

For example, the insulation or wiring could decay, causing the conductors to short together or short to ground.įaults can also be a combination of the above. Short circuits occur when two or more components, which should be isolated come into contact with one another.This could be a broken wire, loose connection, burned out component, etc. Open circuits occur when there is a break in the circuitry, preventing current from flowing.

In many cases, an inspection of the equipment will reveal the cause of the failure.Įlectrical faults can generally be categorized into either open circuits or short circuits: A mechanism could be out of adjustment or jammed, bearings could be seized, linkages could be broken, etc. There are many mechanical types of faults that could cause the equipment to fail or operate improperly. Equipment can fail for two basic reasons: the equipment may not get the proper electrical signal to operate or it fails to operate even though it gets the proper electrical signal.
