TDR?

[GWB]

Is there anyone who frequents this forum who uses one of these? If so, which brand and would you purchase it again?
Thanks for any feedback

[GordMay]

So, what is a "TDR"?
➥ TDR - What does TDR stand for? Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary.

[skipmac]

Same question. Not an abbreviation familiar to me.

My guess is Time Depth Recorder?

[sailorboy1]

if you don't know what it is you feedback is not useful.

that is genius

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Don L

if you don't know what it is you feedback is not useful.

that is genius

But if I don't know what it is how do I know if I am an expert or not. Sometimes I know about things I didn't even know I knew.

[btrayfors]

TDR = Time Domain Reflectometer

I'm no expert in the use of a TDR, but I have and occasionally use the Fluke TS100 and the Fluke Pro1000 probe. Sometimes useful for finding faults and, especially, for measuring the length of wire.

The tiny Fluke Pro3000 toner may also be useful in some situations.

They seem to do what they're supposed to and are modestly priced, especially used ones in good condition.

Bill

[marc2012]

Originally Posted by skipmac

But if I don't know what it is how do I know if I am an expert or not. Sometimes I know about things I didn't even know I knew.

And n my case it turns out I know nothing about somerhing I thought I knew.marc:confused :

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by GWB

Is there anyone who frequents this forum who uses one of these? If so, which brand and would you purchase it again?
Thanks for any feedback

Ed Sherman - marine electrical consultant and ABYC director of educational programming, included a chapter on TDR in his book Advanced Marine Electrics and Electronics Troubleshooting .He mentions the AEMC Fault Mapper, and the Tripplett Model CA7024. The publish date of my edition is 2007, so there are very likely new and better models out there now.

Ed really likes his TDR unit and describes several ways to use it. In my limited experience, the marine wiring faults I've had to chase were usually pretty obvious - a problem at a mechanical connection in 90% of the cases, and the remaining 10% some sort of wire injury. And all of these were fairly easy to find by visual inspection, or by following the wire from one end to the other. Worst-case... run a new wire.

So ... I'd like to have a TDR at some point, but for now I'm doing an Ok job without it, using a multimeter and a cheap wire tracer. MaineSail - do you use a TDR?

[Sailmonkey]

I have used this particular model for fault finding in Monocore electric wireline for cased hole logging. It usually worked, but I found finding the fault just as easy by having access to both ends of the cable too. I have never found a need to use it on the boat.

KLEIN TOOLS TDR Cable Tester - Test Equipment - 39E520|VDV501-815 - Grainger Industrial Supply

[kentobin]

We used to a TDR for testing network drops when we used coax cable. That was 20 years ago. Believe they also use it for checking antenna feeds. We used it for finding breaks in the line and it will tell you the distance the break is from the TDR.

[CharlieJ]

I have the AEMC Fault Finder and it has helped out of several technical jams. Examples:
1. Anchor light (incandescent) doesn't work on top of a 65' mast. Power available at the terminal strip at the base of the mast. Is it a failed bulb or a failed conductor?
> TDR shows short at 65'; bulb is good
> TDR shows open at 65'; bulb is bad
> TDR shows short at 35'; possible screw damage; must replace conductor
2. How much AWG 10/2 left on that 500' spool?
> TDR shows open at 361'; that's how much wire is left.

[The Garbone]

I use a TDR every so often with my job. The type I needed pretty much depends on the application.

For tuning ( matching) antennas I have always used a VSWR meter. ( voltage standing wave ratio)

[bgallinger]

We use a TDR sometimes to locate a break in a wire. Not likely ever used for short runs as the normal culprit would be obvious or a bad (loose) connection. We mostly use the OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) but optics hasn't made its way onto sailboats...yet.

[socaldmax]

I've used Tektronix 1502 TDR cable testers quite often. 90% of the time, we used them to verify the integrity of RF cables and connectors. Knowing the insulator used in the cable was critical in getting a meaningful display and accurate distance measurements. We ha some very tiny, difficult to install, coax pin type connectors. The TDR was great at telling you exactly how good the connection was and how well it would transfer RF. It could show a bad RF connection when a multimeter would have shown a good connection.

For single conductor use (for power or dc signaling) we generally used a toner for simple open/short checks.

[Dockhead]

Wow, it's dangerous to my wallet to find out about cool tools I never even knew existed.

Fluke makes one which costs only $200.

Fluke Networks TS90 Cable Fault Finder, TS-90 Fluke - at the Test Equipment Depot

What a totally cool instrument. I guess I'm going to have to have one of these. That would have paid for itself already when I was having my problems with my antenna installation a few months ago. Wow.