Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR) and Cable Fault Finders
Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR) are designed to locate faults, opens, taps shorts, blockages, and resistance in electric cabling, as well as connector locations and overall cable length. Common cable faults include screening faults, phase faults, contact between multiple conductors, signal loss, sheath faults, crushes and breaks, and moisture or cut cable-related faults.
How it works: The TDR sends a quick voltage pulse down the cable and measures the time taken for the pulse to return. This helps it detect any impedance abnormalities and reveal the fault location. In a graphical TDR, results are displayed as a waveform, where the amplitude represents the magnitude of the signal reflections. Once this information is collected and analyzed, it is stored by the device and can be recalled to easily evaluate the cable’s degradation over time, and to conduct cable fault preventive analysis.
TDR Models
We offer two TDR models: BTR 5000, our larger, advanced model, and BTR1000, our handheld time domain reflectometer. Both TDR models can be used for fault location in various metal cables such as coaxial cables, twisted pair cables, and parallel pair cables. They are best suited for applications in the power, electric, telecom, transportation, and environmental sectors.
They are equipped with automatic set-up capabilities and dual trace and step functions, which can be modified as needed. All fault data can be stored internally and retrieved for comparison.
TDR Applications
Key applications include:
- Troubleshooting power supply measurements: connection, change of cable type, break in the cable
- Landline preventative maintenance
- Operation surveillance: trace cables to identify runs, wiring faults and the distance to them
- Determine length of cables
- Determine degradation of cables due to moisture and dust
- Test patch cords
- Test for active service
- Map network layout
TDR Cable Fault Locator with Graphical Display: BTR5000
TDR with LCD display, which shows the outgoing pulse and any reflections caused by impedance changes along the length of the cable. It is used to detect smaller faults and for long distance cable testing.
BTR5000 Features
- Range: 50cm ~ 20km (1.64 ~ 65,616 ft) for coaxial cable
- Resolution: 2.5cm (.08 ft) at all range
- Accuracy: ±0.1% of reading ±0.1m(.32 ft) for coaxial
- V.O.P setting: 10.0~99.9% (in 0.1% step)
- Pulse: 3ns ~ 10㎲
- Pulse width: 3, 6, 12, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500ns, 1, 2, 5,10㎲
- Display: 7”, 800 x 480 TFT color LCD
- Output impedance: 50, 75Ω
- Input protection: 500 volts (AC+DC)
- Effective sampling rate: 4 GS/s
- Connector: BNC
- Refresh rate: 5 times per second
- Communication port: USB A
- Internal battery: 3.7V Li-ion battery pack, 15,600mAh
- Adaptor: USB A
- Operation time: 6 hours
- Recharge time: approximately 6 hours
- Operating temperature: -15℃(+5℉) ~ +60℃ (+140℉)
- Weight: 2.8kg (6pounds)
TDR Cable Fault Locator with Numeric Display: BTR1000
The BTR1000 electrical cable fault locator and power analyzer is used to inspect paired metallic cables (shielded or twisted-pair), such as coaxial cables, power cables, high power and high voltage cables, control cables, network and telephone cables.
It can accurately locate open circuits, power interruptions, and short circuits in electrical cables and long distance cables of up to 3 kilometers. Using the cable’s Velocity of Propagation (VOP), it indicates the distance to the first major reflection caused by a fault along the cable.
Housed in a dust-proof and waterproof ABS enclosure, the unit comes with a soft carrying case, belt clip, and test lead set with an alligator clip.
BTR1000 Features
- Range: 3km, min. distance: 5m
- Accuracy: ± 1.0 % of reading
- Resolution: 1cm
- Repeatability: ± 0.3 % of reading
- V.O.P(Velocity of Propagation): 1.0 % ~ 99.9 % (In 0.1 % step)
- Auto V.O.P set: Support
- User settable V.O.P: 8 memories
- Auto Power Off: Support
- Display: 128 * 64 Character LCD
- Power Supply: 2 LR6(AA) type batteries
- Operation time: 30,000 times with backlight
- Line Voltage Detection: ± 250mV / 500kHz
- Input Protection: DC 48 V
- Safety: (EMC) EN 55011:2009/A1:2012 / EN 61326-1:2013 / EN 61326-2-2:2013
- Size: 63 * 140 * 30 mm
- Operation: -20℃ ~ +70 ℃
- Accessories: Soft Carrying Case, Test Lead Set, Manual
Telecommunications Ping and LAN Tester | i-Ping Tester
Multi-functional network communication and telecommunication ping and LAN cable tester. Ping method tester is used for network configuration, static IP and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) connectivity check.
Network Ping Tester Features
- Network Standard: IEEE 802.3/802.3u
- Media Compatibility
- 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX
- Auto-negotiation Supported
- 10/100 Mbps full and half duplex
- MDI/MDI-X Auto-crossover: Supported
- LAN Cable Test Method: Each wire(8-pin) connectivity
- Connector: RJ-45, RJ-11
- Display: 2.3” Mono Graphic LCD
- Dimensions: 3.3” x 7.4” x 1.4”
- Weight: Master – 8.1oz. (230g) // (w/o battery) Remote – 2.1oz. (60g)
- Battery: Master- 9V Alkaline(6LR61) // Remote – 9V Alkaline(6LR61) / 9V Carbon-Zinc(6F22)
- Operating Temperature: 10℃ ~ 40℃
Contact us to learn more about our BTR5000 and BTR1000 TDRs.