Which of the following is NOT a common fault that can occur during cable testing?

Power loss is not typically considered a common fault that would occur during cable testing, especially in the context of twisted pair cabling used in data communication. The testing of cabling primarily focuses on integrity and performance characteristics such as continuity, attenuation, and resistance to interference. Common testing faults that would be assessed include crossover pairs, where the pairs of wires within the cable are incorrectly arranged, and split pairs, which involve the correct pairing of wires being disrupted, leading to performance issues.

Short circuits, where two conductors come into direct contact, leading to an unintended path for current, can also severely affect performance and are a key consideration during testing.

In contrast, power loss refers to the loss of electrical power in a system, often associated with active devices or circuits, rather than a fault arising from the cable itself. Therefore, in the context of standard cable testing, power loss is not aligned with the types of faults that are typically assessed.