How to check for continuity when ends of cable are far apart
- Thread starter whyme!
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How many cores does the cable have ?
Connect together two of the wires at one end of the cable and test between the two wires at the other end.
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If that's not possible, use a flying lead (a long length of flex) connected to one end so that you can test both ends in the same place.
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Or grab a NCV detector and check if it lights up at the end of the wire. Not the best way of doing it.
think 5 cores at junction box, might need a long length cat 5 to extend it from downstairs
Connect one end to live and put your tongue on the other end. Either that or use one of those cheap test screwdrivers with the neon light in the handle.
Use the earth, as one test pole. Connect one wire at far end, to earth, connect continuity tester, between earth and each core in turn.
Lets say your colours are, red, white, blue, green and black.
Disconnect the cable at both ends, (making a diagram/taking a photo of where the go first!), so you have all leads in fresh air.
At one end, twist the red and white together. Go to the other end and, using your multi-tester or bell tester, put your leads across the red and white. If you have a circuit, the tester will indicate it. If you don't then one of them is broken. So, back at the twisted ends, untwist them and join the red, (for example), to the next colour, (e.g. blue), and see if you have a circuit. If you do, then it is pointing towards the blue being suspect. This is easily checked by disconnecting the red and connecting the white to the blue. If the blue is broken, you will not get a circuit.
Work your way across all the colours in this manner until you find the colour that repeatedly fails to make a circuit no matter what other colour it is connected to.
Disconnect the cable at both ends, (making a diagram/taking a photo of where the go first!), so you have all leads in fresh air.
At one end, twist the red and white together. Go to the other end and, using your multi-tester or bell tester, put your leads across the red and white. If you have a circuit, the tester will indicate it. If you don't then one of them is broken. So, back at the twisted ends, untwist them and join the red, (for example), to the next colour, (e.g. blue), and see if you have a circuit. If you do, then it is pointing towards the blue being suspect. This is easily checked by disconnecting the red and connecting the white to the blue. If the blue is broken, you will not get a circuit.
Work your way across all the colours in this manner until you find the colour that repeatedly fails to make a circuit no matter what other colour it is connected to.
I don't think the OP is referring to the boiler. Think he's on about ethernet cables.
In which case, if the cable ends are terminated, they can be plugged into a two part gadget, which when switched on will fully verify each core, and each connection, as well as checking for shorts, or breaks. The entire kit, plus crimper, can be had for <£10.
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