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Basic Circuit Troubleshooting
18 questions By Tony R. Kuphaldt
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Question 10 of 18
Suppose this battery and light bulb circuit failed to work:
Using a voltmeter, a technician measures 0 volts between the points C and H. What does this single measurement indicate about the condition of the circuit? Be as specific as you can.
Reveal answerBased on this one measurement, we are able to determine that there is definitely a problem in the circuit somewhere on the left-hand side (from points C and H, left). The exact nature of the problem is unknown, but there is definitely a problem of some nature in that half of the circuit.
There may or may not be a problem on the right-hand side of the circuit, as well. Given this single voltage measurement, we simply cannot tell.
Notes:There are times when a voltmeter indication of 0 volts is just as informative concerning a circuit fault as a non-zero measurement. In this case, the measurement tells us that a definite problem exists in one half of the circuit.
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Question 11 of 18
Suppose this battery and light bulb circuit failed to work:
Using a voltmeter, a technician measures 0 volts between the points C and H. The result of this single measurement indicates which half of the circuit there is a definite problem in. What would you recommend as the next voltmeter measurement to take in troubleshooting the circuit, following the same “divide in half” strategy?
Reveal answerTo “divide the circuit in half” again, measure voltage between points B and G.
Notes:Some troubleshooters refer to this strategy as “divide and conquer,” because it divides the possibilities of fault location by a factor of 2 with each step.
It is important to realize in situations such as this that no determination of faultlessness in the circuit has been made yet. By measuring 0 volts between points C and H, we know there is a definite problem in the left half of the circuit, but we have by no means “cleared” the right half of the circuit of any fault. For all we know, there may be faults in both halves of the circuit! Only further investigation will reveal the truth.
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Question 12 of 18
Suppose this battery and light bulb circuit failed to work:
Using nothing but a voltmeter, a technician measures voltage between the following sets of points:
- • Between A and C: 0 volts
- • Between D and G: 12 volts
- • Between E and J: 0 volts
- • Between B and E: 12 volts
From these voltage measurements, what can you tell about the condition of the battery, wiring, and light bulb? Be as specific as you can.
Challenge question: identify which of the four measurement are unnecessary in determining the precise location of the fault in this circuit.
Reveal answerBased on these measurements, we are able to determine that the battery’s voltage is 12 volts, that the light bulb has good continuity, and that there is a single break in the circuit between points D and E.
Challenge answer: the two “0 volt” measurements are unnecessary in determining the location of the fault in this circuit.
Notes:Scenarios such as this are excellent for group discussion, encouraging students to think critically about the data and to apply their practical knowledge of electricity to a realistic problem.
May I know the people who created these examples? through APA 6 or 7 format of citation?
Some good brain teasers. It was nice getting my head wrapped around the idea of getting voltage on a common side of a circuit (due to a break on that side) 🤠