Rev. 11/10/00
46
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the five most common uses for the Sidekick?
•
Checking for a correct battery or unwanted battery on twisted pairs.
•
Checking the longitudinal balance of twisted pairs.
•
Checking for insulation leakage on twisted pairs.
•
Locating faults on twisted pairs.
•
Locating faults on inside wiring (IW).
Q.
Why does the Sidekick last only a few hours after battery replacement?
A
. Chances are you only replaced two of the four batteries. Replace
ALL FOUR
batteries.
Q.
The Stress Test reads fine, but the pair is noisy. What should I do?
A.
This is usually caused by a high resistance short. Remember, the Sidekick
looks at a short as a balanced pair. Run the Leakage Test being sure to check
not only the Tip-to-Ring, but also the Tip-to-Ground and Ring-to-Ground.
Then, reverse the polarity on the Tip-to-Ring, Tip-to-Ground and Ring-to-
Ground. Remember to conduct each segment of the Leakage Test for
approximately 15 seconds. Then, run the Stress Test again.
Q.
The Stress Test reads 30dBrnC, but the pair works fine. Why?
A.
Check the other working pairs in the cable. You may find that they all read
about 30 dBrnC. This usually indicates that this is as good as this cable will
perform; so use this as your reference. Comparison readings are important.
When pairs differ by more than 7 dBrnC, be suspicious. When pairs differ by
10 dBrnC there is definitely a problem.
Q.
The meter needle will not move, pegs to the right or jumps to mid-scale and
waves back and forth on any scale. Does my Sidekick need repairs?
A.
Maybe. First check and replace the batteries. Ensure that the battery holder
has clean, corrosion free, connection points with the cells. Also check the
battery holder wires for breaks. If this fails to correct the problem, the unit
will require servicing.
Q.
The test leads are worn out. Are they replaceable?
A.
Yes. The test leads are field replaceable. Contact your local distributor or
Tempo Research for replacement.
