What is a TDR meter and how does it work?

A Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) sends a signal down a cable and measures reflections to locate faults, breaks or impedance mismatches.

What types of cable faults can fault locators detect?

They can identify opens, shorts, low insulation, water ingress, and degraded sections in metallic cables including telecom, coaxial and twisted-pair.

How do I choose the right fault locator or TDR meter?

Consider cable type, measurement range, resolution, live-circuit capability, channel count (single vs dual), and whether you need accessories like alligator clips or remote digitisers.

Do these meters require calibration and how often?

Yes. To ensure accuracy and compliance you should calibrate TDR and fault-locator equipment regularly, ideally annually, or as per manufacturer specification.

Can I use a TDR meter on energised cables?

Some advanced models support live or energised cable testing, but you must check the specification (voltage rating, CAT category) and follow safety procedures.

What access or preparation is needed before using a TDR meter?

You’ll need one access point to the cable end and ideally the other end either open or shorted. For accurate results you should know the cable’s velocity factor (Vp) and ensure no other signals interfere.

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TDR Meters and Fault Locators

TDR meters and fault locators are used to locate faults in metallic cables quickly and accurately. We offer tools suitable for a range of cable types. From telecom, coaxial, and twisted pair. These tools help find opens, shorts and other faults with little disruption.

A cable fault locator works by sending a signal through the line and measuring reflections to find the fault. Many models include alligator clips for easy connection and quick diagnosis.