FAULT FINDING USING CONTINUITY TESTER ONLY

[TonyTheTiger]

Hi all & thanks in advance for the time.

I'm due on Monday to complete my trade test. (FICA IN SCOTLAND) The part of my test i am to undertake is Fault Finding and rectification. For the test i will be put in a booth by the assessor and issued a job card that briefly describes the circumstances of the fault Eg; the light is iinoperable. From this information & by using only a markingdale continuity Buzzer i need to find out the location of the fault and the type of fault Eg; open circuit on live conductor between switch and light, rewire length of cable.

So can anyone give me any other examples of how you would locate a fault using only a Martindale Continuity meter and how you would rectify said fault? I will attach a photo of the continuity tester as it is very basic.

Thanks once again.

 

[DPG]

I think you would wise to draw the circuit out now, before you have your assessment. Think about how each point should either be connected or not conected with each other point. Then, at your assessment, first ensure the circuit is complete, ie. no open circuits. Then check nothing is shorted together that shouldn't be, ie. no short circuits.

 

[rapparee]

Your assessor will be looking for you to find the fault and rectify BEFORE energising the circuit. The breaker tripping or not is not used a satisfactory method of successful fault finding.

I believe the lighting is a 2-way circuit? Its been a long time since I did my FICA.
Someone correct me here, bu. He wont ask you to rewire it physically, but simply for you to tell him what the problem is, and where it is likely to be.

You just need to understand which conductors should give continuity, and which shouldn't. Figure out what you need for it to work regarding live, switchwire and neutral, and/or strappers (pass wires, whatever you call them)
Remove the lamp, as it will show as a live to neutral short circuit and lead to possible confusion.

J remember when I was doing my AM2 the assessor flicked the switch. The continuity tester sort of bleeped quieter than it should have.

I put this down as a high resistance joint.

There was a fault on his simulator switch. We agreed it was open circuit

 

[rapparee]

Your assessor will be looking for you to find the fault and rectify BEFORE energising the circuit. The breaker tripping or not is not used a satisfactory method of successful fault finding.

I believe the lighting is a 2-way circuit? Its been a long time since I did my FICA.
Someone correct me here, bu. He wont ask you to rewire it physically, but simply for you to tell him what the problem is, and where it is likely to be.

You just need to understand which conductors should give continuity, and which shouldn't. Figure out what you need for it to work regarding live, switchwire and neutral, and/or strappers (pass wires, whatever you call them)
Remove the lamp, as it will show as a live to neutral short circuit and lead to possible confusion.

J remember when I was doing my AM2 the assessor flicked the switch. The continuity tester sort of bleeped quieter than it should have.

I put this down as a high resistance joint.

There was a fault on his simulator switch. We agreed it was open circuit

 

[polo1]

Really important that you understand what the four possible faults are (see my earlier post).

There is only one fault per card.

The faults are ALL wiring faults (not things like a broken switch, faulty lamp etc).

So for example - a three phase motor runs, but not smoothly. What does this suggest? A loss of one phase? So, test continuity of each phase, from db to starter and from starter to motor box. Identify which phase and where fault lies. Your answer may be something like “ open circuit fault on L1 conductor between dB and starter; rewire L1 conductor between dB and starter; retest”.