XLR Pin 2 and 3 Reading Simultaneously When Tested

[organworthyplayer337]

Hi,

Both pin 2 and 3 are "reading" simultaneously when tested.

I hope this isn't the dumbest question in the world, but I'm just curious; what causes a reading like this?

What has to go wrong construction/wiring wise for a cable to read like this?

I haven't gotten into soldering my own cables yet, but am super interested in this stuff.

thanks!

 

[Aloe]

either they're shorted, or your tester is broken (if it doesn't read all your cables like this, it's unlikely)

 

[amper]

Trace Elliot XLR speaker cable?

 

[amper]

What has to go wrong construction/wiring wise for a cable to read like this?

Wrong? How do you know it wasn't intentional?

 

[organworthyplayer337]

either they're shorted, or your tester is broken (if it doesn't read all your cables like this, it's unlikely)

Ok, thanks. The tester is functional, and the cable doesn't work so it makes sense.

In the case where one pin doesn't read at all, does that also point to a short?
Thanks again

 

[Aloe]

In the case where one pin doesn't read at all, does that also point to a short?

nope, it means, it's not connected.

both cases (two wires interconnected and a wire with no connection) may be different problems, in wire or in jacks. it might be just a broken wire, or loose/wrong connection on the jack itself. usually when you disassemble the jacks you'll see, if everything's right there, if yes -- it's the cable and the best way is to replace all the cable between ends.

 

[Aloe]

think of those leds as of 'in' and 'out' signals, for example:

1 in and 1 out -- wire working correctly
1 in and 2 out -- wires swapped on either end
1 in and 1,2 out -- wires for pins 1 and 2 are connected (but normally shouldn't be)
1 in nothing out -- no connection through the 1 pin

I believe, on your tester the 'in' is at the right, both led and connector.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

That makes so much sense, thank you for the explanation @Aloe

 

[amper]

The tester is functional, and the cable doesn't work so it makes sense.

The cable clearly works on some level, although it may not work for what you need. Again, if there is an unintentional short between pins 2 and 3, then that's a different story than having pins 2 and 3 intentionally jumpered.

This is, in fact, how the old Trace Elliot XLR speaker cables are wired. Both pins 2 and 3 carry the positive signal, while pin 1 carries the negative.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/trace-elliot-xlr-speaker-cable-how-to-make-one.1592326/

 

[organworthyplayer337]

The cable clearly works on some level, although it may not work for what you need. Again, if there is an unintentional short between pins 2 and 3, then that's a different story than having pins 2 and 3 intentionally jumpered.

This is, in fact, how the old Trace Elliot XLR speaker cables are wired. Both pins 2 and 3 carry the positive signal, while pin 1 carries the negative.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/trace-elliot-xlr-speaker-cable-how-to-make-one.1592326/

Hi, it's not a Trace Elliot speaker cable. It's a cheap mic cable a friend purchased off of Amazon (along with others of the same brand, some of which are also defective). Just appears to be crappy work. Thanks

 

[tothemax]

Not sure if you have a multimeter, with the ohm setting you can check continuity between pins. Sometimes cable testers are a little over the top and give mixed results. With the ends of the cable you can check for shorts between pins. Then check the pin continuity end to end. Then you don't have to figure out LED combinations.

Good luck...

 

[DanAdams]

Why don't you look at the solder connections?
It should look the same on both ends.
I bet it will be clear what is wrong.