Instructions

SOCAPEX-style 19-Pin Cable Tester

User Instructions

Complete guide for professional cable testing. Learn how to use your CYA tester to catch faults before they kill your show.

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the SOCAPEX-style 19-Pin Cable Tester. This device is designed for AV professionals to quickly and reliably test standard SOCAPEX-style 19-Pin cables and fanout cables (PowerCON-style and True1-style) for common faults such as opens, shorts, and swapped conductors.

Two-Unit Testing System

This tester requires two units for complete cable testing: a female testing unit (with LCD display and power) and a male testing unit (standard SOCAPEX-style or optional brick units for fanouts).

⚠️ IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNINGS

WARNING: ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD AND EQUIPMENT DAMAGE RISK

NEVER connect the tester to a cable that is connected to mains power, dimmers, distribution boxes, amplifiers, speakers, or ANY other equipment.
NEVER connect the tester to a cable that is suspected of being energized or live.
ALWAYS ensure the cable is completely disconnected from all other devices at BOTH ends before testing.
Failure to follow these warnings can result in severe electrical shock, injury, death, and/or damage to the tester and connected equipment.

General Cautions:

Use only the supplied USB-C cable for charging or a certified equivalent.
Do not expose the tester to extreme temperatures, moisture, or excessive dust.
Do not attempt to open or repair the tester yourself. There are no user-serviceable parts inside.
Store the tester units in the provided carrying case when not in use.

Hardware Components

✓ Female Testing Unit (Main Unit)

Houses the LCD display, power button, and 19-pin female SOCAPEX-style connector. This is the main unit that displays test results.

🔌 Male Testing Unit

Connects to the other end of the cable. Includes the standard 19-pin male SOCAPEX-style connector.

📦 Optional PowerCON-style Brick

Alternative male testing unit with 6 PowerCON-style sockets for testing fanout cables.

📦 Optional True1-style Brick

Alternative male testing unit with 6 True1-style sockets for testing fanout cables.

⚡ Color LCD Display

Shows visual representation of cable wiring and fault status on the female testing unit.

🛡️ Power Switch

Momentary switch on female unit. Press and hold to power on and run test. Release to power off.

🔌 USB-C Port

For charging the internal battery on the female testing unit.

🔋 Internal Battery

1000mAh LiPo battery in the female testing unit.

Operation

1. Ensure the SOCAPEX-style 19-Pin cable (or fanout cable) to be tested is completely disconnected from any power source or other equipment at both ends.

2. Connect the female testing unit (with LCD display) to one end of the cable using the 19-pin female SOCAPEX-style connector.

3. Connect the appropriate male testing unit to the other end of the cable:

• For standard SOCAPEX-style cables: Use the 19-pin male SOCAPEX-style testing unit

• For PowerCON-style fanouts: Use the PowerCON-style brick with 6 sockets

• For True1-style fanouts: Use the True1-style brick with 6 sockets

4. Press and hold the momentary power switch on the female testing unit. The LCD will power on, display the background image, and immediately begin testing.

5. Observe the LCD display for test results (see Understanding the Display section). The test runs continuously while the power button is held.

6.Fault indicators (shorted lines, open rings) are persistent. They will remain displayed even if the fault is intermittent, until the tester is powered off.

7. Release the power switch to turn the tester off.

8. Disconnect both testing units from the cable.

Understanding the Display

The LCD display on the female testing unit shows a representation of the SOCAPEX-style 19-Pin connector's pinout. While the connector has 19 pins, only 18 are used for circuits (L=Line, G=Ground, N=Neutral) - the center pin is not connected.

All Good - Perfect Cable

All conductors are correctly wired. All 18 active pins show solid green circles indicating perfect connectivity.

This is what you want to see - every active pin properly connected and ready for showtime.

All Good - With Ground Ring

Perfect cable with ground ring detection. All conductors correct with ground ring feature active.

Green circles with ground ring indication - normal for adapters with this feature.

Short Circuit Detection

Shorted conductors are indicated by solid red circles connected by a thick red line showing the exact fault path.

Intermittent Short Detection

After a short is no longer detected, the pins show as good (green) but the red line for the short remains on screen.

Persistent fault indicators catch intermittent problems that come and go - the hardest faults to find manually.

Wire Swap Detection

Swapped conductors are indicated by solid red circles connected by a thick yellow double-headed arrow.

Complex Mixed Faults

Real-world problems often involve multiple fault types. This shows open circuit and wire swap in the same assembly.

Multiple fault indicators clearly show each problem type with distinct visual markers.

Multiple Open Circuits

Multiple open conductors are simultaneously detected and displayed with black circles and red rings.

Advanced fault detection catches multiple problems at once - no need to test repeatedly.

Charging

Connect a standard USB-C cable to the charging port on the female testing unit and the other end to a suitable USB power source (e.g., computer USB port, phone charger).
Monitor the LED indicators next to the USB-C port: Red LED indicates charging in progress, Green LED indicates fully charged.
Allow sufficient time for the 1000mAh battery to charge fully.

Care and Maintenance

Keep all connectors free of dust and debris.
Clean the exterior with a soft, dry cloth if necessary. Do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Store both testing units in the provided carrying case in a cool, dry place.