Extension Cord Testing

Power Probe makes a device to find opens.

I use a telephone circuit tone generator and signal sniffer.

I wonder if the audio frequency isn't high enough to overcome some of the problems with the 60 hertz devices you're using, but I've found similar breaks using this method.

OR, you could research old issues of QST, the journal of the American Radio Relay League as this sounds an awful lot like the theory logic problems that used to be in the magazine when I was a little boy, long before I understood how/what was being done!

Dave, that's spoiling the fun of this exercise though. You're probably right, and I have industrial grade ends to put on when I do cut it. Just not ready yet. Remember, I have been laid up with a broken leg/hip since April, and still can't do much work, so this is giving my mind at least something to do. Then I go rig up and try it. It will get to a point sometime when I will just cut the thing. Or chop it into little pieces and make a sandwich out of it. For now, it's just for fun. Like I said, I have cords, so it's not like I even need it.

P T, I have tried my Fluke fox & hound, and surprisingly, still not been able to locate the break. It doesn't operate at 60 cycles. Not sure what frequency it runs, but it's not audio. I may try a signal generator instead of the tone unit, and dial around to see if there is an ideal frequency. I know my frequency counter can be varied in it's sensitivity by making a sort of antenna. I also have a couple of signal tracing units. I believe they require direct contact though. When aligning a radio, as you may know since you mentioned QST (I have a stack of old copies) you can direct couple to the radio, or inductively couple. I may be able to get the right combination of pickup method and vary the amplitude of the generator to get there. The twists in CAT are designed to eliminate cross-talk, but the twists in an extension cord don't take this into consideration, nor to they attenuate any of it that I can tell.

One thing to know about the twists in the 4 pairs of CAT5 Cabling is each one has a different # of Turns per Inch.
This changes the actual Length of each pair and the Resistance of each pair.