Detecting a break in audio cables

[M.Joshi]

Hello,

Is there a way to detect where a break has occurred in an audi
interconnect cable?

I tried conecting one end to a 1KHz signal generator and attempting t
detect the signal down the cable with a sensitive amplifier & speake
however, it seems that the signal is being induced onto the screen a
well since it can be detected along the length of the cable

 

[Bob]

Hello,

Is there a way to detect where a break has occurred in an audio
interconnect cable?

I tried conecting one end to a 1KHz signal generator and attempting to
detect the signal down the cable with a sensitive amplifier & speaker
however, it seems that the signal is being induced onto the screen as
well since it can be detected along the length of the cable?

I have an almost perfect method for detecting the exact point of a
break. You simply measure the capacitance across each end and perform a
simple ratio calculation.

Generally the break is at or near one end. So you might measure 150 pF
across one connector and 3 pF across the other. Obviously the break is
at the second one.

On the other hand, if the two capacitance are nearly equal, the break is
near the middle. To get the most accurate point, subtract about 2 pF
from each reading to eliminate the connector from the equation and then
the ratio of the readings is the location of the break.

 

[Bob]

You can also use TDR, or Time Domain Reflectometry. Send a pulse into
one end and see how long it takes for the reflection to return. This
requires more sophisticated equipment of course.

 

[M.Joshi]

M.Joshi wrote:-
Hello,

Is there a way to detect where a break has occurred in an audio
interconnect cable?

I tried conecting one end to a 1KHz signal generator and attemptin
to
detect the signal down the cable with a sensitive amplifier & speaker
however, it seems that the signal is being induced onto the screen as
well since it can be detected along the length of the cable?



-
I have an almost perfect method for detecting the exact point of a
break. You simply measure the capacitance across each end and perfor
a
simple ratio calculation.

Generally the break is at or near one end. So you might measure 150 p

across one connector and 3 pF across the other. Obviously the break i

at the second one.

On the other hand, if the two capacitance are nearly equal, the brea
is
near the middle. To get the most accurate point, subtract about 2 pF
from each reading to eliminate the connector from the equation and the

the ratio of the readings is the location of the break.

Are there any other methods as I currently do not have a capacitanc
meter or a multimeter with a capacitance range

 

[N Cook]

Are there any other methods as I currently do not have a capacitance
meter or a multimeter with a capacitance range?

Breaks in cables including co-ax cable.
Use a needle point probe to pierce the outer (and braiding of co-ax)
to pick up the core and use a continuity checker. Breaks are often near the
end at the
connector ;so can cut back perhaps a few inches and reuse the rest of the
cable .
Waggle the probe ( needle in a bit of dowel) around to move the screening
out of the way a bit to engage only the core.

other hints and tips on 2 files on URL below

 

[[email protected]]

Are there any other methods as I currently do not have a capacitance
meter or a multimeter with a capacitance range?

Make an audio oscillator, using the cable as the capacitance in the
oscillator. Now you know which end gives high and which end low cap.
The break is normally at one end, and will be at the end that gives low
cap reading.

If you got no equipment at all, just cut 6" off each end of cable and
refix the plugs, this will fix it almost every time.


NT

 

[Caesar Valenti]

You can also use TDR, or Time Domain Reflectometry. Send a pulse into
one end and see how long it takes for the reflection to return. This
requires more sophisticated equipment of course.

That's what I would do too....but I have access to $50k network
analyzers with the $10k Time Domain option. Using this method, you could
track down any break to within an inch or so....even closer if using a
good quality coax cable. Somehow, I sincerely doubt he can afford this.

 

[[email protected]]

Bob wrote:

That's what I would do too....but I have access to $50k network
analyzers with the $10k Time Domain option. Using this method, you could
track down any break to within an inch or so....even closer if using a
good quality coax cable. Somehow, I sincerely doubt he can afford this.

Its also a piddlingly low return use of high price kit. One could make
equipment to pinpoint the break just as well for 1/100th the price
using capacitance. Use 2 oscillators to measure capacitance at each
end, compare the figures to work out how far along the cable the break
is, and indicate the result using a moving coil meter. Mounted above it
is a board with arcs on, lay your cable on that on one of the drawn
arcs and the needle points to the break.

Of course there is no real need for either setup, as breaks are
normally one end or t'other, and the times where this isnt so are few
enough not to be worth investing in any specialist kit for.


NT

 

[M.Joshi]

Caesar Valenti wrote:-
Bob wrote:-
--
You can also use TDR, or Time Domain Reflectometry. Send a puls
into
one end and see how long it takes for the reflection to return.
This
requires more sophisticated equipment of course.--
-
That's what I would do too....but I have access to $50k network
analyzers with the $10k Time Domain option. Using this method, yo
could
track down any break to within an inch or so....even closer if usin
a
good quality coax cable. Somehow, I sincerely doubt he can affor
this.-

Its also a piddlingly low return use of high price kit. One could make
equipment to pinpoint the break just as well for 1/100th the price
using capacitance. Use 2 oscillators to measure capacitance at each
end, compare the figures to work out how far along the cable the break
is, and indicate the result using a moving coil meter. Mounted abov
it
is a board with arcs on, lay your cable on that on one of the drawn
arcs and the needle points to the break.

Of course there is no real need for either setup, as breaks are
normally one end or t'other, and the times where this isnt so are few
enough not to be worth investing in any specialist kit for.


NT

Thanks for the idea about using a signal generator and substituting th
capacitor as the wire - i'll give that a go. What's strange is tha
both the left and right channels are not working which led me t
believe that the 3.5mm stereo jack end must be faulty. So, I cut off
few inches of the lead from that end however, the break is stil
present