Triplett Fox & Hound 3 – PN: 3397 - Manual (Page 36)

36
It is not unusual for the loose turn-able part of a coaxial
connector to have poor electrical contact to the cable shield
until it is screwed on to its mating connector. Consider this
when making connection to a coax.
Because of the way that coax is constructed, it is not pos-
sible to find an open in the center conductor. It is possible to
find an open in the shield, if the shield is not shorted to the
center conductor or ground. Connect the center conductor
of the coax to earth ground. Connect the shield and center
conductor at the far end of the coax to earth ground. Con-
nect one clip of the FOX to an earth ground. Experimentally
connect the other clip of the FOX to the shield of the coax,
while listening to the tracer tone on this clip with a HOUND
3. If the level of the tracer tone drops significantly when the
clip is connected to the shield, the shield is probably
grounded and can’t be traced to the open.
If the level of the tracer tone doesn’t drop much, leave the
clip connected to shield. Using a HOUND 3, follow the path
of the coax by finding the strongest signal. An abrupt drop
in the tracer tone level will occur at the point of the open.
Keep in mind, however, if tracing unseen coaxes in the wall
or ceiling, that the coaxes may pass behind a metal object
(like a furnace duct) that prevents the HOUND 3 from pick-
ing up the tracer signal, or the coaxes may diverge from the
path of the receiver. Before assuming that the open has been
located, try finding the signal nearby or in an adjacent at-
tached wall or ceiling. Also keep in mind that it may not be
possible to find the open in all situations, because of the
number variables involved.