Continuity reading rising

[m4tty]

Hi,

I was testing a 3c 4mm swa today which has been damaged since installation.

Tested IR and was getting 0.03M ohm between live and neutral so switched to continuity as was getting 70k ohm but didn't stay constant and was rising slowly .

Why would the reading skate upwards and not give me a figure?

If its a stupid question please excuse it as had bad family news and can't think straight

Cheers

Nb the cable was disconnected both ends btw

 

[Evans Electric]

Sounds like a damp reading M4tty , damaged cable , water/damp ingress , meter reads through the damp . As you say , nothing is connected.

Is it underground ? Is there joint in it somewhere underground?

 

[Riggy]

My guess would be moisture in the damaged area, your tester current is drying it out.

 

[m4tty]

Thanks.

Yeah it is underground but no joints.

I'm getting roughly the same reading both ends so fault must be somewhere in middle of cable?

Cheers

 

[kerching]

could it be that your batteries are on their way out? Continuity testers can be a bit 'moody' when the batts are about to pack up

 

[m4tty]

The batteries were new last week so not that mate. Have a lot of confidence in the meter too. All other tests are ok just was increasing consistently. Must have been drying it out as it was raining earlier.

Thanks for replies

 

[kerching]

I could see it drying out on 500v or 1000v, but not really on continuity as it only test at about 12v. Are you testing core to core OR core to earth on the continuity range? [previously thought you were testing for continuity, sorry] as that would explain it a bit more

 

[m4tty]

Hi,

I was testing core to core ie, L-N, L-E & N-E.

I pulled the swa up today and re-run a new piece and found a hole in side of cable done by a fork maybe but it was a 4 core that had been run but 2 cores were damaged. One was a spare core unused but 2 were damaged ffs.

Still new piece in today all tested out fine.

Thanks for your help guys

 

[Evans Electric]

OMG !!! I got something right .!! :tongue in cheek

 

[m4tty]

OMG !!! I got something right .!! :tongue in cheek

Look at your rep Sandra ... says it all

 

[Evans Electric]

:Blushing