TS 100 PRO

Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

PN 3850759
October 2011
2011 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

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Contents
Title

Page

Overview of Functions .................................................................................................................................... 1

Registration ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
Contacting Fluke Networks ............................................................................................................................ 2
Safety Information .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Physical Characteristics ................................................................................................................................... 4
Test Leads and Accessories ............................................................................................................................. 4
Operation ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Installing Batteries ................................................................................................................................... 5
Turning on the Tester .............................................................................................................................. 6
Automatic Power-Down .......................................................................................................................... 6
Testing Cables .......................................................................................................................................... 6
SmartTone Positive Identification System ........................................................................................... 8
How to Select the Modes of Operation ......................................................................................................... 9
Normal Mode ........................................................................................................................................... 9
VOP Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Setup Mode .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Velocity of Propagation (VOP) .............................................................................................................. 10
Applications ................................................................................................................................................... 10
Multi-Wire Environment ....................................................................................................................... 12
Conduit ................................................................................................................................................... 12
Testing a Wire Pair in a Conduit .................................................................................................... 12
Testing a Single Wire in a Conduit ................................................................................................ 12
Inventory Management ......................................................................................................................... 12
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Technology .......................................................................................... 14
VOP Variations ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Maximum Length ................................................................................................................................... 17
Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................................................................................... 17
If Something Seems Wrong with the Tester ............................................................................................... 19
Maintenance ................................................................................................................................................. 20
If the Tester Gets Wet ............................................................................................................................ 20
How to Clean the Tester ........................................................................................................................ 20
Accessories ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Specifications ................................................................................................................................................. 21

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

ii

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Overview of Functions

The TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder with PowerBT

bridge tap detection is a portable, handheld TDR
device used by installers, repair technicians and other
authorized personnel for detecting bridge taps,
locating problems on installed cable pairs, and
managing cable inventory. This enhanced version of
the TS100 Cable Fault Finder has improved technology
that lets technicians qualify, troubleshoot, and repair
copper facilities that support high-speed VDSL services.

The TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder includes the

following features and functions:

Easy to use
Tests all common cable pairs
Provides low cost protection against lost time due
to cable and connector problems
Accurate to 2 feet (0.6 meter) for cables less
than 30 feet (3 meters)
Accurate to 5 feet (2 meters) for cables longer
than 10 feet (3 meters) and shorter than 200 feet
(60 meters)
Accurate to 3 %, 5 feet (2 meters) for cables
longer than 200 feet (60 meters)
Bright 0.4 inch (1.016 centimeters) LED display
Up to 4 readings per second
Audible indication of shorted wires and external
voltage greater than 90 Vac or 100 Vdc
Automatic adjustments

Tone injection with the SmartTone positive

identification system
The input is protected up to 250 V for accidental
connections to a power source
Components protected against damage from
moisture
Fifty hour battery life, intelligent power-down
Low battery indicator
Uses 4 AA batteries (included)
High strength plastic (ABS) housing

Registration
Registering your product with Fluke Networks gives
you access to valuable information on product updates,
troubleshooting tips, and other support services. To
register, fill out the online registration form on the
Fluke Networks website at www.flukenetworks.com/
registration.

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Contacting Fluke Networks

Conformit Europenne. Conforms to

relevant European Union directives.

IEC/EN61010-1; IEC/EN61326-1

Do not put products containing circuit

boards into the garbage. Dispose of
circuits boards in accordance with local
regulations.

www.flukenetworks.com
[email protected]
+1-425-446-4519 or 1-800-283-5853

Australia: 61 (2) 8850-3333 or 61 (3) 9329 0244

Beijing: 86 (10) 6512-3435

Brazil: 11 3759 7600

Canada: 1-800-363-5853

Europe: +31-(0) 40 2675 600

Hong Kong: 852 2721-3228

Japan: 03-6714-3117

Korea: 82 2 539-6311

Singapore: +65-6799-5566

Taiwan: (886) 2-227-83199

USA: 1-800-283-5853

Visit our website for a complete list of phone numbers.

Safety Information

WWarningX
To avoid possible fire, electric shock or
personal injury:

The following IEC symbols are used either on the tester

or in the manual:

Warning: Risk of personal injury. See the

manual for details.
Caution: Risk of damage or destruction to
equipment or software. See the manual
for details.

Warning: Risk of electric shock.

Risk of damage to equipment from static

discharge.

Earth ground

CE; CSA; N10140

Before you use the tester, carefully read all of the

safety information and instructions in this manual.
Do not connect this equipment directly to a mains
electrical supply. This equipment conforms to the
safety measurement standard for equipment
without a rated measurement category.
Do not connect the tester to power sources. If the
VOLTAGE LED is on, immediately disconnect the
tester from the cable.
Do not use the tester to test cables that may have
hazardous voltages present. When the tester
indicates the presence of high AC or DC voltages,
carefully disconnect immediately to prevent any
personal injury. Be careful when you make
connections to cables.
Do not touch voltages > 30 V ac rms, 42 V ac peak,
or 60 V dc.
Do not connect the tester to voltages higher than
the maximum specified by the measurement
category (CAT) rating of the lowest-rated
individual component of the tester, the test leads,
or any accessory.
Do not use the tester around explosive gas or
vapor or in damp or wet environments.

Safety Information

Do not use the tester if it is damaged. Before you

use the tester, inspect the case. Look for cracks or
missing plastic. Pay particular attention to the
insulation surrounding the connector. If the tester
is damaged, remove the battery and make sure
that no one uses the tester.
Do not use the tester with the case opened.
Do not use the tester if it operates incorrectly.
Before you use the tester, make sure that the
supplied test leads are tightly attached to the BNC
connector.
Always handle the clip leads and the cables by
their insulation, never directly by the exposed
metal of the test clips. Use only the insulated clips
provided to connect to any wire or cable.
To prevent unreliable test results, use only the test
leads supplied with the tester or supplied by Fluke
Networks as accessories for the tester. See Table 4
on page 20.
Do not use test leads if they are damaged. Examine
the test leads for exposed metal and damage to
the insulation. Make sure the wear indicator on the
cords does not show. The wear indicator is white
for the two cords that come out of the test clips
and black for the single cord that comes out of the
Y-shaped splitter. Verify the continuity of the test
leads.

To prevent unreliable test results, replace the

battery as soon as LO bAtt shows on the display.
Before you remove the battery door, disconnect
the test leads from the tester.
Use only four AA batteries, correctly installed, to
supply power to the tester.
Do not use the tester without the battery door
installed.
If this product is used in a manner not specified by
the manufacturer, the protection provided by the
product may be impaired.

WCautionh
To prevent damage to the tester from static
discharge, keep the test leads connected to
the BNC connector at all times. Do not touch
the BNC connector with your hand.
Legal requirements may exist regarding
permission to connect equipment to a
Telecom network operated by a public
network operator.

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Physical Characteristics
See Figure 1.

A Power key, which turns the tester on and off.

B Four-digit LED display shows test results.
C The BT FILTER LED is on when the bridge tap filter
is on. The filter causes the tester to ignore the first
reflection so it can find a second bridge tap.

D The VOLTAGE LED is on when the tester detects DC

voltage, and flashes when the tester detects AC
voltage.

E Connector for the test leads (female BNC).

WCautionh
To prevent damage to the tester from static
discharge, keep the test leads connected to
the BNC connector at all times. Do not touch
the BNC connector with your hand.

F The BRIDGE TAP LED is on when the tester detects

a bridge tap. The four-digit LED display shows the
distance to the bridge tap or the length of the
bridge tap.

G The BT LENGTH LED is on when the four-digit LED

display shows the length of the bridge tap.

H The battery compartment is on the back of the

tester (the label on the battery cover shows
common values of VOP).

I Y Z: Up/down keys let you scroll through results

and configure the tester.

GOD01.EPS

Figure 1. Physical Characteristics

Test Leads and Accessories

Use only test leads approved by Fluke Networks for use
with the TS100 PRO tester. See Table 4 on page 20.
Other test leads may cause incorrect measurements.
For information on accessories, contact your local
Fluke Networks authorized distributor.

Operation

Operation
Installing Batteries

WWarningX
To avoid possible fire, electric shock or
personal injury:

To prevent unreliable test results, replace the

battery as soon as LO bAtt shows on the display.
Before you remove the battery door, disconnect
the test leads from the cable or circuit.
Use only four AA batteries, correctly installed, to
supply power to the tester.
Do not use the tester without the battery door
installed.
Use caution when handling batteries. Do not let
the terminals short together. Dispose of batteries
properly to ensure terminals cannot short. Disposal
may be restricted by local laws.
Note
To extend battery life, remove the batteries if
you will not use the tester for a long period.

To install the batteries:

See Figure 2.
1

Use a number 2 Phillips screwdriver to loosen the

screw on the battery door.

GOD02.eps

Figure 2. Installing the Batteries

Note
The screw does not come out of the battery
door.
2

Remove the battery door.

Install the batteries. Make sure the polarity is

correct, as shown at the bottom of the battery
compartment.

Install the battery door and tighten the screw.

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Turning on the Tester

Testing Cables

Turn the tester on by pressing the ON/AUTOTEST key.

The tester performs a self test each time it is turned on.
During the self test, the tester displays 8888.

WCaution
When testing telephone cables, connect
the tester only to non-working circuits. If
accidentally connected to a working XDSL
or T1 circuit, the tester can cause a service
outage.

Automatic Power-Down
To save battery power, the tester automatically turns
off after five minutes if it is not connected to anything,
or one hour after you connect to a cable. Also, if the
ON/AUTOTEST key is held down for more than 20
seconds, the tester turns off. This prevents battery drain
if an object accidentally presses the key.

To test a cable, attach the test lead clips to a pair of

wires at one end of the cable you are testing.
The tester shows the distance to the nearest fault it
finds. Table 1 describes the testers display and beeper
indications.
Note
Length measurements do not include the
length of the test leads.

Table 1. LED Display and Beeper Indications

Test Condition

Status LEDs That Are On

Display

Beeper

Incorrect test leads are attached

The display shows a nonzero measurement

Off

No test leads are attached

no tESt LEAd

Off

Test leads are open

Off

Cable is open*

Distance to the open

Off

Cable is shorted

Distance to the short

Continuous

Bridge tap detected

Bridge tap detected, and you
pressed Y

BRIDGE TAP

BT FILTER
(others can also be on)

Cable is too long to measure

Length of bridge tap

Off

Total length of the cable,

including the bridge tap

Off

Any of the length or

distance measurements
shown above

Off

9999

Off

BT LENGTH

Bridge tap detected, and you

pressed Y again
Bridge tap filter is on

Distance to the bridge tap Off

Operation
Table 1. LED Display and Beeper Indications (continued)
Test Condition

Status LEDs That Are On

DC load (light bulb, TV, etc.) is

detected

Display

Beeper

- Err

Off

AC voltage >4 V ac and <60 V ac is

detected

VOLTAGE

Alternates between the

AC voltage measurement
and AC

Off

DC voltage >6 V dc and < 60 V dc is

detected

VOLTAGE

Shows the DC voltage

measurement once, then
shows the TDR results

Off

Hazardous voltage or ringing

voltage is detected

VOLTAGE

Alternates between the

measured voltage and
HIAC or HIdC

Staggered if 90 V
ac or 100 V dc

(90 V ac, 20 Hz to 450 Hz;

100 V dc)
Low battery

LO alternates with bAtt 4 Off

(Battery voltage is < 4.5 V dc)

times, then the display

shows a measurement as
usual. This sequence
occurs every 2 minutes.

The self-test failed

8888

Off

The tester cannot measure the

cable because of excessive noise,
crosstalk, terminations, or
anomalies on the cable

- Err

Off

* An open can be the end of a pair, a break in a one wire, or separation between the wires in the pair. If one wire in the pair
separates from the other wire for more than 1 ft (30 cm), the tester indicates an open at the separation.

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

SmartTone Positive Identification System

The tester injects a tone onto the connected pair
concurrently with fault locating signals. This tone is
compatible with most tone probes. When you are
using a tone probe to identify a wire pair, the tone
volume from nearby wires may be indistinguishable
from the tone from the target pair. The SmartTone
Positive Identification System lets you positively
identify the wire pair. The tone has 5 frequency and
cadence options.
To use the SmartTone System:
1

Connect the tester to a wire pair; then turn on the

tester.

At the other end of the cable, use your tone probe

to find the wire pair by probing for the pair with
the loudest tone.

Short the wire pair together, then release the

short.

Tone probe

The tester injects a tone

into the pair

To change the tone,

momentairly put a short
on the pair
GOD03.EPS

If the tones do not change, then you have not

found the correct pair.
If the tones change, then you have found the
correct pair.
Note

The tone is not audible on the testers beeper.

Figure 3. SmartTone Positive Identification System

How to Select the Modes of Operation

How to Select the Modes of

Operation
The TS100 PRO has 3 modes of operation:

Normal mode

VOP mode: shows the VOP during a test

Setup mode: lets you configure the tester

Normal Mode
When you turn on the tester, it is in normal mode:

To exit the VOP mode:

Turn off the tester, then turn it on again.

Setup Mode
This mode lets you select units of feet or meters, and
set the VOP format.
To enter setup mode:
Turn off the tester, then hold down Y and Z for 3
seconds while you press and release the ON/AUTOTEST
key.

The display, LEDs, and beeper operate as described

in Table 1.

To select a parameter to change, press Y. To select a

setting for the parameter, press Z.

To turn the bridge tap filter (BT FILTER) on or off,

press Y.

The display shows the parameters and options in this

sequence:

Distance units: FEEt (feet) or MEt (meters) (the

default is feet).

In VOP mode you can quickly change and monitor the

VOP value that the tester uses. This mode is useful
when you change from one cable type to another, or
when you initially characterize a cable.

VOP format: 99 (the default is 66).

To enter the VOP mode:

To reset all parameters to factory default values:

Turn off the tester, then hold down Y or Z while you

press and release the ON/AUTOTEST key.

Turn off the tester, hold down Y and Z, turn on the

tester, then wait at least 10 seconds before you release
Y and Z.

VOP Mode

In VOP mode:

The display alternates between the measured

length and the VOP setting.

To change the VOP, press Z to increase, or Y to

decrease the VOP value shown. The VOP value
shows two digits or three digits. See VOP format
below.

The bridge tap detection, bridge tap filter, and

auto-shutoff features are disabled in this mode.

To exit the setup mode:

Turn off the tester, then turn it on again.

Turn off the tester, then turn it on again.

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Velocity of Propagation (VOP)

VOP is a cable specification that specifies the speed at
which a signal travels down the cable. A VOP of 66
means the signal travels at 66 % of the speed of light.
The tester uses VOP to calculate cable length. See
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Technology on
page 14 for details.
Here are some important points about VOP:

Different cables have different VOP values.

The testers default VOP setting of 66 is suitable for

most applications.

Using the VOP specified for a cable ensures the

most accuracy in fault location, length
measurements, and inventory management. Table
2 and Table 3 show VOP values for common cables.
Some common VOP values are also listed on the
testers battery door.

You can set the testers VOP to a known value (see

Setup Mode on page 9), or you can use the tester to
determine the VOP for a known length of cable.
To set the VOP to a known value:
1

Turn the tester on while holding down Y or Z. In

this mode, the display shows the VOP setting, then
it shows the calculated cable length if a cable is
connected.

When the VOP setting shows, press Y or Z to

change setting. The tester automatically saves the
setting.

To exit the VOP adjustment mode, turn off the

tester.

To determine the VOP of a known length of cable:

1

10

Connect a known length of cable to the tester. The

cable must be 200 feet (60 meters) or longer (such
as an unopened box of cable).

Turn the tester on while holding down Y or Z. In

this mode, the display alternately shows the VOP
setting and the measured length of the cable.

While the length measurement shows, press Y or

Z to adjust the length to the known length of the
cable.

To exit the VOP adjustment mode, turn off the

tester.
Notes
While the tester is in VOP adjustment mode,
tone is not injected into the cable.
The tester keeps the VOP setting in flash
memory when you change the batteries

Applications
See Figure 4.
The tester locates opens, short circuits, and crosses in
any two metallic conductors (twisted, untwisted, coax,
copper, aluminum, and steel). It also detects bridge taps
on copper twisted pairs and shows the location and
length of the tap.
If you have an optional, inductive probe (Not included.
See Figure 3), you can use the SmartTone feature to
identify multiple pairs. Because the tester beeps when
it detects a short circuit, it also serves as a circuit (for
example, continuity) tester.

Applications

GOD05.EPS

Figure 4. Testing for Lengths, Shorts, Opens, and Terminations

11

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Multi-Wire Environment

Inventory Management

When testing wires in a multi-wire environment, such

as 4 wire telephone cable, 8 wire CAT-5 cable, 12-2 with
ground ac wire, or several THHN wires inside a conduit,
a short could exist between any number of the
conductors, including a shield or the conduit. To detect
the short, you must connect the tester to the wires that
are shorted. This means that to fully test a multi-wire
cable, you must check every wire against every other
wire including the shields and conduits.

The tester is an inventory management tool. It

measures lengths of wire or cable still on the spools.

Although a quick way to test many conductors against

conduit or the 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 measurements
may fall below the testers range. It is more reliable to
test the wires individually.

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 avoid running out of cable in the middle of an
installation.

Conduit
When you test wire in a conduit. you can test a pair of
wires or a single wire.
Testing a Wire Pair in a Conduit
To test a wire pair, connect the two test leads to the
pair. If one wire separates from the other for 1 foot
(30 cm) or more, the tester indicates an open at the
separation. For example, if the wires separate after
exiting the conduit, the tester indicates an open at the
end of the conduit.
Testing a Single Wire in a Conduit
You can test a single wire by clipping one test lead to
the wire and the other to the conduit. The tester shows
the length up to a fault or to the point where the wire
separates from the conduit by at least 1 foot (30 cm).
For example, if there is a 2 foot (30 cm) service loop
outside the conduit, the tester shows the length up to
the service loop. This is true even if the two sections of
conduit are electrically connected.

12

The ability to measure the length of multi-conductor

cable remaining on its spool is valuable for both jobsite and warehouse personnel. With the TS100 PRO,
you can measure the length from just one end of a pair
of wires, allowing you to take inventory without
unspooling the cable, or even moving the spools.

There are two points to remember when measuring

the length of wire on a spool:

The wire length must be within the range of the

TS100 PRO (see Table 2).

The accuracy of the measurement will be optimum

if the VOP is set correctly for the type of wire being
measured. See Table 2 for a list of specifically
identified cables and Table 3 for a list of VOP
values for other cable types.

In the warehouse, you can 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.
Note
The TS100 PRO works on two conductors. You
cannot use the tester to measure singleconductor cable.

Applications
Table 2. VOP Values and Maximum Length for
Specifically Identified Cables

VOP

Maximum
Length

Table 2. VOP Values and Maximum Length for

Specifically Identified Cables (continued)

Cable

VOP

Maximum
Length

Cable

64

2000 ft
(610 m)

Lucent 1024 006ABE 6/24

W1000, 6 pair CAT3 (BlueWhite)

67

500 ft
(150 m)

Belden 88760 2 wire

shielded 18 AWG, RedBlack

63

1500 ft
(460 m)

BICC General Aerial

Service Wire (ASW) 2/22, 2
Pair Drop Wire

68

500 ft
(150 m)

Belden 88760 2 wire

shielded 18 AWG, Red/
Black-Shield

61

2000 ft
(610 m)

Superior Essex, 4 pair

CAT3 Plenum (not pair
dependent)

64

500 ft
(150 m)

Carol C1156 RG-174/U

57

60

1500 ft
(460 m)

BICC General, 24 AWG

CMX Outdoor CMR
Station Wire

500 ft
(150 m)

BICC General, E22025,

Red-Black

73

1000 ft
(300 m)

1000 ft
(300 m)

BICC General crossconnect 24 AWG twisted

pair on original spool

Channel Master Polyclad

Model 9354 300 Ohm
Foam Antenna Wire

71

2000 ft
(610 m)

66

2500 ft
(770 m)

Berk-Tek, CAT5 (OrangeWhite)

Triangle Wire and Cable,

type NM-B 12/2 W/G,
Black-Ground

67

68

2500 ft
(770 m)

Superior-Essex Cobra
CAT5 CMR (OrangeWhite)

2000 ft
(610 m)

Triangle Wire and Cable,

type NM-B 12/2W/G,
Black-White

72

2500 ft
(770 m)

Superior-Essex Cobra
CAT5 CMP (OrangeWhite)

82

1000 ft
(300 m)

CommScope 5726, RG6

CATV Coax

81

1000 ft
(300 m)

CommScope 2275V, RG6

CATV Coax

79

1000 ft
(300 m)

CommScope 5571, RG59,

TV Coax

58

13

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide
Table 3. VOP Values for Other Cables
VOP
78

14

Cable Type

Time Domain Reflectometry

(TDR) Technology

Belden Drop Foam

Note

82

CommScope Drop

87

CommScope Trunk

63

RG58/U 50 Ohm Network Coax

80

RG59 TV Coax

This section goes deeper into the theory of

operation. You can skip this section and still use
the tester effectively by reading the other parts
of this guide. However, it is worth reading this
section if you want more insight into how the
tester works.

64

Service Wire

83

Times Fiber Drop

87

Times Fiber Trunk

93

Trilogy Trunk

68

Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 19 AWG

64

Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 22 AWG

62

Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 24 AWG

60

Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 26 AWG

68

Twisted Pair, Paper 22 AWG

66

Twisted Pair, Paper 24 AWG

65

Twisted Pair, Paper 26 AWG

72

Twisted Pair, PIC 19 AWG

67

Twisted Pair, PIC 22 AWG

66

Twisted Pair, PIC 24 AWG

64

Twisted Pair, PIC 26 AWG

One of the keys to understanding how the TS100 PRO

works is to first understand that a pair of wires has a
fixed impedance as long as the wires of the pair are
kept in the same geometrical relationship to each
other. A pair of wires (either standalone or within a
multi-wire cable) is designed to have a constant wireto-wire impedance. If the physical relationship of the
wires in the pair is altered during the wire run, then
there will be a change in impedance at the point
where the physical relationship changes. For example,
if one or both wires of the pair are broken (open), or
they are shorted to each other, or they become
sufficiently separated from each other, their impedance
will change. The TS100 PRO looks for these changes in
impedance. If the impedance change is large enough,
(such as that caused by a break in one of the wires of
the pair), the TS100 PRO will detect the impedance
change and will display the length of the wire up to
the impedance change.
So, the TS100 PRO can measure the length of a pair of
un-terminated wires, because, the open circuit at the
far end causes a very large impedance change.

Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Technology

The TS100 PRO 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 pair of wires. Part of that pulse reflects off
any impedance variations in the pair of wires. 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 distance to the impedance changes and
the magnitude of the impedance changes.
For example, the start and end of a bridge tap cause a
negative and a positive reflection, as shown at the top
of Figure 5. The tester uses the time taken to receive
the first reflection to calculate the distance to the
bridge tap. Then it uses the time between the two
reflections to calculate the length of the bridge tap.
A connection causes a small, S-shaped reflection, as
shown at the bottom of Figure 5. The tester ignores
small reflections because they do not usually indicate a
problem on the cable.

If there is more than one problem on the cable, the

TS100 PRO shows only the first problem. If that
problem is a bridge tap, you can turn on the BT Filter to
ignore the first bridge tap and find a second bridge
tap. The TS100 PRO can always see past the bridge tap
to measure the cable length.
The actual result of the measurement is the time to the
fault. The software in the tester 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 and is called the Velocity of Propagation (VOP).
The actual formula used is as follows:
Length= Time in billionths of a second X VOP
2
0.9835
The time is divided by two because the signal traveled
the length of the cable twice. Once when it left the
tester and went to the failure point, and again when it
reflected back to the tester to be detected. The speed
of light expressed in billionths of a second per foot is
0.9835 (about a billion feet per second) (0.2998 [about
300 million meters per second]).

15

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Pulse from
the tester

Time

Bridge tap

Time

Pulse from
the tester

Reflections from the

beginning and end
of a bridge tap

Time

Connection

Open

Time

Reflection from
connection

Reflection
from open
GOD04.eps

Figure 5. TDR Waveforms

16

Frequently Asked Questions

VOP Variations
This characteristic speed of the signal for a particular
cable is not normally a tightly controlled part of the
cable manufacturing process and can vary widely from
one manufacturer to another as well as from one box
of cable to the next. As with all TDR-based cable
measurement tools, the TS100 PRO measures time
within specified tolerances, but the displayed length is
the result of a calculation with the user-selected VOP,
and is only as accurate as the selected VOP.
For most uses, a length reading with an incorrectly set
VOP is sufficiently accurate to locate the fault in the
cable. After all, an installed cable is hardly ever run in a
straight line. It can be stapled along the 2x4, laid
diagonally in the ceiling, and coiled behind the
junction box, all of which is not visible.
Also, common sense should prevail. For example, if the
tester reports an open at 80 feet (25 meters), and you
can see a junction box at about 70 feet (20 meters),
your first step should be to check at the junction box.
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 metal conduit
has a VOP of 82, while that same wire in a smaller
conduit filled with other wires has a VOP of 72.
Note

To set the VOP for more accurate length

measurements, see Velocity of Propagation (VOP) on
page 9. See Table 2 and Table 3 for the VOP values for
many cable types and conditions.

Maximum Length
The maximum length of cable that can correctly be
measured by the TS100 PRO is determined by several
factors. The most significant is the signal loss of the
cable itself. When the signal loss in a particular cable is
large enough, the tester cannot hear the TDR echo
and cannot determine the length of that cable. In this
situation, the tester displays -Err on the display. The
amount of signal loss in a cable is determined by the
characteristics of that cable and its length. The
maximum length shown in Table 2 is the length above
which the tester is not expected to be able to make a
valid measurement. For lengths above those stated in
Table 2, the testers accuracy is not specified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I calibrate or perform a self-test on the
tester?
A: There are no adjustments inside the tester, and the
internal coating protects the critical components from
moisture and contaminants. There is nothing to
calibrate. The tester does a self-test every time you turn
it on.To do a self-test, turn the tester off then on again.
The tester will not lose any settings because it saves
settings in flash memory. The tester displays 8888
during the self-test.
Q: Does it matter which clip lead I connect to which
wire in the cable under test?

The actual VOP of any particular cable is

dependent on the conductor spacing and the
material between the conductors and could
vary by as much as 5 feet (2 meters) from the
value listed in Table 2.

17

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide
A: Not for any of the testing functions. However, when
you connect the tester to a cable, if you connect the red
lead first, an invalid reading may be displayed until the
full connection is made with both leads. The testers
TDR technology requires both leads 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 injected tone, both leads are
required to make valid length measurements.
Q: What does the low battery indicator really indicate?
A: The display shows LO and bAtt when the battery
voltage falls below 4.5 VDC (see Table Figure 1),
indicating that you should replace the batteries.
Although the tester will continue to operate for at
least 1 hour below this voltage, some readings may be
less accurate.
Q: I tested an orange outdoor 25 foot (8 meter)
extension cord and the display read 19 feet (6 meters).
Is the tester 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 in the Velocity of Propagation section.
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 TS100 PRO 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 an
unshielded 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.

18

Q: Why, on some cables, does the number displayed

jump between 2 or 3 different values?
A: As the TDR signal travels down a cable, it loses 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
testers 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 Printed Circuit Board
(PCB).
However, if sufficient plastic is missing then a possible
shock hazard exists. You should not use the tester until
the plastic is repaired or replaced.
Q: Can this tester measure the length of single
conductor wires like THHN?
A: No. All TS100 PRO measurements must be made on
TWO conductors from the same end of a cable.
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 you accidentally
touch the input connectors. If a large surface area of
cable touches moist skin, some readings may be
affected.
Q: On multi-conductor cables with a short between
two of the conductors, I sometimes read an open at
twice the known length of the cable.

If Something Seems Wrong with the Tester

A: If the cable has more than two 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. The TS100 PRO can only correctly test the two
conductors that are connected to the tester. See
Applications on page 10 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 tester
like an open at the start of the cable. Remember that
TS100 PRO reports the first failure that it finds. Try
bringing the two wires of the pair closer together for
the section from the tester to the entrance of the
conduit.
Q: When connecting to a 6 foot (2 meter) piece of 50
Coax with the alligator clips, the tester reads 8 feet (3
meters). Whats up?
A: When measuring a low impedance small cable (less
than 15 feet [5 meters]), the clip leads can add up to 2
feet (1 meter) of length. For longer or high impedance
cables, the clip leads have no effect.

If Something Seems Wrong

with the Tester
The display remains at 8888 after power on.
The self test has failed. The batteries may be weak or
the tester has water inside. Try changing the batteries
or drying the tester.

The tester reads less than 10 feet (3 meters)

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
beeper. You can also visually check the center
connection of the BNC for damage.

The tester does not respond to any key presses.

The batteries could be dead or inserted incorrectly, or
the contacts are dirty or broken. Please ensure 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.

Q: How does the tester 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. This will usually cause the length reading to be
larger than that of the cable alone. A moderate power
speaker will add 500 feet (150 meters) to the length
reading. Some combinations of speakers and
transformers connected to the cable may prevent the
tester from making a valid reading.

19

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Maintenance

If the Tester Gets Wet

Moisture will not harm the tester. However, moisture
can provide a leakage path that may conduct
hazardous voltages to you.

WWarningX
To avoid possible fire, electric shock or
personal injury:

Do not open the case. You cannot repair or replace

parts in the case. If you open the case, you can
cause damage to the circuits in the tester.
Use only service centers that are approved by Fluke
Networks.
Before you do any maintenance procedure,
disconnect the test clips from the cable or circuit.
Do not use the tester if it is wet. Do not apply
heat to the tester to make it dry more quickly.
Batteries contain hazardous chemicals that can
explode or cause burns. If these chemicals touch
you, immediately clean the area with water and
get medical aid.

WCaution
To prevent damage to the tester caused by
battery leakage, remove the batteries if you
will not use the tester for a long period.
Note

If moisture gets inside the tester, let the tester dry at

normal room temperature for 24 hours.

How to Clean the Tester

To clean the display, use lens cleaner and a soft, lintfree cloth. To clean the case, use a soft cloth that is
moist with water or water and a weak soap. Do not
use petroleum-based or chlorinated cleaning agents.

WCaution
Do not use CRC Cable Clean or any similar
chlorinated solvent on the test set. Doing so
will damage the tester.

Accessories
Table 4 shows the accessories available for the TS100
PRO tester. For the latest list of accessories, visit the
Fluke Networks website.

Opening the housing will void the warranty.

Table 4. Accessories
Description

Fluke Networks
Model Number

Test leads, ABN with piercing-pin-clips

LEAD-ABNPP-TS-TDRS

Test leads with alligator clips

LEAD-ALIG-TS-TDRS

Test leads with angled bed of nails

LEAD-ABN-TS-TDRS

TS100 PRO pouch with belt clip

CASE-TS-TDRS

20

Specifications

Specifications
Power

4 AA alkaline batteries

Reverse Battery
Protection

No damage to the tester will occur if the batteries are installed backwards.

Battery Life

35 hours (typical)

Low Battery
Indication

LED display alternates between LO and bAtt when the battery voltage falls below 4.5 V.

Maximum Output
Voltage

4 Vpk

Maximum
Isolation Voltage

250 V rms

Voltage
Measurements

Range: 0 V ac to 115 V ac; 0 V dc to 150 V dc)

High Voltage
Detection

AC voltage detected to 115 V; DC voltage detected to 150 V.

Tone Injection

Approximately 1 kHz at an amplitude of 80 % of battery voltage. Variable frequency and

cadence. Tone characteristics change as cable condition changes to normal-open from any
other condition.

Impedance Range

35 to 330 with auto-compensation within this range. Cables with impedances outside
this range will not be properly tested and may produce erratic or incorrect readings.

Maximum Length

8000 feet (2438 meters) on certain cable types, 4000 feet (1220 meters) on most cable types,
and 500 feet (152 meters) on cables with high loss. The tester shows -Err if the cable is too
long to be correctly measured.

Representative
Maximum Cable
Length

8000 feet (2438 meters): CAT-3 Twisted Pair

8000 feet (2438 meters): CAT-5 Twisted Pair
6000 feet (1830 meters): 12/2 AC Wire
3000 feet (900 meters): RG-6/U TV Coax
1500 feet (457 meters): RG-174/U Coax

Accuracy: AC: 1 % or 1 V ac (45 Hz to 65 Hz); DC: 1% or 1 V dc

AC voltage 90 V or DC voltage 100 V causes high voltage warnings to show on the display

21

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder

Users Guide

Minimum Length

No minimum length. Minimum non-zero reading is 2 feet or1 meter

Length Accuracy

2 feet (0.6 m) for cables less than 10 feet (3 m)

5 feet (2 m) for cables longer than 10 feet (3 m) and shorter than 200 feet (60 m)
3 %,5 feet (2 m) for cables longer than 200 feet (60 m)

Distance to Bridge
Tap

0 feet to 3200 feet (975 meters)

Minimum Length
of Bridge Tap

10 % of the distance to the bridge tap, depending on the cable characteristics

Measurement
Rate

Maximum of 4 complete measurements per second, decreasing to 2 seconds per

measurement based on cable size and uniformity.

VOP

Adjustable from 20 to 99, saved in flash memory

Test Technology

Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) with 100 drive impedance, 6 V maximum pulse height

Cable Type

Virtually all two or more conductor cables

Temperature
Range

Operating: 32 F to 104 F (0 C to 40 C)

Humidity

Operating: 20 % to 80 % relative humidity

Storage: 32 F to 131 F (0 C to 55 C)
Storage: 0 % to 100 % relative humidity

Operating
Relative Humidity

80 % maximum at 86 F (30 C )
50 % maximum at 104 F (40 C )

Operating
Altitude

9843 ft max (3000 m max)

Resistance to
Moisture

If water gets into the tester it will not cause damage, but to prevent electrical shock and
inaccurate measurements, you must dry the tester before you use it. See Maintenance on
page 20.

Pollution Degree

Weight

1 lb (454 grams)

Dimensions

7.4 in x 2.7 in x 1.4 in (18.8 cm x 6.9 cm x 3.6 cm)

Safety

IEC 61010-1:2010; N10140

EMC: IEC/EN61326-1:2006

22

Specifications

Certifications and
Compliance

Conformit Europenne. Conforms to relevant European Union directives.

IEC/EN61010-1
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 1010.1-92 + CSA-C22.2 No. 1010.1B-97, UL/ANSI 3111-1
Conforms to relevant Australian standards
Notes
Patents 6160405, 6285195, 6323654, and 6509740.
Specifications subject to change without notice.

23