Abstract: A portable test set is disclosed for rapid pair identification, polarity determination, and half-tap verification in conjunction with modular testing apparatus employed in splicing cables--particularly cables used in the telephone industry for interconnecting telephone switching systems and subscriber equipment. Switchable meters operating in combination as a single indicator are provided for determining individual line pair conditions prior to execution of simultaneous multiple pair splicing operations to prevent customer inconvenience or loss of service. The test set is adapted for mating with contemporary modular splicing equipment through the interface typically provided therein. The test set is particularly characterized by incorporating no internal power supply as is the usual case in such equipment but, rather, operating totally from voltages present in the cables under test.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for detecting the existence of physical faults such as shorts, grounds, opens, crosses, splits and punchbacks in a multiconductor cable composed of paired conductors. Such paired conductor cables are typically used in telephone transmission networks. Each of the conductors within the cable exhibit a distributed capacitance with respect to a metallic cable sheath and with respect to all of the other conductors. The various cable faults mentioned above are quickly and effectively detected by selectively conducting each pair of conductors to a test circuit. The test circuit periodically electrically charges and discharges each of the lines and in so doing provides a measurement of the distributed capacitance of each pair which may be compared with corresponding capacitance measurements obtained from the other pairs of conductors of the same cable. The comparative measurement quickly reveals any faults in the various conductors.

Abstract: A portable test set is disclosed for rapid pair identification, polarity determination, and half-tap verification in conjunction with modular testing apparatus employed in splicing cables--particularly cables used in the telephone industry for interconnecting telephone switching systems and subscriber equipment. Switchable meters operating in combination as a single indicator are provided for determining individual line pair conditions prior to execution of simultaneous multiple pair splicing operations to prevent customer inconvenience or loss of service. The test set is adapted for mating with contemporary modular splicing equipment through the interface typically provided therein. The test set is particularly characterized by incorporating no internal power supply as is the usual case in such equipment but, rather, operating totally from voltages present in the cables under test.