Test Continuity With Probe and Alligator Clips
Continuity checking is from where most of the circuit diagnosis and troubleshooting starts. And you know most of the time it's one lousy connection or one lousy wire that is causing the whole problem. Now continuity is a very broad term. You can check continuity on PCB level, prototype level, for home wiring, or even for industrial-level applications.
You can check continuity by using a multimeter in certain situations or you can invest in a specific one of the best continuity testers out there on the market. It totally depends on what you want to achieve here and what is the current situation is.
If you are testing one or two circuit boards I would say a multimeter (with proper continuity option) is enough for you. But if your situation is different (i.e. maybe cable installation, cable labeling, home circuit troubleshooting, and polarity identification) and you are looking for some good recommendations on the best continuity tester out there in the market. Well, in this article, an effort is made to help you with that.
Since continuity is an essential requirement therefore from day one a lot of manufacturers and brands are making efforts to provide us with amazing tools. For quality best continuity testers you will find the following brands popping up most of the time. A lot of people have tested them and found satisfactory results.
- Sperry Instruments
- Klein Tool
- Extech Instruments
- Fluke
Alright, so that is it for a brief introduction.
Now, get into our main topic. I really hope you will enjoy it.
Table of Contents
- The amazing list of some of the best continuity testers
- 1. Sperry Instruments CT6101
- 2. Gardner Bender GCT-3304
- 3. Katzco KZ-26001
- 4. Extech Instruments CT20
- 5. Southwire Continuity PRO 40040S
- 6. PTE Wire Tracer & Circuit Tester
- 7. Klein Tool VDV512-007
- 9. Fluke T5600
- 10. Electrical Wire Tracer Circuit Tester
- 12. Sperry Instrument ET64220
- What is a continuity tester
- How to use a continuity tester
- Conclusion
The amazing list of some of the best continuity testers
Continuity can be locally or remotely. I don't know your situation. But if I am working on my home wiring I would go for both local and remote continuity. Because I would wire the same wire among different rooms and in the same room as well.
The best continuity tester that a professional recommends is either the Sperry Instrument ET64220, or the Klein Tool VDV512-007, or the Extech Instruments CT20. There are the best because they come from proven brands, are highly reliable, high quality, and come with a decent price range that anyone can afford.
In the rest of the article, I talk in detail about these and other models and explain which model is best for which cables and which situations.
1. Sperry Instruments CT6101
Starting with a very entry-level best continuity tester i.e. CT6101. This tester is best for circuit board troubleshooting. It has a decent lead wire which is very helpful if the circuit under test is taking a lot of space.
Important features:
- Durable heavy-duty design with over-molded rubber grips and a pocket clip
- 36 in. flexible leads with insulated alligator clip
- Bright 360° visual indication
- The tester is capable to verify fuse viability
If this best continuity tester has got your attention. Here is the link to follow, Sperry Instruments CT6101 (Amazon link), to find out more about this tool.
2. Gardner Bender GCT-3304
The alternative to the above one is the Gardner GCT-3304. It is a small instrument designed for continuity check only. Also, keep in mind to use these tools for non-energized circuits only, or else you can harm yourself or completely damage the instrument.
Important features:
- 36 in insulated test lead with an alligator clip on the end
- Bright indicator bulb lights if continuity exists
- Pocket clip for added convenience
- Tests: extension cords, fuses, switches, water heater coils, and un-energized low voltage wiring.
To know more about this continuity tester. Here is the link to follow, Gardner Bender GCT-3304 (Amazon link).
3. Katzco KZ-26001
The above testers were not for live wire or live circuits testing. To test the live circuit for continuity then use this best continuity tester called the KZ-26001.
Important features:
- It has a sharp steel probe that reaches into tight places and pierces insulation.
- EXTRA LARGE 54" CORD increases flexibility, range, and freedom when testing.
- It has a "LIGHT BULB IN HANDLE" that indicates when the circuit is good.
- GREAT for voltage regulators, fuses, switches, broken wires, mechanics, electricians, and more.
If this instrument has got your attention. Then here is the link to follow, Katzco KZ-26001 (Amazon link), to know more about this amazing tool.
4. Extech Instruments CT20
Extech Instruments are in business for decades and are manufacturing quality products that every consumer likes and appreciate. They produce awesome products and CT20 is no different. It is the tester you would differently want if you are working with cables and circuits all the time.
Important Feature:
- Small size and easy to carry anywhere.
- It has a nice bag to put it in.
- No need for two men, one single user can operate it easily. It is friendly.
- Flashing remote probe two lead, bicolor (red/green)
- The LED probe allows a single user to identify up to three wires or cables at a time
In summary, the Extech Instruments CT20 (Amazon Link) is the best out there in the market. It has a decent price range that anyone can buy.
5. Southwire Continuity PRO 40040S
The continuity tester from Southwire can save you a lot of time if you want to test two or three wires at the same time. It has a remote option which is very handy when you want to trace a long electrical wire in a circuit especially in building or home circuits.
One of the best features of this meter is, it is easy to use. Simply press the ON button and connect the leads. Bright flashing LEDs and a loud pulsating beeper provide a positive indication of continuity.
Here is the link, Southwire 40040S (Amazon link), if this meter got your attention and you want to know more about it yourself.
6. PTE Wire Tracer & Circuit Tester
As the name is telling the whole story it is a product that can be used to trace wires. Continuity is not just limited to circuit PCB boards. We have many complex circuits connected by long wires and cables. And sometimes to troubleshoot those long wires we need to check if there is some kind of discontinuity that is casueing the problem or is it something else. To cope with such a problem use can this PTE wire tracer.
This device can help you to detect wires in a range of applications including buried wires, single strands, broken wires, etc. Keep in mind it is not meant for live electrical wires. It is suitable for Electrical wires, Landlines, Coaxial cables, Automotive cables.
To know more about this guy, here is the link to follow: PTE Wire Tracer (Amazon link).
7. Klein Tool VDV512-007
Now if you are working with coax cables. The above tool gonna fail. So for working with coax cable there is this dedicated tester you can use, the VDV512-007. I like the 007 end tag. Same as James Bond this tool spy on coax cable and helps you to detect and label the right ones.
Klein Tool is just the other famous American manufacturer. They are in business for a long time and are famous for making quality and reliable tools.
Important Features:
- Got audible beep sound, which is very cool
- Small size, easy to carry to a workspace.
- Identifies and tests cable drops for a pass, short faults, and location
- Female to female F-adapter (included) enables testing of loose cables and installed cable runs
- Batteries included.
In summary, the Klein Tool VDV512-007 (Amazon Link) is the tool for lifelong usage, if taken care of. You can use it to test coaxial cables of quite a long length.
The best alternative to this one is the following one. You can also check that out as well.
- 8. Southwire M500CX4 Coax Continuity Tester
9. Fluke T5600
Fluke is a very famous brand when it comes to measuring electronics tools. It is in business for decades and has a proven track record. The continuity tester from Fluke i.e. the T5600 is well made and is specific toward professional work. It is not just a continuity tester but a multimeter but it serves the situation very well.
Important features:
- Automatically measures volts ac and volts dc with precise digital resolution
- Displays resistance to 1000Ω
- Easy and accurate OpenJaw current measurement
- The optional holster attaches to a belt and neatly stows test leads
- Can stay connected much longer than solenoid type tester
Here is the link to Fluke T5600 (Amazon link) to know more about one of the best continuity testers on the market.
10. Electrical Wire Tracer Circuit Tester
This is another wire tracing tool to find discontinuity on wires and cables. This guy comes with alligator clips & an RJ11 plug.
Important features:
- You can trace wires in a range of wires and cables including the network telephone line
- Verify the continuity of your installation
- With the cont mode, you can check for short and open circuits
If this is the product you want for yourself. Then follow this link to know and research more about it yourself: Circuit Tester (Amazon link).
The best alternative to the above is the following circuit breaker finder. Check this as well so you have a more clear vision and choices to select from.
- 11. Klein Tools ET310 AC Circuit Breaker Finder
12. Sperry Instrument ET64220
Sperry Instruments is yet another famous brand out there and you will like its product quality. The mentioned product is also best for audio/video Installer and data COM technicians
In summary, the Sperry ET64220 (Amazon Link) is the best choice for those whose work style applies to different cables. It includes RJ-45, RJ-11, Coax, automotive fuse blade, and insulated Clamps. It has the features of audible and visual indication and an auto-shutoff after 45 minutes.
What is a continuity tester
By continuity, we mean something without breaks. In electrical circuits, continuity means there is no open circuit situation. If a cable is continuous it means the voltage applied to it will be the same at any point.
A continuity tester is special electrical equipment used to verify the continuity of cables or wires in an electrical circuit.
With the help of these testers, we are able to label cable coming from one room to another, conform the cable for faults, or any other issue. It allows a single user to quickly identify and label two wires even when the wire ends are located in different rooms or locations.
How to use a continuity tester
Using a continuity test is so simple. The complete set of the tester has two parts:
- The receive: to receive the signals from the transmitter.
- The transmitter: to transmit the signals.
The signal from the transmitter is received perfectly when there is no discontinuity in the way and that is how you check for the continuity test. The receiver upon receiving the signal beeps or light up.
This is a general concept and the exact procedure may differ from device to device.
Let see how we can use the Extech Instrument CT20.
Just connect the transmitter side to the cables you want to label or test. And use the receiver to verify the cables.
Conclusion
Are you an electrician or the guy who works or plays with electrical circuits and cable? You may be interested in home wiring or whatever the case may be. There will occur a situation in your work that you would wonder the way to check and label the cables in one room while you are working in the other room.
You will wonder how you can check for continuity in your circuit.
In this article, the exact effort is made to make it clear to you how can you test a circuit for continuity and what are the best continuity testers out there to cope with your situation.
I wrote this conclusion for the people who start from the conclusion then decide to read the entire article. If you are that guy, now you can read the article. If you are the guy making this far, thank you for the time.
I hope this article kinda helped you.
Other useful posts:
- Buying best soldering stations – see what matters
- Spectrum analyzers for beginners [How to select the best]
- Best oscilloscopes for beginners (An easy buying guide)
Thank you and have a good life.
Source: https://www.yamanelectronics.com/best-continuity-tester/
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