Article
RJ45 ‘Running-Lights’ Cable Tester
This cheap & cheerful circuit is indispensable if you are suspicious about a defective RJ45 cable in the patch cabinet or anywhere else for that matter. Connect the Master (sender) to one end of the cable under test (C.U.T.) and the Slave (receiver) to the other end. If the LEDs light up in succession then the cable is okay. If not, flaunt the cable to the IT Manager, drop it in His trash bin (with a fanfare) and ask a raise as a reward for keeping the company in business.
Materials
Gerber file
CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.
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PCB
Component list
COMPONENT LIST
Resistors
R1 = 56kOhm
R2 = 33kOhm
R3 = 4.7kOhm
R4–R11 = 1kOhm
P1 = 100kOhm preset, vertical
Capacitors
C1,C2 = 15µF 16V radial
C3 = 1nF
Semiconductors
IC1 = CD4011 or HEF4011
IC2 = CD4017 or HEF4017
D1–D8 = 1N4148*
D9–D16 = LED, dual-color low-current, or single color LED*
Miscellaneous
K1,K2 = RJ45 CAT5E socket, PCB mount, e.g. Farnell # 2060718
PCB # 110691 from www.elektorpcbservice.com
* either/or (see text)
Resistors
R1 = 56kOhm
R2 = 33kOhm
R3 = 4.7kOhm
R4–R11 = 1kOhm
P1 = 100kOhm preset, vertical
Capacitors
C1,C2 = 15µF 16V radial
C3 = 1nF
Semiconductors
IC1 = CD4011 or HEF4011
IC2 = CD4017 or HEF4017
D1–D8 = 1N4148*
D9–D16 = LED, dual-color low-current, or single color LED*
Miscellaneous
K1,K2 = RJ45 CAT5E socket, PCB mount, e.g. Farnell # 2060718
PCB # 110691 from www.elektorpcbservice.com
* either/or (see text)
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