Cirris Signature 1000R+, User Manual, Page: 49 / 88

Section 10: Select a Test Procedure / Testing a long cable accessible at one end
1000R+ User’s Guide / page 50
touch a particular colored wire with the probe, the analyzer’s display will indi-
cate what pin number that wire corresponds to. Be sure to check this against your
master wire list for the cable to insure that the cable is wired correctly.
Testing a long cable
accessible at one end
When you want to test a long cable and you only have access to one end, you cannot
connect both ends of the cable to the 1000R+. A good example would be a cable
which runs through a wall to link two pieces of equipment together in separate rooms.
Here are two suggestions for testing such a cable:
1. Testing for opens and shorts. If you only need to test for opens and shorts, use
the same technique you’d use for two-step testing. Connect one end of the cable
to the analyzer, then turn the analyzer on. The analyzer should not learn any con-
nections unless there are loops in the cable which can be documented. Check for
opens by shorting all the wires together. Do this by creating a shorting block
with the mate to the end of the cable that is not connected to the analyzer.
2. Testing for miswires. To test for miswires, build a loop-back cable. A loop-
back cable is wired one-to-one, and extends from the analyzer to the remote end
of the cable. This is just like connecting both ends of the cable directly to the
analyzer. You’re simply using an extension cable to do this. With this technique,
you document and test just as usual.
Note : Cirris Systems manufactures the Sig-
nature 500 Cable Analyzer. It is designed specifically to make testing installed
cables easy.
Testing using adapter
extensions
Extremely short cables might not reach between the connector adapters on the ana-
lyzer. Also, connector adapters may wear out from heavy use. It may be easier to
replace an extension cable plugged into a cable adapter than it is to replace the adapter
itself. Cable extensions are also useful for testing large, difficult-to-handle assem-
blies such as wiring harnesses and backplanes. In addition, extension cables work
well for testing extrememly short cables.
Testing short IDC type
cables
If you need to test short, IDC-type cables, it may be convenient for you to build a
daisy chain of assemblies. You can create a series of short cables, each followed by a
short length of ribbon cable which connects it the the next cable. Simply test the
assembly as a daisy chain, then cut away the ribbon cable between the assemblies.
Testing cables with
many connections
Cables with lots of connections are easy to test if they consist of a daisy chain of iden-
tical connectors with identical interconnections.
Just plug each identical connector into the analyzer, in succession, to test the cable.
However, if the interconnections are not identical, then you must check each feasible
combination of connectors. This will mean you’ll have to document and test several
different connector combinations.
Testing harnesses and
backplanes
The analyzer can easily test harnesses with a maximum of 512 termination points.
1. If your harness has more than 128 points, install an expansion box on the ana-
lyzer.
2. Select connector adapters that have a sufficient number of pins so that you can