Locating Break in 50-Meter 2x2.5 mm Double Rubber Insulated Extension Cord: Non-Pyrotechnic Methods

Question

Hello. I have a - maybe trivial - question: how to locate a break in a 50-meter extension cord made of 2x2.5 mm wire in double rubber insulation? After measuring with the phaser sensor, one of the wires (exactly blue :-) shows a lack of continuity, but I don't know exactly where, and I...

Rzuuf · Answer

Hello!
I assume there is only 1 break.
With a capacitance meter (many multimeters have this function), measure the capacitance of the broken wire in relation to the remaining wires connected, measuring once from one end and once from the other. The measured capacitances are proportional to the length of the cable, so, for example, you will get the result:
I - 2340 pF,
II - 5670pF.
Now the calculation: the total capacitance is 2340+5670=8010pF, the break is 2340/8010=29% from the first end, i.e. at a distance of 50*0.29=14.5m.
Simple?

Majkello · Answer

Simple!

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a capacitance meter today, maybe tomorrow I'll be able to get it.
when I was winding the cable on the spool, I noticed that after rolling it, it started to make contact - I don't know what it changes, makes it easier or more difficult.

Rzuuf · Answer

What I wrote to you applies to the situation when the break IS. If the cable makes contact, unfortunately, the capacitance measured at both ends will be the same, so before the measurement, it would be good to stretch the cable and check whether it will actually have a break at the time of measurement.

irekr · Answer

Several years ago I was locating a break in a cable lying at a depth of about 50 cm below the surface of the earth.
Having no equipment, we had to cope.
I used:
1. A buzzer built on a telephone relay and powered by a flat battery (I wonder if the young generation knows what a "flat battery" is...).
2. A portable radio receiver with a range of long and medium waves.

Then I connected the ends of the wire to the contacts of the buzzer breaker. The radio receiver placed in a place where there was no radio station received strong crackling of the breaker. Walking along the route of the cable, I found a place where the strength of the crackling changed abruptly. I dug up the cable and hit the fault with better than 20 cm accuracy.

roks · Answer

Hello
If there is a break in the cable, theoretically this method should be enough
With an indicator for detecting live wires in walls (the most common one from Nomi), run along the wire with the damaged wire connected to the phase, where it stops showing voltage -> there is a break.
Regards

Anonymous · Answer

Hello! I don't know how to understand it anymore, maybe I missed something, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but to the point.

I have a regular extension cord with a single socket, the mower started for a second. I've been trying to locate which one was alive or both are ruptured. The first thing that came to my mind was to check the continuity of the cable with the buzzer from the multimeter and for one wire there was a signal, for the other it was not. Today something inspired me and I connected the wire, and at the other end I measured the voltage. At first I was surprised that there was 200V, but after all, one wire, maybe just under the plus, is operational, the other is 0, so normal, but ... I took a light bulb but it was not lit (nothing unusual, like an interrupted circuit). I grabbed the test tube in the "midscrew" and in the socket without the pin I plugged the cable in reverse, and at the end there was always a voltage in the plus and I don't know how to understand it. Is there a voltage due to the electric field in the small gap in the vein?

retrofood · Answer

Breaks usually occur in plugs, or in the cable right at the exits of the plugs. If you can't do it yourself, find an electrician, because you'll hurt yourself.

The way to detect a break in the cable was given by Col. year . That should be enough.

Anonymous · Answer

It's not that bad

I checked the ends on both sides, it's ok there. It's a wire rather for a lawnmower, so it "goes" on the ground and it can be different. Generally, you would like to save a few zlotys and locate the break. Get yourself a detector and check it out.

greetings

krzysiek7 · Answer

The place of a break in the wire can be detected with a phaser, available in electrical stores for not too much money, about PLN 20 - 30, there is a detector there. You unwind the cable, connect it to the mains and walk along it, holding the phaser close to the cable, where the signal breaks off, you have a break. Just don't overdo it with the sensitivity of the phaser. The plug should be connected to the mains in such a way that there is a phase on the broken wire, and at the end connect some load, e.g. a lamp, to the extension cord. Thanks to it, the place of the break will be quite accurately indicated by the phaser.

Anonymous · Answer

Ok, I'll do it, thanks for the advice. Regards

Łukasz-O · Answer

Topic exhausted - closing.

genc · Answer

The capacity measurement method is fantastic.I found a break in the shielded cable, where the method of connecting to 220V and checking the methodwith an interrupt checker is not effective.

Locating Break in 50-Meter 2x2.5 mm Double Rubber Insulated Extension Cord: Non-Pyrotechnic Methods

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