Question about carding for intermittent equipment

[KD5MDK]

If it did, that would imply that you could get a card for it dropping below that if it happens during the fencing also, which isn't true.

"Must not exceed" does allow for resistances below 1 ohm.

If the only check we needed was at armory, we wouldn't have body cords failing on strip would we?

[seven6ty]

"Must not exceed" does allow for resistances below 1 ohm.

If the only check we needed was at armory, we wouldn't have body cords failing on strip would we?

Then why isn't there equipment to test ohmage on every strip?

[peet]

And as far as looking for conforming equipment vs functional, all equipment is dubbed conforming at the armory check in at the begining of the event, so that shouldn't be an issue, right? Especially when you have the check mark to prove it, yes?

The tests at armory do not get you out of any cards you may be issued at the start of a bout. The stamp you get does not certify that your equipment is conforming in every way, it just certifies that it passed whatever tests the armorers performed, at the time that they performed them.

The checks on strip are the ones that verify if your equipment is conforming for use in that bout. Every so often, you get a fencer that says "but it passed at weapons check!" Sorry, it doesn't pass now.


-p

[telkanuru]

So I guess the 1ohm citation is the only thing mentioning anything about this? And it doesn't say 1 ohm always, as you added. If it did, that would imply that you could get a card for it dropping below that if it happens during the fencing also, which isn't true. I've never seen a referee test a body cord for a 1ohm compliance, unless that's what the box is automatically set up to pick up? And as far as looking for conforming equipment vs functional, all equipment is dubbed conforming at the armory check in at the begining of the event, so that shouldn't be an issue, right? Especially when you have the check mark to prove it, yes?

If it happens during fencing, then it is a break that could have been caused by fencing, and therefore not cardable.

[TooLoftheDeviL]

I am sometimes left with the impression that an armorer really wants my stuff to pass, and will kind of "go easy" on the testing of bodycords noticeably. If it's going to fail, I really want it to fail at checkin, and NOT on strip in the first bout.

[SJCFU#2]

The purpose of body cord checks is simply to weed out the worst before they even get out onto the strip, not to ensure that they will never fail.

Bear in mind that for a long time body cords weren't checked at all, the assumption being that it was in the individual fencers best interest to keep them in working order (there is little that a fencer can do with a body cord to gain a competitive advantage). Armorers first started checking body cords at National events in the early 90's and initially body cord checks were performed purely on a voluntary basis (IIRC we hadn't even come up with a means of marking them at the time). The practice spread and eventually became standard because people realized that checking body cords in advance helped to reduce the number of problems out on the strip, especially in that first round, when things tend to be most chaotic.

[tdwg83]

If this is epee, I can't understand why you would want to test with an intermittent body cord. You may be able to get one touched annulled before you have to change cords. But most likely you will loose on double touches and touches to the bellguard. An intermittent cord could affect the grounding. In foil, I could understand more cause it would have more of an affect on touches scored against you.

[Purple Fencer]

The checks on strip are the ones that verify if your equipment is conforming for use in that bout. Every so often, you get a fencer that says "but it passed at weapons check!" Sorry, it doesn't pass now.


-p

The best example of THAT is the weight/shim check. My test weight is heavier than the allowance by a couple of grams, and my shim is narrower than the allowance. Therefore, if a foil or epee passes ME (and I have people bring their stuff to my table to test frequently), it SHOULD pass at the strip...presuming that the test gear AT the strip is of the proper seight or thickness.

I believe all the weights and shims are verified to be within their respective specs before NACs and Nationals....but that's rarely done at the local level. I have had a number of times been brought a weapon that was carded, only to find it passed with flying colors on my test gear.

Unfortunately, the gear at the strip is the official stuff...so if it's out of spec, there's not a lot that can be done.

[fencerbill]

The purpose of body cord checks is simply to weed out the worst before they even get out onto the strip, not to ensure that they will never fail.

Let me remind you that there are 2 kinds of body cords:

Those that are broken, and

Those that are not broken yet.

[SJCFU#2]

Let me remind you that there are 2 kinds of body cords:

Those that are broken, and

Those that are not broken yet.

And unfortunately it isn't always possible to predict when a cord will transition to the former state.

[Purple Fencer]

And unfortunately it isn't always possible to predict when a cord will transition to the former state.

Oh I don't know....as Dan says, the best way to make sure somethihng doesn't break is not to use it....

We had one at Palm Desert Saturday that was unique for me. Foil....Uhlmann 2 pin cord....other fencer attacks, misses, and hooks the cord, pulling it out of the socket....or rather, pulling both lines of the cord out of the housing!

No wire break, but the fencer had never taken the thing apart to make sure teh screws on the pins were tight. They were tight enough to maintain proper function, but juuuuust loose enough for a good hard yank to pop them right out!

[telkanuru]

Oh I don't know....as Dan says, the best way to make sure somethihng doesn't break is not to use it....

We had one at Palm Desert Saturday that was unique for me. Foil....Uhlmann 2 pin cord....other fencer attacks, misses, and hooks the cord, pulling it out of the socket....or rather, pulling both lines of the cord out of the housing!

No wire break, but the fencer had never taken the thing apart to make sure teh screws on the pins were tight. They were tight enough to maintain proper function, but juuuuust loose enough for a good hard yank to pop them right out!

Yet another example of how armorers testing equipment SAVES LIVES!




(sorry couldn't resist )

[irishfolker]

Oh I don't know....as Dan says, the best way to make sure somethihng doesn't break is not to use it....

Would that be Schrodinger's body cord?

[Purple Fencer]

Would that be Schrodinger's body cord?

VERY nice!!!