Fault location using TDR technology allows you to pinpoint the exact distance from the measuring instrument where a problem such as a break, short or other damage is located on the cable. The principle of this method can be compared to measuring distance using an echo sounder. The tester sends a short electrical pulse into the cable. If this signal encounters an anomaly on its way that changes the electrical properties of the cable, part of the signal will bounce off this spot and return to the instrument. The abbreviation TDR stands for Time Domain Reflectometry and describes precisely the method of measuring the time that elapses between the sending of a pulse and the reception of its reflection. Since the instrument knows the speed at which the signal propagates in a given type of cable, it can accurately calculate the distance to failure from this time. The result is then a specific figure in metres that shows the technician exactly where to look for the problem, which is particularly useful for long or inaccessible cable runs.