TEMPO COMMUNICATIONS PA1594 LAN and A/V Cable Instruction Manual

PA1594
LAN and A/V Cable-Check™ Tester
Medidor de LAN y A/V Cable-Check™
Testeur LAN et AV Cable-Check™
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

PA1594 LAN and A/V Cable

Read and understand all of the instructions and safety information in this manual before operating or servicing this tool.

Description

The PA1594 LAN and A/V Cable-Check™ Tester is a small, hand-held cable tester that enables network professionals to quickly and easily verify the integrity of straight-through, twisted pair, and coaxial cables. The PA1594 can also test crossover cable.

Safety
Safety is essential in the use and maintenance of Tempo tools and equipment. This instruction manual and any markings on the tool provide information for avoiding hazards and unsafe practices related to the use of this tool. Observe all of the safety information provided.

Purpose of this Manual
This manual is intended to familiarize all personnel with the safe operation and maintenance procedures for the Tempo Communications PA1594.
Keep this manual available to all personnel. Replacement manuals are available upon request at no charge at www.TempoCom.com.

Important Safety Information

WARNING
Electric shock hazard:

• Before using the tester, disconnect the cable to be tested from any device.
• Contact with live circuits could result in severe injury or death.

Features

• Tests UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), STP (Shielded Twisted Pair), and coaxial cable.
• Checks continuity and configuration of wiring with RJ45 plugs.
• Tests for open circuits, shorts, miswires, reversals, and split pairs.
• Shield detection tests a cable’s shield integrity.
• Debug mode quickly identifies which cable pairs have a specific wiring fault.
• Main unit and Remote unit allow one person to test T568A, T568B, 10Base-T, and Token Ring cables.
• Main unit is powered by two 1.5 V (AAA) batteries; Remote unit does not need battery.
• Low battery indication.

Setup
To separate the two units, hold the Main unit in one hand and the Remote unit in the other. Slide the Remote unit up or down.

Identification

Pair and SHIELD LEDs:
1. SHIELD/COAX LED
2. Pair 1-2 LED
3. Pair 3-6 LED
4. Pair 4-5 LED
5. Pair 7-8 LED
Fault Indicator LEDs:
6. SHORT LED
7. MISWIRE LED
8. SPLIT PAIR LED
9. REVERSAL LED| Others:
10. LOW BATT LED
11. Mode selector switch
12. TEST button
13. BNC socket of Main unit
14. RJ45 socket of Main unit
15. RJ45 socket of Remote unit
16. BNC socket of Remote unit
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Typical Faults
For straight-through cable or crossover cable tests, the tester has two operating modes: Test mode and Debug mode.
In Test mode, a flashing pair of LEDs indicates that this wire pair has a fault while a fault indicator LED lights up to indicate which fault was detected. Multiple flashing pair LEDs indicate multiple pairs and/or multiple faults. In this situation, use the Debug mode to diagnose the faults in more detail. Correct the faults until the cable is verified to be correct by using the tester.
Refer to the “Fault Details” section on the last page of this manual.
Note: For some types of cables, so called OPEN is not an abnormal condition.
Therefore, there is no OPEN indicator LED. Open can be identified as an unlit pair or shield LED when the tester shows the test result. The user should determine if a wire
is present and continuous or OPEN by comparing the illuminated pair and/or shield LEDs with the expected number of wires (of the cable) that should be good.
During test, if the LOW BATT LED lights up, the batteries in the Main unit are low. To avoid questionable test results, replace the batteries immediately.

Testing a Straight-through Cable

Test Mode

1. Connect the Main unit to one end of the cable to be tested and the Remote unit to the other end of this cable.

2. Set the mode selector switch to the Standard position.

3. Press the TEST button and then release it. The tester starts testing the cable.
   The five green LEDs flash one time sequentially from top to bottom, and then the tester shows the test result—flashing LED indicates this pair has a fault while fault indicator LED lights up to indicate the type of fault.

4. The test lasts about 12 seconds, and then the tester turns off automatically.
   Press the TEST button to stop the test manually at any time. Pressing the TEST button turns the tester off.

Example for Test mode: The cable fault is a SHORT on pair 1-2 and pair 3-6.
After the five green LEDs flash one time sequentially from top to bottom, the tester displays the following test results simultaneously:

• Pair 1-2 LED and pair 3-6 LED flash green while the SHORT LED lights red.
• Pair 4-5 LED lights green indicating a good pair.
• Pair 7-8 LED lights green indicating a good pair.

Debug Mode
The Debug mode identifies which cable pairs have a wiring fault. The unit cycles through pairs, displaying a test result one pair at a time. A fault is indicated by simultaneously lighting a pair of LEDs and the fault indicator.

1. Set the mode selector switch to the Standard position. Then press and hold the TEST button until all LEDs light; release the button.

2. The pair LEDs and the fault indicator LEDs work together to identify which pair is incorrect.
   a. If a pair LED flashes two times in series (one short and one long) while no fault indicator LED lights, the pair is wired correctly.
   b. If a pair has fault(s), its pair LED will give a short flash. Then this pair LED, other pair LEDs related to this pair’s fault(s), and the fault indicator LED(s) will give a long flash simultaneously.
   c. If a pair LED gives only a short flash that is not followed by a long flash, this pair has an OPEN fault.

3. After the Debug function cycles four times through the pairs, the tester turns off automatically. Press the TEST button to stop the test manually at any time.
   Pressing the TEST button turns the tester off.

Example for Debug mode: The cable fault is a SHORT on pair 1-2 and pair 3-6.
The Debug mode LED series will be as follows:

• Pair 1-2 LED gives a short flash and then pair 1-2 LED, pair 3-6 LED, and the SHORT red LED give a long flash simultaneously.
• Pair 3-6 LED gives a short flash and then pair 3-6 LED, pair 1-2 LED, and the SHORT red LED give a long flash simultaneously.
• Pair 4-5 LED flashes two times in series while no fault indicator LED lights. This indicates that this pair is wired correctly.
• Pair 7-8 LED flashes two times in series while no fault indicator LED lights. This indicates that this pair is wired correctly.

Testing a Crossover Cable
The method of testing crossover cable is almost the same as testing straight- through cable. The only difference is that the mode selector switch is in Cross Cable position to test crossover cable instead of the Standard position for straight-through cable.
Refer to the “Testing a Straight-through Cable” section and set the mode selector switch to the Cross Cable position to test crossover cable.

Testing Coaxial Cable

Note: For coaxial cable tests, the mode selector switch can be in any function position.

1. Connect one end of the coaxial cable to be tested to the BNC socket of the Main unit and the other end of the coaxial cable to the BNC socket of the Remote unit.
   Note: The terminators on the cable to be tested should match the BNC sockets of the tester.

2. Press the TEST button and then release it. The five green LEDs of the Main unit will flash one time sequentially from top to bottom, and then the tester shows the test result:
   • If the SHIELD/COAX LED lights green, the coaxial cable has no fault.
   • If the SHIELD/COAX LED does not light, the cable is faulty.
   Note: Refer to “Testing Examples” on the last page of this manual for reference on how to test the continuity of RCA, BNC, and Cable TV “F” cables.

Specifications

Cable Length:
Minimum: 1 m (3 ft)
Maximum: 300 m (900 ft)
Battery: 2 x 1.5 V AAA
Size:
Master Unit: 96.8 x 58.2 x 32.8 mm (3.81 x 2.29 x 1.29 in)
Remote Unit: 96.8 x 58.2 x 32.8 mm (3.81 x 2.29 x 1.29 in)
Weight: Approximately 165 g (5.8 oz)

Maintenance

Battery Replacement
When the LOW BATT LED lights continuously, the batteries are low and should be replaced immediately.

1. Remove the screws on the back cover of the Main unit and remove the back cover.
2. Replace the old batteries with new ones (observe polarity).
3. Reinstall the back cover and the screws.

Do not discard this product or throw away!
For recycling information, go to www.TempoCom.com.
All specifications are nominal and may change as design improvements occur. Tempo
Communications Inc. shall not be liable for damages resulting from misapplication or misuse of its products.
Cable-Check is a trademark of Tempo Communications Inc.
1390 Aspen Way • Vista, Ca 92081 USA • 800-642-2155

References

• Tempo Communications – Industry-leading Test and Measurement Solutions

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