The LED and Extension Cable Tester panel was designed to be integrated into a larger constant-voltage LED tape dimmer rack. Our client uses these racks on touring productions with large amounts of LED tape and Neonflex. During load-in, load-out and transport, short-circuits can develop. Our client noticed that they were experiencing an unusually high number of dimmer channel failures, and asked us to design a test panel so that they could identify these faults before causing further damage.
The test panel is capable of testing both RGB LED tape and Neonflex, and also testing extension cables. The user interface is designed to be as simple as possible, performing a suite of tests, and displaying fault information on the screen. This information ensures that a technician knows exactly where to look for the fault, reducing time spent during each load-in.
The tester automatically performs the following tests:
- Check all pins are not connected to an external power source
- Check no current is flowing on each pin
- Test for short circuits between all pin pairs (e.g. 1 – 2, 1 – 3, 1 – 4 etc.)
- For extension leads, test for continuity between each end of the cable
- For LEDs, switch on each channel in turn and verify the current does not exceed the dimmer’s capability
- For LEDs, switch on all channels and verify that the total current does not exceed the dimmer’s capability
The testing process only takes a few seconds. Once complete, the operator is presented with a pass or fail screen.
If necessary, firmware can be upgraded using a USB cable connected to the front panel. No special software is required.