Siong Boon Lim

DIY Cable Tester Collection

Here is a Do-It-Yourself collection of project references that I have found from electronic project websites for building a simple cable tester of your own. A pretty good reference to study the various designs for your ideal cable tester.

Simple Cable Tester 3

A simple cable tester with indicator lights for connection and breaks.

Featuring also many DIY electronic projects using microcontrollers. Check out www.weigu.lu website here.

Author: Weigu

Multi Wire Cable Tester

Multi Wire Cable Tester Schematic

This schematic for a multi-wire cable tester is from DIY Electronic projects website.

Author: Andy Collinson (http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk)

RJ45 Cable Tester

This project comes from electronicsforu.com featuring a RJ45 Cable Tester. It includes the schematic, BOM list and Gerber files for a hobbyist to create their own RJ45 cable tester.

Author: Bhaskar Pandey (Electronic Hobbyist)

LAN Cable Tester

Using only a simple 555 timer and 4017 IC chip. Very similar to the one above.

Author: AI Williams

https://www.instructables.com/DIY-LAN-Cable-Tester/

https://diy-projects4u.blogspot.com/2018/09/diy-lan-cable-tester.html

HACKADAY project building your own LAN cable tester.

Schematic for LAN Cable Tester

Do-it-yourself LAN Cable Tester

This is a simple Ethernet network LAN cable tester for RJ45, RJ11 to check the continuity and short circuit of a new assembled cables. There are LED indicator to show the connection..

Author: Frank Weithöner

http://www.frankshospitalworkshop.com/electronics/diy-lan_cable_tester.html

XLR Audio Cable Tester

Simple tester circuit to test XLR audio cable, using a 9V battery.

Using 4044B IC chip.

Author: Ashley Dawson (Silicon Chip Electronics)

IDC cable tester (Arduino based)

This is a IDC cable tester that is more advanced using an Arduino Mega board. IDC cable is often also known as ribbon cable or flat cable. Typically the adjacent wire-to-wire pitch is 1.27mm.

This project comes with a big Alphanumeric display to test the cable without needing the tester connected to a computer.

Using only a simple 555 timer and 4017 IC chip. Very similar to the one above.

Author: Tony

http://blog.think3dprint3d.com/2014/08/arduino-based-idc-cable-tester.html

http://microfabricator.com/articles/view/id/53f8482a3139441c558b456d/arduino-based-idc-cable-tester

10/16 pins IDC Power cable tester (Arduino with result display)

This is a very nicely done-up IDC power cable tester by Tomarus.

Schematic of the circuitry and the Arduino source code is provided. Driven with a dot matrix display module. Very professionally constructed.

Check out this project here,
https://github.com/tomarus/cabletester

Author: Tomarus

Another project was replicated by another electronic hobbyist. https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/ribbon-cable-tester/1600

IDC Ribbon Cable Tester circuit

This is a less complicated IDC cable tester with using any microcontroller. Simple circuitry that can check for connection and short circuit in your IDC cable.

There is also an explanation of how the circuit works. This can give you a more detail understanding of designing your very own cable tester.

Author: Ron Hoffman

https://www.gadgetronicx.com/idc-ribbon-cable-tester-circuit/

PIC Cable Tester
Schematic for PIC Cable Tester

PIC Cable Tester

This network cable tester (PIC Cable Tester) uses microchip microcontroller PIC16F877A.

It comes with two RJ45 socket and can identify common Ethernet patch cable or cross cable. The design comes with LED indicator for the display of the connection.

Report of the cable connections will be generated and display on the LCD display screen.

Schematic and source code is available.

Check out VE3LNY’s Web Site,
https://www.qsl.net/v/ve3lny/cabletester.html

Probador De Cables by Puchinis 79

Probador De Cables for USB Cables

Author: Puchinis 79

URL: https://www.youtube.com/user/puchinis79

This is a Probador De Cables for USB Cables. Probador De Cables” is a Spanish language for “Cable Tester”.

It is a very simple cable tester for USB cable design by the author “Puchinis 79“. Check out their Youtube channel online for other of their projects.

More specialised high-end tester for testing the quality of USB cable, you can click here.

Electronic circuit schematic of Testeur cables 001 from sonelec-musique.com

Testeur de câble

Author: sonelec-musique.com

URL: https://www.sonelec-musique.com/electronique_realisations_testeur_cables_001.html

This is a microcontroller general purpose cable tester. “Testeur de câble” is a France language for “Cable Tester”.

This general cable tester features a 24 connection points testing using PIC microcontroller as the test processor.

It comes with a LCD display panel to show user the test status and result.

Uses CD4051 as analog switches for this cable tester circuit design.

DIY Guitar Cable Tester
Guitar Cable Tester Schematic

DIY Guitar Cable Tester

Aurther: Wozlaser

A simple tester guitar cable. Guitar cable are frequent having broken wire connection or faulty connector socket.

This simple tester is designed in with LED indicators and audio jack socket can help to detect your cable problem faster.

Simple tester that you can do it yourself.

Wirescanner

Wirescanner Kit

Product ID: K-UTL-02

Manufacturer: antilog devices

This is a low cost DIY kit that you can buy and assemble yourself.

A simple cable tester with a matrix LED to show you the wire connection. Allows up to 16 wires connection.

To purchase, check out the following URL,
https://www.midiphy.com/en/shop-details/203/93/midiphy-wirescanner-full-kit-midiphy-wirescanner-cable-tester-idc-micromatch-ribbon-cable-diagnostics-eurorack

USB Sleuth cable tester

USB Sleuth Cable Tester

This is a very nicely made USB cable tester using STM32C031K6T microcontroller.

It can test simple connections of various USB cables up to USB 3.0. The pins are also exposed to allow you to test with your multimeter as well.

Check out this page here for more details of the making of this USB cable tester.

URL: https://hackaday.io/project/194646-usb-sleuth-cable-tester

Click here for more specialised tester, testing the quality of USB cable.

DIY automatic USB cable tester from Silicon Chip
Schematic of automatic USB cable tester from Silicon Chip magazine

Automatic USB Cable Tester

This automatic USB cable tester provides a very complete and detailed construction of a USB cable tester.

This is circuit hardware design is from the electronic hobby enthusiast magazine “Silicon Chip”

Inside this magazine, it has a very detailed schematics, instructions and explanations from page 28 to page 36.

For the details, you can click here to check out from Silicon Chip magazine website.

URL: https://archive.org/details/silicon-chip-2021-no-11-november/page/28/mode/2up

Click here for more specialised tester, testing the quality of USB cable.

More DIY cable tester projects

Forum sharing of DIY cable tester design with Arduino

Commercial Cable Tester

DIY cable tester may requires some fabrication or setup in order for you to start using them.

If you are looking for a simple cable tester that you can unbox and start using them to test your cables, you can consider buying directly for a general-purpose cable testers that are already selling on the market place.

Click here for a list of commercial cable testers that are available on the market.

Check out our Simple Cable Tester Tools

CCT-01 Cable Tester Tool
Click here to check out our cable tester tool.
Cable Tester Main Logo

Presented to you by www.Cable-Tester.com

USB Cable Quality Tester

Looking for a quick tester to test out the cable quality of your USB cable?

This USB cable quality tester provides production a means to test and instantly know the quality of the USB cable.

It is also known as the USB wire connector resistance tester.

Things that affect USB cable performance

USB cable issue can depends on the following factors.

  • Cable wire material
  • Quality of contact between the wire and the USB connector.
  • Cable length

What can happen if a low quality cable is used?

List of common problems due to poor USB cable quality

  • Problem charging phone with USB cable.
  • Intermittent Linux OS hanged while running Raspberry Pi

Miniature connector on USB cable are commonly used for mobile phone, computer and electronic devices.

USB cable have pretty small connector (USB-C, USB-micro, Lightning connector) and may not be properly manufactured.

Improper manufacturing process can result in poor cable connectivity quality. When these imperfect USB cables are deployed on site, it may result in intermittent failure.

This is especially happening frequently in high current usage like mobile phone charging. Using poor quality cable, you may find that your phone charge very slowly, or charging inconsistently and perhaps at times not even charging at all.

In high current consumption like a Raspberry Pi computer, the Linux system may get hang or buggy because of a poor quality USB cable.

This is often due to the poor quality joint between the wire and the miniature USB connector. A poor joint result in a higher contact resistance. This will cause a drop in voltage when more current is drawn from the supply.

It is important to ensure that the USB cable is of good connectivity quality before it is shipped out to the customer.

What you need is a tester where you can plug in your USB cable to, and it will tell you whether this cable is suitable for high current application.

Suitable for

  • USB-C
  • USB iPhone
  • USB micro
  • Any other connectors.

USB Tester Features

Quick test and simple to use tester.

  • Plug in and auto start testing.
  • Test for Pass or Fail result (base on 3A load).
  • Buzzer sound and light indicator for Pass or Fail result.
  • Display resistance of the wires.
  • Voltage drop (base on 3A load).
  • Report print out for the measured parameters.
  • Check for missing wire or mis-connected wiring.

Check resistance of each wire. For USB-C it is up to 24 wires.

Recommended USB Cable Specification

For a good quality USB cable, it is recommended to use USB cable that can handle at least 3A of current without much drop in voltage. This will ensure that devices that requires high consumption will work as it should using a good quality USB cable.

Go for cables of size 24AWG or lower. The lower number indicates a thicker wire which is also smaller wire resistance. Thicker wire can allow more current to flow without causing significant drop in voltage.

It is best to keep the cable wire resistance at about 0.1Ω and below. This is especially for power supply wires conducting a current of not more than 3A. This will help keep the voltage drop within 350mV.

USB Cable Tester tool available on the market

qualMeter USB Cable Tester

QooPow™ qualMeter X, qualMeter Basic

URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1187836018/qoometer-finally-a-smart-usb-cable-charger-tester

Can buy from this URL: http://www.qoopow.com/store

Huitoo USB Cable Tester

Huitoo USB Cable and Power Adaptor Tester

Video Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG8vgK0bE7Q

Can buy from this URL: https://pedaco.web.app/item/5167675055.html

USB Cable Checker 2

USB Cable Checker

designed by Bit Trade One.

Can buy from this URL: https://www.tindie.com/products/BitTradeOne/usb-cable-checker-2-assembled/

Can buy from this URL: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/133741548396

old version 1.0
USBjog

USB Jog Cable Tester

URL: https://www.cablejog.co.uk/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=2159616

Advanced USB Cable Tester

Advanced Cable Tester v2 (from Total Phase)

URL: https://www.totalphase.com/advanced-cable-tester-v2/

Can buy from this URL: https://www.totalphase.com/products/advanced-cable-tester-v2/

Tester Not Recommended

These USB cable tester only perform basic connectivity test. They do not test for the USB cable’s resistance. They are very low in cost, but not recommended as a useful tester tool.

USB test fixture

USB Cable Tester Fixture

NOTE: This tester only perform simple connection test of USB cable. It check s for open/short circuit if the USB wiring to the connector. It does not check for the USB cable quality from the resistance of the cable. This is a simple checker and is not a recommended USB cable tester.

Can buy from this URL: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32901143423.html

DT3 USB Cable Tester

NOTE: This tester only perform simple connection test of USB cable.

Can buy from this URL: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005003234917670.html

Compact Affordable USB-C Cable Tester

NOTE: This tester only perform simple connection test of USB cable.

Can buy from this URL: https://www.tindie.com/products/petl/usb-c-cable-tester-c2c-caberqu/

Custom Tester

Contact us for custom design and development of your quality tester for your cable.

Check out more USB cable tester from our DIY cable tester page.
Or visit this page for other more commercial general-purpose cable tester for your USB cable testing.

Universal Cable Tester Tool CCT-01

CCT-01 Cable Tester Tool
Click here to check out our cable tester tool.

Circuit Board Tester for RFID

Simple one button test for a quick, instant test result.

A circuit board tester to verify if the production board is functional.

Circuit Board Tester

Introduction

This is a custom circuit board tester for RFID board. Operator simply place the PCB board onto the placement jig and start the testing. The tester can auto detect the board and proceed testing the RFID board.

  • Test RFID Reader circuit board
  • Detects and read RFID Tag ID

There are testing instruction and video demonstration on this page to guide operator in using this circuit board tester device.

Circuit Board Tester

Parts & Description

Tester Package Content

The tester set consist of main 5 items.

  • RFID Circuit Board Tester
  • RFID Reader Circuit Board
  • USB-C cable
  • RFID Tag
  • Flat Cable for RFID Board
Tester Items for RFID Circuit Board
RFID Circuit Board Tester Description

Tester

This test is easily powered up with a USB-C cable detect to support the testing of the RFID Reader circuit board.

There are two ways to test the board. Either by using the spring loaded contact pins, or using the 6 ways JST ZH cable.

The picture on the left provides a basic description of the tester’s device.

RFID Reader Circuit Board

RFID Reader Circuit Board

The RFID Reader circuit board reads RFID tags.

Communication is using I2C through a JST ZH flat cable (6pos, 1.5mm pitch) to a controller board.

RFID Tag

The tester is programmed to read only Mifare Classic tags. For RFID Tag, you can use the following RFID tags.

  • Mifare Mini S20 (320 bytes)
  • Mifare S50 (1 Kbytes)
  • Mifare S70 (4 Kbytes)

Physical Dimension of RFID Reader Circuit Board

The board is small at about 40 x 43mm. It has 4x mount hole size at ø3.2mm for M3 screw mounting. One of its corner is chambered as a marker to ensure that the board orientation is correct when position itself onto the tester device.

RFID Reader circuit board dimension

Testing Procedure for RFID Reader

  1. Power up the tester using the USB-C cable.
  2. Place the RFID Reader circuit board onto the tester.
    Take note of the corner marker for the correct board orientation. Press the board slightly with finger to ensure that the 6x spring load pins get contact with the RFID reader board.
  3. Using another finger, press in the TEST push button.
  4. The tester will first detect the presence of circuit board.
  5. The tester will then test to check if the reader circuit board is able to test read a RFID tag. Remember to present a RFID tag on top of the RFID reader board.
  6. The RFID tag ID is displayed for verification if it can be detected by the RFID Reader.
  7. Test is PASSED.
Circuit board Tester
Finger pressing down to secure circuit board during testing.
Finger pressing slight to ensure that the board is engaged to the tester via the spring loaded test pins.

Video Demonstration 1 – Successful Testing Procedure

Click the video to playback.

The video demonstrates the complete process of testing the RFID Reader circuit board.

Video Demonstration 2 – No RFID Tag Detected

Click the video to playback.

The video demonstrates the same process but without any RFID tag presence. The board is detected and test is passed.

Video Demonstration 3 – No RFID Reader Board Detected

Click the video to playback.

This is a negative demonstration. The tester could not detect the board or if the board is faulty. Board fail to be detected.

Alternate way of testing the board using flat cable.

If testing through spring loaded test pins is tiring, you can test the board using the JST flat cable instead.

Using this method, you do not need to apply constant force to hold the board during the testing process.

The same procedure applies, except that the connection is now via the flat cable instead of the spring loaded test pins.

Circuit board testing using the flat cable.

Connect USB to Computer for Detailed Test Information

This tester can be connected to a computer system as a virtual serial communication port. You can open this communication port in a terminal console to monitor the testing procedure and information with more details.

Schematic, Gerber files, BOM

Not available online.

Custom Circuit Board Tester Design

Contact us for further information.