Electrical Fault Finding

Finding Electrical Faults

Electrical fault finding will not be an easy task for the average person. It can be pretty dangerous, stressful, and time-consuming. If you have circuit breakers, they will trip as soon as an electrical fault occurs. As a result, these breakers can protect your electrical appliances.

All you need to do is identify the source of the problem to restore power to your home. To detect and solve an electrical fault, carefully go through the guidelines outlined in this article.

Types Of Electrical Faults

Open circuit

Open circuit faults are the most widespread type of electrical fault. You can quickly diagnose them. This type of fault is typically detected quickly because some part of the circuit will not operate. This happens because it may not be receiving the voltage required for proper operation.

You need to look for burned-out light bulbs, open operating coils, and loose connections or terminal points to detect these electrical faults. A broken conductor inside the insulation with constant flexing wire may cause an open circuit. In such a case, you need to hire an emergency electrician.

Short circuit

Short circuits are more complex to look for and repair. A short circuit happens when the insulation surrounding a conductor melts. Then, the current finds a path to another conductor or a grounded object. Fuses or circuit breakers may trip because of unwanted and excessive current flow.

Another likely possibility is that the short circuit will energise other parts of the circuit, unintentionally causing other components to operate. Although a fuse or circuit breaker may open due to 'old age,' it is more likely an indication of a short circuit or overcurrent situation.

Low voltage

Low voltage issues can cause transmissions to chatter or not start picking up at all. Motors and components with coil covering can overheat, causing electrical insulation to drop and possibly fail.

Over-voltage

Over-voltage issues generally reduce the lifespan of most components by causing more heating than usual. This can have a significant impact on lighting and motors.

Mechanical

Electro/mechanical faults typically occur in components near the end of their useful life or which have manufacturing flaws. A pushbutton that no longer closes when pressed or a link with stuck/welded contacts are examples of this fault. This type of fault-finding is not an easy task as it often shows no external signs of internal problems.

How To Find An Electrical Fault

The first vital thing to keep in mind is electrical safety. Before you start finding an electrical fault, make sure to understand all the necessary safety rules and procedures, such as lockout rules, using safety switches, and testing procedures.

To be an effective trouble-shooter, you should always begin with a strategy or a systematic approach. Begin by gathering information about the equipment and the problem, such as prints and manufacturer's manuals.

Try to be up-to-date with modern electrical equipment. Start the work by reviewing the problem you diagnosed in your fault-finding process. Then, you can follow the steps below.

Observe the red flags

Look for visible signs of faulty equipment, such as loose components, parts in the bottom of the cabinet, or overheated components. Remember to be aware and try to pay attention to any unusual sounds and touch to detect excessive heat or loose components. Also, if possible, thoroughly test and operate the equipment, so you would be familiar with what works and what does not.

Search for problem areas

Find out what parts of the circuit are working correctly and those that are not. Any properly functioning circuit parts can be removed from the problem areas, reducing the amount of testing time required later.

Determine potential causes

After you've succeeded in electrical fault finding, you can start listing potential causes. Consider thinking of every possible cause of the problem. Blown fuses, mechanical components, windings and coils, terminal connections, and wiring are all distinct possibilities.

Test the probable cause

You can start testing now that you have a list of the most likely causes. Begin with the most likely cause. Before taking a meter reading, always know what to expect, and understand what it means if the reading differs from what you predicted. Based on your results, you may need to further sectionalise the circuit to reduce the problem area. Repeat this process until you succeed in fault-finding a component or wire.

Replace the component and test the operation

Once a component has been proven to be defective, replace it and test the entire circuit. Check all of the circuit's components and operations. Return the equipment to service if everything is working correctly. If the circuit still does not work correctly, rethink your logic and go back to step one.

Electrical Tools

There are numerous tools available for electrical fault finding. A basic multimeter is an excellent place to start and is usually all you'll need to perform most of your tests. A standard multimeter can measure AC, DC, resistance, and small current flows. A clip-on ammeter for measuring the operating current would be an excellent addition. Let's take a quick look at what a few of these tools do and when you should use them.

Ohmmeter

An ohmmeter is a device that measures resistance in a circuit and is useful for detecting short circuits, open coils, and burned-out light bulbs. Turn off and lock out the circuit when you take an ohmmeter reading.

Also, remember to connect the leads and take a reading to ensure that the metre is working correctly before proceeding. To ensure that there are no parallel paths in your reading, always remove one wire from a component before taking a reading.

Voltmeter

A voltmeter is used to detect open circuits by measuring the amount of AC or DC voltage in a circuit. Before taking test readings, always check your meter on a known voltage source to ensure it is operational. Try to keep one lead on neutral or ground as a reference lead. Pick terminals for your test points using the other lead.

Ammeter

The ammeter is an electrical device that is utilised to measure the current draw of components while they are in use. A motor drawing more current than usual could have worn bearings or be overloaded. You can also use the clip-on ammeter to determine current flows in various circuit parts.

Use The Power Of Your Senses

Never look down on the power of your senses when it comes to detecting electrical faults. The smell of 'burnt insulation' always indicates a failed component. Having a smoke alarm is essential for this purpose too.

Listening to unusual sounds can also lead to the discovery of a problem. Melted switches, sporadic power outages, burning odours, flickering lights, malfunctioning ceiling fans, repeatedly blown fuses, and even green liquid around electrical connections are all common indications of electrical problems.

Avoid touching any of these surfaces, turn off the mains power, and just call an electrician to your home right away. Make sure you notify the electrician of this type of problem, as they will prioritise coming to you as soon as possible.

Hire A Professional Electrician

When an electrical problem arises in your home, you should avoid fixing it yourself. It could be a challenging and dangerous task, as electrical systems are dangerous to work on without formal training. As a result, you should hire a professional electrician who can safely perform high-quality electrical work.