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Recommend me a cable tester?

#23
singlemalt:
I'd sure like you to find where in my multimeter manual it says how to test *instrument cables*. :eyebrow: It's not sold for that, hence the request for actual "cable testers". Maybe I should've been more specific :).

Definetly need something I can use at a gig, that's when the problems show and I need to know if the cable gets the dreaded "knot in the end to remind me bad cable" or if something else is wrong. The behringer looks good, but the bugcatcher can also do speakons, and i'm thinking the extra 30 bucks would be worth it if it saves me tossing just one $40 cable I think is bad and it;s not...... No results on the ebay search. Gonna have to figure out if it's worth spending 80 bucks :) Am liking all the tips here :)
 
#24
No results in Ebay search? Look under ProAudio, I found 107 hits under "cable tester".
While I have both a cable tester and a multimeter, the cable tester allows you to "stress" the cords that you are checking. Under the gun at the gig, this is a big advantage to me.


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#25
I've used Fluke multimeters for years for all kinds of applications. An instrument and an amp has always been the most effective "cable tester" though. To tell the truth the cables I've built with Canare or other high quality cable and Switchcraft or Neutrik plugs have never failed and some are over twenty years old. Cable tester?......spend the money on a soldering iron instead.
 
#26
nsmar4211 said:
singlemalt:
I'd sure like you to find where in my multimeter manual it says how to test *instrument cables*.
Click to expand...

Put your multimeter on "Buzz" mode. That's the continuity tester. Then touch tip to tip on the instrument cable with the multimeter leads. Then touch ring to ring on the cable to test the ground. If the circuit completes the multimeter will make noise. It needs a battery to make the buzz so make sure you have good batteries in your multimeter.
 
#27
nsmar4211 said:
singlemalt:
I'd sure like you to find where in my multimeter manual it says how to test *instrument cables*. :eyebrow:
Click to expand...

Where in the multimeter manual does it say how to test power supply capacitors? Where in the tape measure manual does it tell you how to build a bookshelf? It's a multimeter, you test stuff with it.

That said, you either need to be at the workbench or have like three or four arms to quickly test XLR cables this way. A tester is handy.

One of the guys at the local pro audio shop here had the Begringer one on his workbench. He says it's working fine for him, although he admitted that using Behringer gear to test if something else is broken messes with your head a little bit.
 
#30
Sorry, that was a bit snarky. I thought I was being funny. Sorry.

My multi is a super cheapy from harbor freight, because sometime I don't get things right and the multi meter goes flash/crack/smoke. maybe $10. The outlet tester with out the GFCI tripper test, still under $10. This one can save your ass or at least your amp.

I forgot about my Korg DTR-1 rackmount tuner. It has a function to test 1/4" to 1/4" cables. Bitchin tuner too! It is nice to be able to plug the cable in and wiggle it to look for faults. And that's really the problem most times, the crackle of a partial connection.

What I do is carry a number of spare cables for various functions, and if I suspect a cable is messing up it goes into the "repair" section of the gear bag. I'll fix it at home, later, with coffee.

The Behringer ct 100 costs about $30. It looks handy. You couldn't build a tester for that $$. It would be nice if it did speakon.

The price of copper being up around $3, don't toss anything, that cable is almost always messed up at the ends/ connector, or its the connector itself. Unless you ran over it with the forklift. It can always get a bit shorter and a couple new plugs.

You could buy a bunch of repair parts and cable, or maybe a nice spare cable for that. Or a decent solder iron and holder. The speakon stuff is really nice for solderless connectors. I use speakon for all speaker connections, its saves me from mixing up instrument and speaker cables.
 
#31
You might want to brush up on your googling skillzz.

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#32
"the avoided plug check ebay (not mine) for Peavey And Cable tester " <---- that was the ebay search I did :)

Munji: Daym, I didn't come up with that, then again I searched "instrument cable tester"... on Yahoo. Google has been driving me nuts lately with the garbage it's pulling up on every search :). However, it's nice to hear from people who've actually used the testers :)

Singlemalt: You're forgiven :). Seriously though, the manual for the multimeter had nothing about testing any kind of musical equipment or any kind of cables, barely had the info on testing electrical connection! Am trying to imagine holding cable + multi meter +flashlight at the same time at a gig ! whoooo :).

The speakon test on the non behringer one would be nice though, I went with speakon for the PA mains so I could also tell the buggers apart. Course, I didn't put a speakon in the monitor box so still gotta use a 1/4" speaker wire for that one...


Award for worst analogy: "Where in the tape measure manual does it tell you how to build a bookshelf?" ;) As long as it told me how to extend/retract/lock the tape measure, I could figure the rest out :). (said with a smile :D). Besides, I searched online for how to test instrument cables with a multimeter and after 5 pages of results that said nothing, gave up :).

Great information in this thread! I'm thinking I'll go with something with lights and the wiggle ability..... as pointed out, would be worth it. Now all I have to do is get a hotter iron so I can solder 16 guage wire..... 15 watts ain't cutting it :)
 
#34
Ugh--a Weller gun like that is liable to melt all the insulation and it can't get into the tight spaces of an XLR plug. A pencil-type iron is far preferable (I use a Hakko, but of course cheaper ones work fine too).

As far as a "cable tester" versus a multimeter, it's a lot quicker to test XLR's with a cable tester. Also with a multimeter I find it helpful to create a "jig" like a piece of pickguard material holding two jacks side by side; this makes it much easier to hold the probes against the plug parts without having four hands or a clumsy mess.
 
#35
bongomania said:
Ugh--a Weller gun like that is liable to melt all the insulation and it can't get into the tight spaces of an XLR plug. A pencil-type iron is far preferable (I use a Hakko, but of course cheaper ones work fine too).

As far as a "cable tester" versus a multimeter, it's a lot quicker to test XLR's with a cable tester. Also with a multimeter I find it helpful to create a "jig" like a piece of pickguard material holding two jacks side by side; this makes it much easier to hold the probes against the plug parts without having four hands or a clumsy mess.
Click to expand...

I was talking about stuff like speaker cables. Ordinarily I use my 35-watt iron for XLR work and my 12-watt iron for circuit boards. However, the other night I was making a new instrument cable, and I needed the gun to get enough heat into the case of the Neutrik NP2RX right-angle plug for the solder to melt. I've been soldering (non-stop) for over 40 years, and it's no problem for me to fill the cups of an XLR plug with a gun. The key is timing. I think I'll take a break now.
 
#36
Hey, I have a gun like that, been thinking it'd melt the insulation too bad or the 1/4" plug. After my 4th futile attempt, think I'll try the gun tomorrow :).

The jig is a good idea, at the rate I'm going I'm gonna need to make a cable or two a month and the extra hands thingie I bought doesn't really hold the cables well. The clips dent the insulation.... not really made for holding wires as much as boards apparently.

And definetly, the 15 watter is for circuit boards I found out. I dissassmbled a smoke detector a few days ago and they use some very low melt solder on that-the 15 watter went through it like butter! The solder for the cables takes way more heat I'm finding :)
 
#37
cable testers are handy but can't test fuses with them so I would need to carry 2 things instead of one. I always carry extra cables so if I suspect that is the problem I swap cables and that is my cable tester :hyper:
(takes same amount of time as breaking out the meter)
 
#38
flight120 said:
I have a cheapie Behringer CT100 ($30) and it works great. I use a meter if I need to, but it is really nice to be able to plug a cable in and know without needing three or four hands to hold both cable ends, both meter leads and the meter. Also, the ct100 has an intermittent function where you can plug the cable in and wiggle the ends and it will tell you if something is flaky. If i think I have an intermittent cable I'll do this and I can flex the cable all up and down its length to find the trouble spot.
Click to expand...

+1

No one can say it sounds like crap either...

I've had one since behringer came out with the CT100 and I never had to change the battery in it, or repair the tester...
 

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