Cable tester

[Stuart91]

I've got a large quantity of signal cabling that needs gone through, mainly 3 and 5 pin XLR cabling, but a fair amount of jacks and NL2 as well.

 

At the moment I'm using something similar to this as a basic tester.

 

The drawback is that it's a little time consuming. Typically I'm turning the switch to pin 1, giving the ends a wiggle, then moving onto pin 2, then 3, etc.

 

I figure if I buy a tester that gives indication of all 3 (or more) pins simultaneously, I'm going to save a fair bit of time. Over several hundred cables, that's going to add up enough to justify a few quid on a new tester.

 

I've had a look around but can't see anything with these exact capabilities. A Rat Sniffer is an obvious option, but only does 3-pin XLR. It's occurred to me that I could build a project box with the other connector options on it. Wouldn't mind spending the money on something a little more elegant though.

 

I vaguely remember someone exhibiting at Plasa with some models that looked a bit better, but I can't for the life of me remember the name. Does anyone have any options that they could suggest?

[James Remo]

https://www.cablejog.co.uk make quality kit, a little pricey but buy once cry once.

[Stuart91]

https://www.cablejog.co.uk make quality kit, a little pricey but buy once cry once.

 

They're the ones I saw at Plasa - I remember it now I see them. Thanks for turning it up.

 

From what I can see from the manual, it looks like you can store a cable configuration and do a quick test against it. That seems quite good, although I'm worried about intermittent connections - that's why I like waggling the cable whilst it's being tested. Not sure if any Cablejog products will let me do the same thing.

[J Pearce]

The behringer CT100 will do up to 3 pins at once. With some adapters that would sort NL2, but not NL4 - is your XLR5 2 pair or 1 pair?

[Peter F]

 

 

... although I'm worried about intermittent connections - that's why I like waggling the cable whilst it's being tested.

 

The dirt cheap Behringer CT100 shows intermittent connections.

 

Cheers,

 

Peter

[sandall]

The dirt cheap Behringer CT100 shows intermittent connections.

Yes, every time you plug or unplug a connector!! It annoys me having to reset it every time, & I have great trouble sorting out which combination of red LEDs means a good unbalanced lead rather than a bad one . I usually use one similar to Stuart's photo, but for XLR-3s it's hard to beat the old Neutrik K-Check (basically an XLR-F barrel with a probe at the other end & 4 LEDs). Mine must be at least 40 years old, & still working on its original (mercury) battery. Bought from the original Turnkey shop in Finchley.

[bruce]

Another +1 for the Behringer Ct100. Dirt cheap. and for XLR, it’s “plug in, press the button, look for a diagonal line of LEDs, wiggle the cables, make sure nothing has changed”.

 

Very quick and simple for XLR-XLR and XLR-TRS

 

Takes a little more thought if you’re testing something like XLR to TS, but not rocket science.

 

On the other hand, I don’t like the “updated” CT200, which has speakon and RJ45 as well, but is a pain to use.

[Yorkie]

As above, grab a Berry CT100, and adaptors for 1 pair XLR5. Yes you have to press a button every time you've plugged in a new cable but given the price and its simplicity yet the very useful intermittency feature I don't think you can go wrong. I use something similar to the OP for NL4s

[Stuart91]

As above, grab a Berry CT100, and adaptors for 1 pair XLR5.

 

I've got a CT100 on order. (I think I share Bruce's assessment of the CT200)

 

It occurs to me that I can probably jump from the CT100 to my existing tester (maybe using a pair of minijack leads) so that I can use all of the connectors on it with the CT100. I'll see how that goes before embarking on any further bodgery.

[bruce]

I had 2x CT100.

 

One lived on my workbench. Doubled up as a cable tester and a soldering station - with the upward-facing XLR and jack sockets, it was a handy way to hold connectors when making cables. But it died - a battery leaked inside.

 

And one lived in my gig bag. It got - ummm - misplaced.

 

Was going to buy another, but decided to buy a 200, since it appeared, on paper, to have more flexibility. Mistake.

[Yorkie]

I'm on my second CT100, and I probably only used the first for 2-3 hours a month but it did travel about 50,000 miles in a toolbox over 7 or 8 years so I can live with that

[GaryNattrass]

Used a CT100 for many years on the broadcast circuit for Premier league footie and all sorts of OB's inc London 2012 and Sochi 2014 and whilst it was a good low cost cable tester it was used more as a tone ident source with a unique square wave type tone. Edited March 5, 2021 by GaryNattrass

[Peter F]

Useful info about the CT200. I'd looked briefly at it and thought it looked a bit faffy.

 

Essential upgrade to the CT100 is a piece of tape over the on/off switch so when you do take it out of your case to use it the battery isn't flat.

 

Cheers,

 

Peter

[Stuart91]

Essential upgrade to the CT100 is a piece of tape over the on/off switch so when you do take it out of your case to use it the battery isn't flat.

 

Duly noted, thanks.

[Stuart91]

A quick update - that's me about 150 cables in with the CT100. It's definitely quicker than the model we were using previously.

 

I agree with Sandall that it's a little irritating having to reset the Intermittent Connection indicators every time, but once you get into a routine it's not too bad - only needs pressed once each cycle.

 

Ergonomically, I much prefer having the XLR sockets on the top rather than around the sides.

 

I managed to get the CT100 hooked up to my original tester, as I suspected you can just link any pairs of sockets together. This means I can essentially use the original tester as adaptors into the CT100, but it's a little clumsy in practice. I might make up a project box that has just the connectors I need facing up, in the meantime I've been doing 5-pin DMX with just a couple of jumper adaptors and that's been fine.