var db = new MyEntityCollection();

try
{
     var checkworking = from c in db.Customers select c;
}
catch
{
     ConnectToBackUp();
}

private bool TestConnection()
{
    var db = new MyEntityCollection();
    int oldTimeOut = db.CommandTimeout;

    try
    {
       db.CommandTimeout = 1;
       db.Connection.Open();   // check the database connection
       return true;
    }
    catch
    {
       return false;
    }
    finally
    {
       db.CommandTimeout = oldTimeOut;
    }
}

using System.Data.Common;
...

public void TestConnection() {
    using (var db = new MyEntityCollection()) {
        DbConnection conn = db.Database.Connection;
        try {
            conn.Open();   // check the database connection
            return true;
        }
        catch {
            return false;
        }
    }
}

private bool TestConnection()
    {
        EntityConnectionStringBuilder b = new EntityConnectionStringBuilder();
        ConnectionStringSettings entityConString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["MyEntityConnectionString"];
        b.ConnectionString = entityConString.ConnectionString;
        string providerConnectionString = b.ProviderConnectionString;

        SqlConnectionStringBuilder conStringBuilder = new SqlConnectionStringBuilder();
        conStringBuilder.ConnectionString = providerConnectionString;
        conStringBuilder.ConnectTimeout = 1;
        string constr = conStringBuilder.ConnectionString;

        using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(constr))
        {
            try
            {
                conn.Open();
                return true;
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
        }
    }