A simple trick that saves time and effort when looking for a break in the wire

Electricity accompanies us everywhere, so nothing upsets a modern person like the inability to use electrical appliances. Sometimes even simple extension cords fail, let alone irons, vacuum cleaners and hair dryers.

Modern technology is filled with smart devices that protect it from overheating, power surges or inept use, but the wire that connects the device to an electrical outlet is made in the old fashioned way, from an electrically conductive metal. The metal can overheat and break inside the insulating layer, get other damage that will be invisible to the user, but will lead to a complete loss of device functionality.

Repair of an electric wire in a workshop can smoothly turn into its replacement, and taking into account the cost of the work of a master on diagnostics, repair and the price of a new wire, this venture becomes unprofitable, and the device is postponed for the most far shelf. Just in case.

If you have an extension cord, hair dryer, iron or other appliance with a broken wire, you can fix it yourself. To do this, you need a screwdriver with an electric current indicator, powered by a miniature battery.

Wire Diagnostics

It turns out that the indicator of such a screwdriver lights up if you touch its working surface and the second contact simultaneously with both hands.

In the same way, it will light up if one end of a working wire is brought to the contact, and the other to the working end of the screwdriver. A miniature battery sends a weak electrical signal, which it then finds and displays on its own. To check the electrical wire, you do not even need to remove it from the device. The main rule in this case is to disconnect the device from the network. Check in pairs different ends of the wire in different versions.

If at least one pair works, mark it. If it turns out that both pairs work, carry out an indication of the wires located at one end of the wire. A positive signal in this case will indicate a short circuit. If both wires are working, but the device does not work, then the problem is not in the wire, and you still have to go to the master.

Finding the place of the break

In order to find the place of the wire break, we need already mains power. One end of the wire must be connected to the network. If the appliance is equipped with a plug, it fits just right and does not need to be removed. At the other end of the wire is an electrical appliance. Make sure it is in the off state. If you have a wire without an electrical appliance, then the free end must be well insulated.

If you manage to find a non-working half of the wire, mark it with a marker or electrical tape to make it easier to identify during work.

After that, the wire is plugged into the outlet. If the plug is removed from the appliance for some reason, make a temporary plug for it by wrapping the wires around the contact teeth of the plug from another electrical appliance. It is not necessary to remove the plug from the device for this.

Using a tester screwdriver, find the one from the outlet sockets where the electric current (phase) is supplied, and insert the plug into the outlet so that the damaged wire is energized.

To find the break point, take a screwdriver by the thin end and with the reverse side lead along the wire, starting from the power source.

As long as the wire is energized, the screwdriver will glow, and after the break point, the glow will stop, because the current does not flow there.

Having established the exact location of the wire break, you can easily cope with its repair, for this you need to open the insulating layer, connect the wires and re-insulate it. This method will allow you to revive old household appliances that have hidden wire damage.