinction betwwen 7 dollars and 45 plus S&H.), or by using the radio, and that's the advantage of this discussion, . But this time the problem is somewhere in the middle! *If I worked for the electric compnay, or the cable company, or even probably the gas company, I'd have some clever tool that find open circuits in the middle of wires, even underground. * Is there something I have around the house or can buy cheaply that will do this? 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've never used one of these, but I can't imagine it will do what you want. The objective of the device is NOT to find the distance to the break of one open wire in a cable. What you can do with stuff you have around the house is critically dependent on what stuff you have around the house. Based on what I have around the house... I'd start with a physical inspection. I'm not saying that it can't happen, but I've never seen a broken wire without some outward sign of abuse. Next, I'd use the pin. Third choice would be a time domain reflectometer, but if you had one around the house, you'd probably not have asked the question. Fourth, I'd measure the capacitance across the plug from each end. * * * * ratio of distances to break should be approximately the ratio * * * * of capacitances. If I wanted a simple, zero cost, dead accurate (pun intended) method and I were stupid, I'd short one end and *hook lotsa volts across the other end and flex the cable until it exploded at the break. If you use a stun-gun, you'll probably be able to hear the arc, but it won't be nearly as exciting as an explosion and fire...but having a couple a hundred thousand volts up near your ear could have exciting consequences and make a wet spot on the floor where you collapse. The PIN is sensible. Don't prick your finger! |
How do I find a broken wire?
replying to Bob Villa, Barend wrote:
An easy low tech way is to short out one end of the extention and take the outhe side- connect it to a welber output-set the welder to a low amprage- about 50 amp- switch it on and take a stick or a piece of insulated pipe and walk along the cord picking it up at about 2 m interviles- as soon as you find the fault piece it wil burn through the cord- cut it there and you have your problem -- for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...re-623096-.htm |
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