Simple DIY Cable Continuity Tester


Posted on Feb 4, 2014

This simple cable tester can be used to check 2 wire cable such as coax cable, telephone cable, audio cable and etc. Power the circuit using 9V battery. Plug in the cable and push `TEST` button. The dummy resistor is connected to the end of the cable which has 75ohm resistor inside. The tester will show only 3 conditions, `SHORT`, `OPEN` and `GOOD


 Simple DIY Cable Continuity Tester
Click here to download the full size of the above Circuit.

". The method is to check resistance of the dummy resistor at the "Terminator". The idea is simple. Imagine there is a short circuit cable under testing. The wire will act as nearly zero ohm resistor thus making the voltage divider near the dummy resistor to divide the 9V into 4. 5V. Calculate it your self [ ( 1k / ( 1k + 1k ) ) * 9V = 4. 5V ]. 4. 5V is below than the lower "Comparator" limit (Vref 4. 57V). It will trigger the lower "Comparator" and make "Short" LED to light up. Now for the open circuit cable. Assuming the open circuit cable has an infinite ohm. Voltage divider near the dummy resistor will give 9V. This is more than the upper "Comparator" limit (VRef 4. 8V) and will trigger make "Open" LED light up. Other than that (both lower and upper "Comparator" didn`t trigger) the "GOOD" LED will light up. For the op-amp, I`m using JRC4558 dual op-amp since I have it in my stock. You may use 741 op-amp or other multi-purpose op-amp. The extra circuit supplied is to check the battery condition. Low battery voltage (below than ~6. 9V) will show "RED" light up. Else will show "GREEN" LED light up. The basic, if there is a small amount of current go through the zener (reverse bias), the first transistor (left) will be turned on making the "GREEN" LED turn on. Other than that the second transistor (right) will be turned on and "RED" LED will light up. You add in buzzer to the circuit to make it give an audible alarm. The...




Leave Comment

characters left:

Related Circuits

  • New Circuits

    .

     


    Popular Circuits

    ESD Testing for RS232 Interface Circuits
    Greenhouse irrigation controller ( PIC16F84 )
    Low energy consumption audio signal generator
    wire three-way circuit between two buildings with only 3 conductors
    4 channels mixer voltage controlled
    555 ics hysteresis for dark activated
    Electronic Watchdog
    Back radiation small buffer amplifier



    Top