Cable Testers

[wjohn]

I am rolling out my first Vixen show for Halloween, and noticed that I needed a number of Testers to assist me with various tasks.

I have the CAT 5 cable tester, which I use to check the cables I make to ensure that there are no x-overs or bad crimps.

The next tester I have is the Remote end tester. This one is fairly simple. a small plastic box, 4 RED leds and 4 Resistors. I plug it into my controllers to check that the channels are working. FYI, the 4 3.5mm sockets are there so I can plug in my LED strobes at the end of the cable.

The last one is my remote SSR tester. To use it, I plug the tester into the SSR I want to turn on. Each channel on the SSR has it's own pushbutton. same basic configuration, plastic box, RJ45, 4 buttons, 4 Leds, 4 resistors, a 9 v battery and a 7805 regulator.

[stempile]

Good Idea!!!

Here is my tester. In my design the status LEDs are in series though (I think wjohn's is in parallel like the Renard64 board) with the SSR ground sink. This adds more troubleshooting information: If no x-mas lights on, and no channel status LED lite when button is pushed, there is a problem with the cable or DC side of the SSR. If no x-mas lights on, but the channel status LED is on then there is a problem with the AC side of the SSR.

I was looking for a cheap project box. Couldn't find one so I used an old mouse I had in the junk box.

This device has been wife tested and approved!

ms

[Macrosill]

Nice tester housing.

[Mudsculpter]

I've got this It was at microcenter in one of the sale bins for $5.00. Worth every penny. NS-468 cable tester

http://www.pc210.com/propic/b/2005-4-15/2005415141946126.jpg

[random_rodder]

Hehe... best use of a Microsoft product that I've seen in years... LOL

[DavidHenry]

I just picked up on on eBay and it came today. I found out which wires are bad on a cable I made (it still worked with the computer). I'd like to fix it. Any good idea for figuring out which RJ45 plug to cut off and re-do first?

David

[Mudsculpter]

pick one and match it to the other end

but use this guide

http://doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pinouts

[DavidHenry]

Not quite what I meant. I forget which of the two standards I use, but the issue isn't crossed wires it's a bad crimp job on one of the plugs (I'm guessing). I'm trying to avoid cutting off the good end and re-doing it before I fix the bad one. I'd like to know if there's anything better than a 50/50 shot.

David

[Wayne J]

sorry, if it's a bad crimp.... you got a 50/50 shot.

[wjohn]

Matt,

I love the case.

[JEEPGUY]

John,

Do you have a schematic of the SSR tester to post? From the picture, I can't figure out how you have the wires run from the individual switches to LED's resistors,RJ45 etc.

I am waiting on BO'd parts from Mouser to finish my SSR's( 3 wire terminal blocks bo'd until February.)

I thought I'd build an SSR tester while I wait.

[Wayne J]

You can follow the directions in the how to I made. The SSR tester is a stand alone unit within the AIOT.

http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=413

[Aurbo99]

I received my free Pactech Enclosures sample of a Hand held box with a built in 9vdc battery area, etched up a board a few days ago, will take photo's as it gets built.

Still working out my gremlin with lights.

[JEEPGUY]

Wayne,

Do you have any boards available for the all in one tester? Has a co-op been done on the board?