Continuity testing means
making sure that
something is continuous
i.e. not broken.
For example, copper
tracks on PCB's or wires
in cables must not be
open circuit but
continuous.
In the diagram, when the
two "flying" leads of
the lamp and battery
setup are connected to
the two ends of the same
wire in the cable, the
lamp will light
indicating continuity.
If the lamp doesn't
light then the wire is
open circuit (i.e. not
continuous.)
The tester is also
useful for finding both
ends of a wire in a
cable, where all the
wires are the same
colour.
A test meter, set to
measure resistance, can
be used to measure
continuity.
Ensure that the meter is
set to read low
resistance.
If you set the meter to
read up to 100k then a
resistance of 500 ohms
will appear to be
continuous.
Some testers give out a
whistle when continuity
is ok, so you can keep
your eye on the job and
not keep looking at the
meter.
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