Test box

[DangerMouse]

I'm in the process of building an led based test box that would be similar to the favero one (where the red lights come on for a second if there is a momentary break). The main differences are:
A momentary break occurs if the resistance goes above 1ohm for body cords and weapons and it would test saber masks (3ohms) and lames(5 ohms).
The only other products I've seen on the market are the large Uhlmann test setups that cost $300-$1500 and are huge. I can fit this into about a 4x2x1.5 inch box.

My question is:
Does anyone know of anything else like this that is available and do you see a market for it?

Thanks,

[sallearmourer]

Most armourers build their own test boxes. and it 5 ohms for sabre mask now they just haven't updated the rule book. And as far has a weapon controlled device without a readout it might be contested . I know I would. The market for it would be very small but you can't tell.



Tim

[Windsor]

How do you go about building one that tests stuff like that? I've only built a simple standard 2 led test box for weapons so far...

[DHCJr]

Here is something interesting I saw at the 2001 Junior Worlds in Gadansk. They were using a lame tester that only had an LED on the weight and a repeater LED on the box put out by Uhlmann. It could be adjusted as to where the cutoff should be. I think that may have been why they changed the rule to make the mask the same as the lame as Tim said. At a World Championship where you don't get to see the testing done in front of you, that may be alright, but if I have a fencer in front of me, I know they will want to see how close it is.

Dan is adding to his latest test box something similar, but with two LED's.

[sallearmourer]

As a fencer how would I know how accuate is the box using led checking my equipment. I carry with me a persecion restior. At times I have to go back to the offical armourers and ask them check their test equipment when they have sent stuff down to my booth for repair and I couldn't find a thing wrong with it, Weak batteys can cause alot of flase readings. I check my test equipement before every event and carry spare batteys .


I am not saying that you don't have a good idea h@ll I might buy one just to have,

Tim

[neevel]

I doubt I'd by one for the basic fact that when
checking lames, weapons, cords, etc. I very strongly prefer to see an actual ohms value. A
pass/fail LED isn't of much use in diagnosing problems, and will be of no use at all in catching incipient problems that haven't yet put the item over the limit. Even if you're just doing equipment check-in, it's good to be able to see a value so you can let the fencers know what the problem might be (e.g., screws just a bit loose in the body cord vs. a broken wire), or that they need to start thinking about a new lame because their current one is showing over 4 ohms instead of 1 or less. The only time I use my Favero LED box is for quick weight tests at tournaments.

-Dave

[sallearmourer]

David if Unhmann is doing it and Dan adding it to his box it's must be legal. But I agree with you that a meter is better for the fencer. The only time I like useing my Favero when checking a bunch of reels and looking for a werid problem in a weapon.


Tim

[DangerMouse]

Originally posted by sallearmourer
Most armourers build their own test boxes. and it 5 ohms for sabre mask now they just haven't updated the rule book.

Thanks for the heads up on the change. I've been working on the design for a month or so and haven't rechecked the rules book.

I use a basic led box now and find that I can diagnose almost anything with it. I still use a multimeter to locate some problems, but if I can't diagnose it with the led box, then there usually isn't time to fix it at a tournament. My reasoning for this design is that it would be more accurate than a basic led test box and more user friendly than a multimeter. I do most of the armoring for our club and usually spend most of my time setting up shims, but don't quite trust my led box to be sensitive enough for everything.

Anyway, I'll build a few extra once I have the pcb laid out just in case anyone did want to buy one I'm not planning on quiting my day job.

Thanks for the input!

-DM