The first Reddit commenter (u/ravenze) on this clip sensibly calls for immediate use of a cable toner/tracer: "Ground the black lead so it broadcasts." OP is advised they'll be able to hear the tone "from a foot or two away."
Additional commenter u/Beastlykings, doesn't get it: "Wait what -- audibly? Or you mean with a tool to listen for the signal?"
Reddit u/ravenze has done this before, and capsules the procedure thusly: "Using your toner, clamp the red lead to one of the wires and ground the black lead. Instead of being tracing cables from inches, you can trace them from about a foot away (I can hear it through most walls/floor tiles). [My] tracer also has a bare lead so you can clamp your butt-set to the tracer tool to further amplify the signal."
Further Reddit commenter u/djwaffle007 doesn't see why all the fuss: "Tone it or replace it. Not the end of the world."
Thin cliënts were failing, I wonder why... from r/cablefail
The first Reddit commenter (u/danopia) on this clip doesn't get it: "I don't know what I'm looking at, other than dust, is this like inside a wall?"
Original Poster (OP) u/Dul-fm has the story, hailing from the industrial segment: "It's inside an HMI [human-machine interace] console (this kind http://ritmindustry.com/upload/items/30/30521.jpg). The dust is a cocktail of chemicals which kills PCBs, hardens plastics and blocks air vents."
Ubiquitous r/cablefail commenter u/djwaffle007 again puts in his last word on matters: "At least you don't have birds nesting in service loops. It's also better than the Taco Bell I have to go re-wire every couple years because mice eat Cat5. If only they could appreciate the irony."
About the Author
Matt Vincent
Senior Editor
Matt Vincent is a B2B technology journalist, editor and content producer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in the full range of media content production and management, as well as SEO and social media engagement best practices, for both Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and its website CablingInstall.com. He currently provides trade show, company, executive and field technology trend coverage for the ICT structured cabling, telecommunications networking, data center, IP physical security, and professional AV vertical market segments. Email: [email protected]