Table of Contents:

• QuickStart 
• PowerTone™ Positive Identification System 
• VOP Adjustments for Individual Cable Characteristics 
• On / Standby 
• LED Readout and Buzzer Indications 
• Common Measurement Capabilities 
• Multi-Wire Environments 
• Conduit 
• Inventory Management 
• Speakers, Transformers, Light Bulbs, TV Sets, Telephones, DC Loads, etc. 
• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Troubleshooting Tips 
• TDR Technology 
• Table of VOP Values and Ranges 
• Hazardous Voltage 
• Moisture 
• Maintenance Information 
• FCC Notice 
• Copyright and Trademark Notice 
• Limited Warranty 
• Replacement Parts 
• Specifications 
• Instruction Manual Update for Model 10XX 

• Spectacular Ease-of-Use 
• Test All Common Cables 
• Low Cost Protection Against Lost Time Due to Cable and Connector Problems 
• Manage Cable Inventory 
• Single Button On/Off Operation 
• >2000 Foot Range 
• Accurate to +/- 2 Feet for Short Cables 
• Accurate to +/- 3% for Long Cables 
• Bright 0.4 Inch LED Display 
• Up To 4 Readings Per Second 
• Audible Indication of Shorted Wires and External Voltage Greater Than 15 VAC 
• No Adjustments Necessary,

-Auto-Zero, -Auto-Impedance
-Auto-Sensitivity, -Auto-Range
• Tone Injection, with the PowerTone™ Positive Identification System 
• Input Protected to 250 VAC 
• Components Protected Against Damage from Moisture and Humidity 
• Rugged Polycarbonate / ABS Housing 
• 50 Hour Battery Life, Intelligent Auto-Off 
• Low Battery Indicator 
• Uses 4 AA Cells (included) 

QuickStart:
Install four (4) AA cells in the battery compartment located on the back of the unit. To avoid possible electric shock, insure that nothing is connected to the input connector before removing the battery door. To remove the battery door, push the lip towards the top of the unit and lift the door off. Observe correct polarity when inserting the batteries. Re-install the battery door prior to connecting anything to the input connector.

Turn the unit on by pressing the center button (On / Standby). Attach the male BNC connector of your adapter to the female BNC input connector on the unit and attach the free end of your adapter to two conductors at one end of the cable you are testing. That's all there is to it. The ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder performs a self-test every time you power it on, and auto adjusts its test parameters to each cable you connect it to.

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PowerTone™ Positive Identification System:
The unit injects a cable-locator tone into the attached cable. This tone is compatible with most tone receivers (sold separately). Please see the instructions from your tone receiver for its features and operation.

The ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder has a unique capability built into its tone generator. The injected tone has 5 frequency and cadence options. Whenever the attached cable is momentarily shorted, the generator changes to the next sequential tone. This allows the user to insure positive identification of the cable at the far end of a cable pair with the following procedure:

Momentarily short the suspected cable and listen to the cadence of the tone. If you DO NOT hear a change in the cadence of the tone, then this is NOT the target cable. If the cadence DOES change, then you have POSITIVE CONFIRMATION that this cable IS the target cable.

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VOP Adjustments for Individual Cable Characteristics:
The only cable characteristic that the ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder can not automatically compensate for is the Velocity Of Propagation (VOP). For most uses the default factory VOP setting of -66- is appropriate. However, some circumstances warrant an adjustment of the VOP setting, The most common of these circumstances is the measurement of the amount of cable in a box or on a spool.

To enter the VOP adjustment mode, turn the unit on while holding down either the UP or DOWN button. In this mode, the display alternately shows the VOP setting "-VV-" and the calculated length "LLLL". Pressing either UP or DOWN will cause the currently displayed item to remain displayed for several seconds, allowing the convenient adjustment of the VOP setting or the resultant length. If you know the VOP, just use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the setting of VOP "-VV-" to that value. If you have a known-length sample of the cable 200 feet or longer (such as an unopened box of wire) then use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the displayed length "LLLL" to the length closest to the sample. This setting will be remembered in the ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder until you change the batteries. To exit the VOP adjustment mode, simply turn the unit off. Note that while in VOP adjustment mode, tone is NOT injected into the cable.

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On / Standby:
Standby is the effective "Off" condition for this unit. The batteries are always connected to the internal components, but the current drain is very small when in the "Standby" condition. 

The unit will go to standby condition in 5 minutes if nothing is connected or 1 hour after you connect it to a cable.

Also, if the On/Standby button is held down for 20 seconds, the unit will enter the standby condition. This is to prevent battery drain should some object, such as a hammer in your toolbox, be leaning on the button.

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LED Readout and Buzzer Indications:

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Common Measurement Capabilities:

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Multi-Wire Environments:
When testing wires in a multi-wire environment such as 4 wire telephone cable, 8 wire CAT-5 cable, 12/2 with ground AC cables, or several THHN wires inside a conduit, a short could exist between any number of the conductors including a shield or the conduit. In order to detect the short, you must connect the unit to the wires that are shorted. This means that to fully test a multi-wire environment, you must check every wire against every other wire including the shields and conduits. If, due to other indications, you already know which wires have the problem and are using ShortStop™ to find the distance to that problem, then you only need to test those wires.

The typical erroneous reading that occurs in a multi-wire environment occurs when there is a short on two wires and you are testing one of those wires against a third wire. The unit will not see the short, and will display the combined length of the wires that are shorted. This is actually correct, in that the wire you are testing is that long.

While a speedy way to test many conductors against a conduit or shield is to connect all the conductors to one clip lead and the shield to the other lead, this will reduce the impedance of the cable and may fall below the operational limits of the unit. It is more reliable to test the wires individually.

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Conduit:
ShortStop™ reacts to conduit as though it was just another wire in the multi-wire environment. As such, if the conduit is broken or disconnected part way in the run, the wire-to-wire readings may be correct, but wire-to-conduit readings will only read as far as the continuous conduit. Also, if wire is looped out of the conduit, such as at an elbow or junction box, as long as the length of this uncontained wire is less than 12 inches, the readings will be unaffected by the uncontained wire. If more than 12 inches is uncontained, the unit will see this as an open in that wire.

Also note that when the wires exit the conduit and become physically separated, they will no longer be seen by the ShortStop™ and thus the length displayed will represent only the length of wire within the conduit.

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Inventory Management:
The ability to measure the length of cable remaining on its spool is valuable for both job-site and warehouse personnel. Remember that with ShortStop™, you can measure the length from JUST ONE END of a PAIR of wires, allowing you to take inventory without unspooling the cables or even having to move the spools at all.

At the job-site, you can determine if the cable remaining on your spool or in your box will be sufficient for the job at hand. This will save you an unnecessary trip to the warehouse for more cable, and help you to avoid running out of cable in the middle of an installation. 

In the warehouse, you can easily and QUICKLY measure the cable remaining on all your spools, allowing you to select the right spool for each job. Additionally, by keeping a record of the prior inventory, you can determine how much wire was used on the current job.

Remember, ShortStop™ works on TWO conductors. Single conductor spools can not be measured with ShortStop™.

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Speakers, Transformers, Light Bulbs, TV Sets, Telephones, DC Loads, etc.: 
The ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder is a CABLE tester. Sometimes, there are devices connected to the cable you are testing that can prevent ShortStop™ from making a valid reading. The software makes the best decisions it can when faced with unusual conditions, but may not always be able to ignore connected devices. If you get a highly unstable or clearly non-valid reading, please check for devices connected to the cable.

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Q: How do I calibrate or perform a self test of the functionality of the unit?
A: There are no adjustments in the unit, and the internal coating protects the critical components from moisture and contaminants. There is nothing to calibrate. A self test is performed by the unit every time you turn it on. Since there is no loss of any settings when the unit is off, there is no penalty to just turning it off and on if you wish to perform a self test. The unit displays "8888" when it starts a self test, and displays the measured length after successfully completing the self test.

Q: Does it matter which clip lead I connect to which wire in the test cable?
A: Not for any of the testing functions. However, when you connect the unit to a cable, if you connect the red lead first, a non-valid reading may be displayed until the full connection is made with both leads. The unit's TDR technology requires both leads to be connected to the wire pair or cable in order to determine its length. While using only one of the leads is useful in tracing cable position with the PowerTone™ feature, both leads are required to make valid length measurements.

Q: What does the LOW BATTERY indicator really indicate?
A: The LED comes on (flashes) when the battery voltage falls below 4.1 volts, indicating that you should replace the batteries. While the unit will continue to operate for at least I hour below this voltage, some readings may be less accurate.

Q: I tested an orange outdoor 25 foot extension cord and the display read 19 feet. Is the unit broken?
A: No. The accuracy of the reading is dependent on the setting of the VOP. While the nominal setting for general testing is "-66-", the VOP for that kind of cable is "-56-". To improve the accuracy of length measurements for that or any cable, change the VOP as shown in the instructions.

Q: Why does the length reading sometimes change a small amount when I open and short the far end of a test cable?
A: There are two causes. The first is that this is a characteristic of the measurement technique used in almost all low and medium cost cable length test tools. In the case of the ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder, the variance occurs in only a few cable types and both readings are within the specified accuracy of the instrument. The second cause occurs when the cable is coiled, as in a box or on a spool. The magnetic field caused by the TDR signal itself couples across to other parts of the cable and changes the characteristics of the reflections.

Q: Why, on some cables, does the number displayed on the readout jump between 2 or 3 different values?
A: As the TDR signal travels down a cable, it looses some of its strength. At some point, the noise on the cable has an amplitude similar to the reduced strength TDR signal and will influence the measurement results. The unit's software filters out many of the noise related variations in the displayed length, but some variations do get through.

Q: I accidentally cracked the plastic housing, does this affect the moisture protection of the components?
A: Not at all. The component protection is provided by a coating on the components and PCB. However, if sufficient plastic is missing such that it is possible to touch any component, then a possible shock hazard exists, and you should not use the unit until the plastic is repaired or replaced.

Q: Can this unit measure the length of single conductor wires like THHN?
A: No. All ShortStop™ measurements must be made on TWO conductors from the SAME END of a cable.

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Q: If I touch the bare metal of the wires or clip leads, will the measurement be affected?
A: After BOTH clips are connected, measurement results will ordinarily not be affected if inappropriate human contact is made with the input connectors. Under moist conditions, if a large surface area of cable is in contact with moist skin, some readings may be affected. See the hazard warnings in the notices section of this manual.

Q: On multi-conductor cables with a short between 2 of the conductors, I sometimes read an 'open' at twice the known length of the cable.
A: If the cable has more than 2 conductors, and a short exists at the far end between one of the conductors you are connected to and a conductor you are not connected to, the displayed length will be the SUM of the lengths of the conductors joined by the short. ShortStop™ can only correctly test the 2 conductors you are connected to. See the application section for multi-conductor cables.

Q: When testing a set of wires that go into a conduit, I sometimes get a reading of 0 or 1, why?
A: If there is more than a foot or so of wires that are physically separated before they enter the close confinement of the conduit, this will look to the unit like an open at the start of the cable. Remember that ShortStop™ reports the FIRST failure that it finds. Try bringing the wires close together for the path from ShortStop™ to the entry to the conduit.

Q: When connecting to a 6 foot piece of 50 ohm Coax with the alligator clips, the unit reads 8 feet. The clips are only 6 inches long. What's up?
A: When measuring a low impedance small cable (less than 15 feet), the clip leads can add up to 2 feet of length. For longer or high impedance cables, the clip leads have no effect.

Q: I know there is a DC load on my cable, yet the unit reads the correct length and does not indicate the presence of the load. Why?
A: ShortStop™ first tries to determine the distance to the cable problem. After all, that's the real function of the unit. When it can not determine the length, only then does it try to determine if the cable is too long or has a DC load.

Q: How does the unit react to a speaker or a transformer at the end of a cable?
A: A speaker or a transformer is actually a large coil of wire, and will usually cause the length reading to be larger than that of the cable alone. A moderate power speaker will add 500 feet to the length reading. Some combinations of speakers and transformers connected to the cable may prevent the unit from making a valid reading.

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The display remains at "8888" after power on:
The self test has failed. The batteries may be weak, or the unit has water inside. Try changing the batteries or drying the unit.

The unit reads less than 10 feet regardless of the length of the cable:
The connection to the cable is broken. Check your connection to the cable for dirt or insulation. Also, test the clip leads by shorting them and listening for the buzzer. You can also visually check the center connection of the BNC for damage.

The unit does not respond to any button presses:
The batteries could be dead or inserted incorrectly, or the contacts are dirty or broken. Please insure that nothing is connected to the input connector before opening the battery door, and then check the battery installation. Remove the batteries and check the contacts for dirt or damage. Please observe correct polarity when inserting the batteries.

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The ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder uses Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to determine the length of the target cable. A TDR, much like RADAR, sends a pulse down the cable. Part of that pulse reflects back from any impedance variations in the cable. All of the reflections, together with the original pulse, combine to make an electrical signal (TDR waveform) that has various flat and bumpy sections that represent the start, the impedance changes, and the end of the cable. The size and shape of the flat and bumpy sections depend on the magnitude and length of the impedance variations. For example, two runs of 12/2 AC wire joined with twist-on wire connectors will have a TDR waveform with 2 flat sections separated by a bump at a distance representative of the lengths of the cable.

Jovial's TDR technology examines this TDR waveform, looking at the sizes of the flat sections, the dips, and the bumps. The software decides which of the elements of the waveform is most representative of the common problems encountered in the wiring industries and reports the distance to that element. If more than one problem exists on the cable, the software in the ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder only reports the nearest problem.

The actual result of the measurement is the TIME to the fault. The software in the unit converts the measured time to a length by multiplying the time by the speed of the electrical signal in that particular cable. That speed is represented as a percentage of the speed of light (about a billion feet per second) and is called the Velocity of Propagation (VOP).
The actual formula we use is:

The time is divided by two because the signal traveled the length of the cable twice. Once when it left the unit and went to the failure point, and once again when it reflected back to the unit to be detected. 0.9835 is the speed of light expressed in billionths of a second per foot.

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However, for some uses such as measuring the remaining cable in a box, it is important to set the VOP correctly in order to achieve the accuracy desired. Depending on the cable construction (shielded, twisted, etc.), insulating material (foam, air, fiber, etc.), and conductors tested (wire-to-wire, wire-to-shield), coiling the cable on a spool or in a box may alter its VOP.

Additionally, other conductors in close proximity to the conductors being tested can affect the VOP. For example, a solitary 12 gauge THHN in a 1" conduit has a VOP of 82, while that same wire in a 1/2" conduit filled with other wires has a VOP of 72.

To help with your measurements, we have included the following tables showing the VOP range for many cable types and conditions. Note that the actual VOP of any particular cable is dependent on the spacing and the material between the conductors and could vary by as much as +/- 5 from the value listed in this table. See VOP for more cable listings.

Table of VOP Values and Ranges:

The VOP for THHN wires inside a conduit varies greatly based on the overall contents of the conduit. For 8 to 16 gauge wires in 1/2" to 1" conduit, the VOP is approximately 77, with a range of 70 (crowded) to 84 (sparse) depending on how crowded the conduit.
 

The VOP for unshielded cables varies greatly with the spacing between the wires and the spacing between the coils of wire on a spool. The VOP is smaller when the cable is on a tightly wound spool, and larger when the cable is laid flat. The gauge of the wire has little direct effect on the VOP, but it may effect the spacing of the conductors, which would alter the VOP.
 

With double twisted cables, such as CAT-5, where the individual pairs are twisted, and then the sets of pairs are twisted around each other, the length of each of the pairs is slightly different. In CAT-5 cables, this difference from the shortest wire to the longest wire is approximately 3%.
 

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Hazardous Voltage:
While the unit is not harmed by hazardous voltages, YOU CAN BE!!!!!!

WARNING! To avoid electric shock, disconnect measuring terminals before opening the battery door.

DO NOT USE the unit to test cables that may have hazardous voltages present, and when the ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder alerts you to the presence of high AC voltages, CAREFULLY DISCONNECT IMMEDIATELY to prevent any personal harm. ALSO, hazardous DC voltages can be present on ANY cable, at ANY time. ShortStop™ does NOT detect or indicate the presence of DC voltages. Always be careful when connecting to cables. Always handle the clip leads and the cables by their insulation, NEVER directly by the conductive wire. Only use the insulated adapters provided by Jovial Test Equipment to connect to any wire or cable.

If you lose or damage your battery door or alligator clip leads, call us TOLL FREE at 1-800-820-6079 to order a replacement.

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Moisture:
While the unit is not harmed by moisture, moisture can provide a leakage path that may conduct hazardous voltages to you. DO NOT USE the unit if wet.

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Maintenance Information:
Do not open the housing. There are no user serviceable components or adjustments inside. Handling of the PC Board can remove the moisture protection coating or apply a static charge that can damage sensitive components. Opening the housing will VOID THE WARRANTY. If moisture gets inside the unit, LET THE UNIT DRY AT NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURES for 24 hours. DO NOT HEAT THE UNIT.

Any modifications to the unit, unless expressly approved by Jovial Test Equipment, Inc., could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

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FCC Notice:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

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Copyright and Trademark Notice:
All rights reserved. ShortStop™, PowerTone™, and Can't Find Your Shorts?™ are registered trademarks of Jovial Test Equipment, Inc.

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Limited Warranty:
For a period of one year from the date of purchase, Jovial Test Equipment will repair or replace, at its option, any unit which proves defective in parts or workmanship under normal operating conditions. JOVIAL TEST EQUIPMENT DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR INTENDED USE.

Opening the housing will VOID THE WARRANTY.

JTE assumes no liability for any damage to, or loss relating to, customer's business or property resulting from use of or reliance upon any JTE product. In no event will JTE be liable to customer or any third party for any claims arising out of or related to the purchase or use of any JTE product, including but not limited to lost revenue, lost profits, replacement goods, damage or destruction to property, incidental, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, or loss or interruption of service, even if advised of the possibility of such damages, and regardless of whether the theory of recovery is in tort, contract, strict liability or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any written or oral statement to customer, JTE's maximum aggregate liability for any claim, damage or loss asserted or suffered by customer shall not exceed the total amount paid by customer to JTE for the product or products alleged to have caused such claim, damage or loss.

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Replacement Parts:
 

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Specifications

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Setting the calibration factor:
To set the calibration factor, hold down either of the 'arrow' buttons and turn the unit on. Then connect the unit to a known length of cable at least 200 feet long. While the length is displayed, press the 'UP' or 'DOWN' arrow button to adjust the reading to match the known length of the cable.

The ShortStop™ Cable Fault Finder operates on a wire PAIR:
At least 2 conductors are required. It can not make measurements on a single conductor. For example, a coax cable has its center conductor and a shield, providing the two conductors. However, a roll of THHN AC wire is just a single conductor and can not be measured.

This model does not detect connected devices:
For some measurements in which there is a device connected to the cable (such as a speaker, a terminator, a load resistor, a transformer, etc.), the model 1OXX will be unable to determine the distance. In such a case, the display will read "Err".

This model does not detect cable leakage: 
For some measurements in which there is excessive cable leakage, the model 10XX will be unable to determine the distance. In such a case, the display will read "Err' '.

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