Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

In electronics, a continuity test is the checking of an electric circuit to see if current flows (that it is, in fact, a complete circuit). A continuity test is performed by placing a small voltage (wired in series with an LED or noise-producing component such as a piezoelectric speaker) across the chosen path. If electron flow is inhibited by broken conductors, damaged components, or excessive resistance, the circuit is "open". In telecommunication, continuity test is a requirement of the SS7 protocol specifications, which tests the bearer channels' status using either loopback or tone detection and generation.

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Continuity Test