[Cialug] OT: continuity test

[Lathrop Preston]

the tester I was thinking of is of the loopback variety.

very handy when dealing with antenna feed-lines that are already in place...
if you have one run up a tower that you need to test you don't want to deal
with yanking it out just to find that the problem is someplace else.



On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 3:59 PM, David Champion <dave at dchamp.net> wrote:

> 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
> >>>>
>
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-- 
=====================================
Lathrop Preston
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