Engineering English
Cable Fault Locator
Electrical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A cable fault locator is an instrument used to determine the location of a fault in an electrical cable, such as a short circuit or open circuit. It often employs time-domain reflectometry to send a pulse and measure the reflection time.
Example in context
“The commissioning team used a cable fault locator to find the underground distribution cable break.”
“Devreye alma ekibi, yeraltı dağıtım kablosundaki kopuğu bulmak için bir kablo arıza bulucu kullandı.”
Where engineers use it
This term is used during cable installation, commissioning, and maintenance when a fault like a short or open circuit is suspected. An engineer uses the cable fault locator to pinpoint the damage, enabling targeted repair without extensive excavation.
Synonyms: TDR, time-domain reflectometer, fault locator
Practice: can you use “Cable Fault Locator” at work?
During pre-commissioning, the insulation resistance of a new 11kV feeder cable is very low. The engineer must decide which instrument will locate the fault without digging up the entire trench.
Show a model answer
“We need the cable fault locator to identify the exact location of this underground fault.”
“Cable Fault Locator” in 21 languages
| English | Cable Fault Locator |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Kablo Arıza Bulucu |
| French | Localisateur de défauts de câble |
| German | Kabelfehlersucher |
| Spanish | Localizador de fallos de cables |
| Chinese | 电缆故障定位仪 |
| Arabic | محدد أعطال الكابلات |
| Portuguese | Localizador de falhas em cabos |
| Russian | Кабельный дефектоскоп |
| Japanese | ケーブル障害探知器 |
| Italian | Localizzatore di guasti ai cavi |
| Vietnamese | Thiết bị định vị lỗi cáp |
| Hindi | केबल दोष लोकेटर |
| Thai | เครื่องค้นหาจุดบกพร่องของสายเคเบิล |
| Indonesian | Pencari Lokasi Gangguan Kabel |
| Korean | 케이블 결함 위치 탐지기 |
| Bengali | কেবল ফল্ট লোকেটর |
| Dutch | Kabelstoringszoeker |
| Swedish | Kabelfelsökare |
| Finnish | Kaapelivianilmaisin |
| Ukrainian | Кабельний дефектоскоп |
Frequently asked questions
What does Cable Fault Locator mean in engineering?
A cable fault locator is an instrument used to determine the location of a fault in an electrical cable, such as a short circuit or open circuit. It often employs time-domain reflectometry to send a pulse and measure the reflection time. In Electrical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Cable Fault Locator?
Cable Fault Locator is pronounced /ˈkeɪbəl fɔːlt ləʊˈkeɪtə/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Cable Fault Locator used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The commissioning team used a cable fault locator to find the underground distribution cable break.”
This entry is one of 7,806 terms in the Engineering English iOS app — with quizzes, spaced repetition and pronunciation checking.
Get the app on the App Store