Testing Sabre Bodycords

[vigia]

OK, at the last NAC, I bought one of those simple two-prong bodycord test boxes. Little round blue thing with a place to plug in the bodycord and a light. The fellow showed me how to ground the cords etc to test. I hate to say this, but now I don't remember how to do the testing at all. I have about 5 bodycords I want to resucitate for Austin, and I would greatly appreciate if someone would refresh my memory.

Thanks.

[neevel]

Unfortunately, the tester you have is not going to be adequate to ensure that a cord will pass at check-in. The limit for bodycords that the armorers will be applying is 1 ohm per line (i.e., A to A, B to B, C to C). Simple LED testers will indicate continuity, but not the actual resistance-- a cord could work with the LED but be well above the allowed limit.

Obtain an ohmmeter (you can find a basic analog one for about $17 at Radio Shack). It'll be easier if you get some test leads with alligator clips so you can attach them to the body cord pins without having to hold them in place. The pin-out of a two-prong body cord is as follows:

Reel end-- A__B_____C

Weapon end-- C it the fat pin, B the thin one.

Lame clip-- goes to A.

Test each line, and flex and tug on the cord right behind the plugs while you've got it hooked up to the meter. The reading should not be more than 1 ohm continuously (i.e., doesn't jump up when the cord stressed). Also check to make sure there is no crossover leakage between the lines (A-B, B-C, C-A)-- you should see close to infinite resistance for these.

-Dave

[vigia]

Originally posted by neevel
Obtain an ohmmeter (you can find a basic analog one for about $17 at Radio Shack). It'll be easier if you get some test leads with alligator clips so you can attach them to the body cord pins without having to hold them in place. The pin-out of a two-prong body cord is as follows:
-Dave

Will do, thanks!