Method for locating a fault

A locating method for locating a failure impacting an electrical appliance, said electrical appliance having a communications interface, a female communication connector electrically connected to the communications interface, and a test module, said electrical appliance having an internet access through the communication interface via the female communication connector, the female communication connector having at least one conductor element mounted to move between an active position a rest position, the active position being the position into which the conductor element is taken when a male communication connector is inserted in the female communication connector, and the rest position being the position of the conductor element when the male communication connector is not inserted in the female communication connector, the female communication connector including a test means connected to the test module, the test means being connected to the conductor element when it is in the rest position;

• the locating method comprising:
• a disconnection step performed by a user of the electrical appliance and consisting in disconnecting the male communication connector from the female communication connector;
• a test step following the disconnection step and consisting in testing the communications interface by the test module in co-operation with the test means of the female communication connector by determining whether the communication interface is or is not functional, the test step being performed without using a separate test accessory;
• and
• a locating step consisting in locating the failure in the electrical appliance if the communications interface is faulty or in an element external to the electrical appliance if the communications interface is not faulty.