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Inductance Measurement The common mode of failure in an inductor is an open. To check the integrity of an inductor, it must be removed from the circuit and tested as an isolated component just like the capacitor. If there is an open in the inductor, a simple check with an ohmmeter will show it as an open circuit with infinite resistance. If in fact the inductor is in good condition, then the ohmmeter will indicate the resistance of the coil. On occasions, the inductor will fail due to overheating. When the inductor is overheated, it is possible for the insulation covering the wire in the coil to melt, causing a short. The effects of a shorted coil are that of reducing the number of turns. At this point, further testing of the inductor must be done with test equipment not covered in this text. Troubleshooting the Open Faults in Series Circuit One of the most common modes of failure is the “open" circuit. A component, such as a resistor, can overheat due to the power rating being exceeded. Other more frustrating problems can happen when a “cold" solder joint cracks leaving a wire disconnected from a relay or connector. This type of damage can occur during routine maintenance after a technician has accessed an area for inspections. In many cases, there is no visual indication that a failure has occurred, and the soon-to-be-frustrated technician is unaware that there is a problem until power is reapplied to the aircraft in the final days leading up to aircraft delivery and scheduled operations. The first example is a simplified diagram shown in Figures 10-165 through 10-167. The circuit depicted in Figure 10-165 is designed to cause current to flow through a lamp, but because of the open resistor, the lamp will not light. To locate this open, a voltmeter or an ohmmeter should be used.
Tracing Opens with the Voltmeter A general procedure to follow in this case is to measure the voltage drop across each component in the circuit, keeping in mind the following points. If there is an open in a series circuit, then the voltage drops on sides of the component. In this case, the total voltage must appear across the open resistor as per Kirchhoff’s voltage law. If a voltmeter is connected across the lamp, as shown in Figure 10-166, the voltmeter will read zero. Since no current can flow in the circuit because of the open resistor, there is no voltage drop across the lamp indicating that the lamp is good. Next, the voltmeter is connected across the open resistor, as shown in Figure 10-167. The voltmeter has closed the circuit by shunting (paralleling) the burned out resistor, allowing current to flow. Current will flow from the negative terminal of the battery, through the switch, through the voltmeter and the lamp, back to the positive terminal of the battery. However, the resistance of the voltmeter is so high that only a very small current flows in the circuit. The current is too small to light the lamp, but the voltmeter will read the battery voltage. |
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