Factors such as nicked wires, loose connections, improper wire size, reversed polarity (hot and neutral wires connected to the wrong terminals) and poor or no grounding of metal parts of electrical equipment can cause fires, shock and electrocution. ...

Is damaged wire dangerous?

Never Use Cracked or Frayed Electrical Cords

When electrical wires are exposed, you have a dangerous situation, which can make you and other users vulnerable to electric shock and an electric house fire. Follow these tips to protect yourself from damaged electrical cords: ... Avoid wrapping the electrical cord in PVC tape.

How can you tell if a wire is nicked?

Make sure the leads are connected to metal in order for the multimeter to work properly. If the resistance is zero, you've found the break. If the resistance isn't zero, continue searching along the cord until you get a zero reading. The zero reading is the indicator of a broken wire.