- 1). Switch off the outlet as well as the appliance powered through the extension cord first. Then unplug the faulty extension cord from the power outlet. Never work on any electrical appliance while the power is still on.
- 2). Inspect the extension cord along its entire length and its male plugs as well. Look for gouges, worn out or burned sections and split insulation as you inspect. Cease from using the extension cord if damaged until you repair it. Keep in mind that you should repair the extension cord to match the original manufacturer's standards.
- 3). Turn on the multimeter and set its knob to measuring continuity or in other words, testing if the two points are connected. The continuity mark usually looks like a radio signal symbol. Use the test probes to touch each terminal on the top plug and its corresponding terminal on the appliance end. If you hear a continuous beep, it means that the cable is okay. However, if nothing at all happens, the cable is likely broken at some point.
- 4). Use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the bottom side of the top plug holding it together at the outlet end of the extension cord. Open up the plug to expose the wiring for the plugs. Test the fuse inside the top plug, if so equipped, for continuity by touching its two ends with the testing probes. In most cases, a blown fuse is what causes an extension unit not to work. Replace the fuse if blown by simply jerking it out and replacing it with a new one of the same power rating.
- 5). Unscrew each wire from its terminals on both ends of the cord in case the cable is the faulty component. Replace the cable with one of the exact kind. Read the markings along the cable to identify it in the electrical equipment store or cut a sample and ask for a similar one from the store keeper. Connect each wire inside the new cable with respect to the color of its insulation to its respective terminals on both ends. Do this by slightly unscrewing the terminal screws and inserting the wire tips into the terminals then tighten the screws back in firmly. Refer to wire color coding for directions on what colored wire joins to what terminal.
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