A tester, or avometer, is a combined device that replaces a voltmeter, ammeter and ohmmeter. Its digital version is called a multimeter. One of the areas of application of such a device is checking the integrity of conductors, in the jargon called continuity.
Instructions
Step 1
Disconnect the autometer or multimeter probes from any external circuits. Connect the plug of the black test lead to the common jack of the tester, and the red or white (depending on the model of the device) to the jack designed to measure resistance at the coarsest limit.
Step 2
Disconnect the conductor to be checked for integrity on both sides from any external circuits. If a multi-core cable is checked, this applies to all conductors included in it.
Step 3
Use the multimeter switch to select the coarsest resistance measurement range. If there is a mode of sound dialing, turn it on.
Step 4
Connect the probes together. At the analogue avometer, the arrow should deviate approximately to the last division, and at the digital multimeter, zeros should appear on the indicator (it is allowed to display the number 1 or 2 in the least significant digit). If the audio dialing mode is on, a squeak will be heard.
Step 5
At a pointer tester, without opening the probes, use the regulator to set the arrow exactly to the last division of the scale (for ohmmeter mode, it is the first).
Step 6
Open the probes and then connect them to the wire. If it is intact, the device will show zero resistance.
Step 7
For a multi-core cable, the conductors of which do not differ from each other in the color of the insulation, use a tester or multimeter to find the starting and ending points of each of the cores. Mark them with pieces of colored duct tape. It will also be useful to check the cable for short circuits between the conductors. If the operating mode of the cable is such that short circuits threaten with malfunctions or fire, this check is completely mandatory.
Step 8
Disconnect the device from the cable. Connect the cable itself to the circuits of the device in which it is supposed to be used. Do not mix up its conductors. Switch the multimeter or tester to a mode in which no energy is consumed from its batteries.
