How do I find a broken wire.

"mm" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:47:46 -0600, "NotMe" > wrote:
>
>>
>>"mm" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:39:26 -0600, "NotMe" > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"mm" > wrote in message
m...
>>>>>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! 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 generator, but I guess I want some method that is cheaper!
>>>>
>>>>If there is one bad section there will be more. What's more troubling
>>>>is
>>>>that an 'almost bad' section is the most dangerous as that can cause a
>>>>fire.
>>>>
>>>>There are tricks to find the broken wire but if you know how you should
>>>>then know the false wisdom of making the repair.
>>>
>>> I only use this cord outside, where a fire would not be a problem,
>>> plugged into a GFI cirucit.
>>>
>>> So could you tell me the tricks for finding the open in the middle of
>>> the cord?
>>
>>You may not plan to do otherwise but that does not forestall someone that
>>does not know what you did from trying to use it on a heaver and unsafe
>>load.
>>
>>Recall I *KNOW* what I'm doing
>
> How can I recall this when I know nothing about you?

True but then you lack common sense.


>>and would not 'fix' this extension cord
>>myself nor would I let anyone near or dear to me near this patch job.
>>
>>Last the tricks work only if you know, well, what you're doing.
>
> Oh, yeah, sure.
>
>> The fact
>>that you ask is a clear indication you don't know and could very well harm
>>yourself or others in the process.
>
> LOL
>>
>>I'm not trying to be a horse's rear end but those are the facts.
>
> I read a lot of "facts" on the net.
>
>
> Yes, it's hard to believe that the copper wire just broke for no good
> reason, so if it broke in one place it must be totally deteriorating.
> As you put it, "If there is one bad section there will be more."
>
> A) I don't think copper does that.

It's does and that failure is documented in both fire and insurance claims.

> B) The insulation could be falling apart everywhere, but it's not,
> and the cord is not shorted. It's open.

Like I said IF you knew what you were doing it would not be necessary to
ask.


> C) When I find the location of the break, I'll likely know a lot
> more about what happened.

True but not everything,

>
>
> I apologize to everyone. I posted this in the wrong ng, and it was
> OT. I asked elsewhere and got some very good ideas, including the use
> of a non-contact voltage indicator, the use of an AM radio to pick up
> interference from the cord, and feeling the cord for a bump where it
> was bent sharply and the wire broken, but the insulation has partially
> recovered.
>
> I don't know if any of these will work but it will be fun trying, when
> it's warmer and I can stretch out the 100 foot cord.
>
> And even the suggestion to keep cuting the the cord in half and have
> one good 50' foot cord, one good 25 foot cord, one good 12 foot cord.

I'd vote for that but with the qualification the longest element be less
than 1 ft long.

Would you take a bungee cord that had a stress failure, tie a not at the
break and jump from a bridge with that 'fix'?

On Thu, 3 Mar 2011 19:52:26 -0600, "NotMe" > wrote:

>"mm" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:47:46 -0600, "NotMe" > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"mm" > wrote in message
...
>>>> On Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:39:26 -0600, "NotMe" > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"mm" > wrote in message
om...
>>>>>>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! 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 generator, but I guess I want some method that is cheaper!
>>>>>
>>>>>If there is one bad section there will be more. What's more troubling
>>>>>is
>>>>>that an 'almost bad' section is the most dangerous as that can cause a
>>>>>fire.
>>>>>
>>>>>There are tricks to find the broken wire but if you know how you should
>>>>>then know the false wisdom of making the repair.
>>>>
>>>> I only use this cord outside, where a fire would not be a problem,
>>>> plugged into a GFI cirucit.
>>>>
>>>> So could you tell me the tricks for finding the open in the middle of
>>>> the cord?
>>>
>>>You may not plan to do otherwise but that does not forestall someone that
>>>does not know what you did from trying to use it on a heaver and unsafe
>>>load.
>>>
>>>Recall I *KNOW* what I'm doing
>>
>> How can I recall this when I know nothing about you?
>
>True but then you lack common sense.
>
>
>>>and would not 'fix' this extension cord
>>>myself nor would I let anyone near or dear to me near this patch job.
>>>
>>>Last the tricks work only if you know, well, what you're doing.
>>
>> Oh, yeah, sure.
>>
>>> The fact
>>>that you ask is a clear indication you don't know and could very well harm
>>>yourself or others in the process.
>>
>> LOL
>>>
>>>I'm not trying to be a horse's rear end but those are the facts.
>>
>> I read a lot of "facts" on the net.
>>
>>
>> Yes, it's hard to believe that the copper wire just broke for no good
>> reason, so if it broke in one place it must be totally deteriorating.
>> As you put it, "If there is one bad section there will be more."
>>
>> A) I don't think copper does that.
>
>It's does and that failure is documented in both fire and insurance claims.
>
>> B) The insulation could be falling apart everywhere, but it's not,
>> and the cord is not shorted. It's open.
>
>Like I said IF you knew what you were doing it would not be necessary to
>ask.
>
>
>> C) When I find the location of the break, I'll likely know a lot
>> more about what happened.
>
>True but not everything,
>
>>
>>
>> I apologize to everyone. I posted this in the wrong ng, and it was
>> OT. I asked elsewhere and got some very good ideas, including the use
>> of a non-contact voltage indicator, the use of an AM radio to pick up
>> interference from the cord, and feeling the cord for a bump where it
>> was bent sharply and the wire broken, but the insulation has partially
>> recovered.
>>
>> I don't know if any of these will work but it will be fun trying, when
>> it's warmer and I can stretch out the 100 foot cord.
>>
>> And even the suggestion to keep cuting the the cord in half and have
>> one good 50' foot cord, one good 25 foot cord, one good 12 foot cord.
>
>I'd vote for that but with the qualification the longest element be less
>than 1 ft long.
>
>Would you take a bungee cord that had a stress failure, tie a not at the
>break and jump from a bridge with that 'fix'?
>
A very funny post. Thanks for the chuckles.