Patent ID: 6356084
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A segmented cable tester for determining an operating condition of a cable having a direct current (DC) phantom power source, said cable further having a plug end at a first location and a receptacle end at a second location remote from said first location, said tester comprising:a receive unit segment having a receive plug with a first ungrounded pin, a second ungrounded pin and a third grounded pin; a first LED, a second LED and a third LED; a first resistor wired in series with said first LED to establish a series circuit from said first ungrounded pin through said first LED, said first resistor, to said third grounded pin; a second resistor and a third resistor, said third resistor being wired in parallel with a series combination defined by said third LED being wired in series with said first resistor, said third resistor and said series combination defining a parallel combination, said parallel combination being wired in series with said second LED and said second resistor, to establish an electrical circuit from, in sequence, said second ungrounded pin to said second resistor, said second LED, said parallel combination to said third grounded pin; said first LED, said second LED and said third LED being energized by said phantom power source when said receive plug is connected to said receptacle end for immediately providing a predetermined indication according to said operating condition of said cable when said receive plug is connected to said receptacle end; and, a send unit segment electrically isolated and mechanically detached from said receive unit segment, said send unit segment having a send receptacle and a direct current (DC) voltage source electrically connected to said send receptacle for selectively applying a current-limited DC voltage to said cable when said send receptacle is connected to said plug end.