[Cialug] OT: continuity test

[David Champion]

That audio cable tester would probably work really well... the timer 
head unit has XLR style connectors, there's a short patch cable that 
goes to the TRS connectors, then the long cables have the TRS connectors 
on them.

I was also thinking kind of on the same lines as Mr. Kula, with a 
loopback connector for one end so we can run out and test a cable that's 
already strung out. If anyone has a simple diagram, with the right size 
of resistors I'd need, I'd appreciate that... or I can probably google 
it myself.

Thanks for all of the input.

-dc

Bryan Baker wrote:
> In fact, quick search on Musician's friend yields this:
>
> http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-CT6-6Way-Cable-Tester?sku=338003#new
>
> On Jul 2, 2009, at 3:38 PM, Bryan Baker wrote:
>
>   
>> Oops, I meant 1/4"
>> Actually, come to think of it that's the same as a regular TRS cable
>> used in a lot of patch bays etc, so there may be existing audio test
>> boxes out there (I know for sure there are for Mic Cables). You could
>> probably adapt a Mic cable tester by using Female 1/4" TRS->XLR (mic
>> cable) adapters
>>
>>
>> On Jul 2, 2009, at 3:33 PM, Bryan Baker wrote:
>>     
>>> For those a multi meter should be pretty easy to use, just set to
>>> continuity, touch one lead to each tip, then each ring then each
>>> sleeve.
>>>
>>> You could also build something w/ 2 1/8" stereo jacks, a battery,  
>>> some
>>> LEDs and iirc, you'll also need some resistors, to get the LEDs to
>>> work, but it should be a pretty easy circuit to just light an LED for
>>> each of the conductors if contact is made. I'm just rusty enough, I
>>> can't draw you the schematic, but it should be pretty basic.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jul 2, 2009, at 3:23 PM, David Champion wrote:
>>>       
>>>> For you electronics gurus out there...
>>>>
>>>> For our SCCA autocross timers, we have a set of cables that go from
>>>> the
>>>> timer head unit, to a photo sensor head out on the course (similar
>>>> to a
>>>> garage door safety sensor, bounces a light off a reflector). The
>>>> cables
>>>> have 3 conductors, we're using a fairly light gauge stranded wire,
>>>> probably about like what's in ethernet cable. The connectors are  
>>>> 1/4"
>>>> stereo headphone jack style (3 connectors). The cables may be up to
>>>> about 250 feet in length.
>>>>
>>>> Occasionally someone will get off course and run over one of the
>>>> cables
>>>> with their car, and they get some rough treatment at times, may get
>>>> kinked, and get dragged around parking lots. I'd like to have some
>>>> kind
>>>> of way to do a quick cable test on them during setup to help shorten
>>>> the
>>>> troubleshooting time, so we'd know whether or not it's a cable
>>>> issue, or
>>>> another issue with the photo sensor.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have an idea of a simple device we could build to test the
>>>> cables, or would we be better off using a multi-meter, or another
>>>> pre-existing device?
>>>>
>>>> -dc
>>>>