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CRICKET
POLARITY TEST SET
OWNERS
MANUAL
®
GALAXY AUDIO
MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL HOT SP T PERSONAL MONITORO
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Table of Contents
How the Cricket works......................1
Battery Installation.......................3
How to Set Units for Testing.............. 3
How to Test................................4
Cables...............................5
Amps, Mixers, etc....................5
Microphones..........................6
Speakers.............................7
What Does All This Mean?..................9
Polarity............................9
Continuity..........................10
Specifications...........................11
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I. How the Cricket works
A. Send unit:
1. OFF-ON: This switch turns the unit on and off.
2. LO-HI-SPKR:
a. LO: Produces balanced low level output
on the 1/4" balanced and XLR jacks
with pin #1 and sleeve ground, pin
#2 and tip positive, and pin #3
and ring negative.
b. HI: Produces balanced hi level output
on the 1/4" balanced and XLR jacks
with pin #1 and sleeve ground, pin
#2 and tip positive, and pin #3
and ring negative.
c: SPKR: Produces a positive acoustic
output from the internal speaker
which is disconnected when the
1/4" unbalanced jack is used.
This output will drive a speaker
directly with tip positive.
B. Receive unit:
1. OFF-BAT-ON: This switch turns the unit on and
off. With the switch in the BAT
position, the green LED lights if the
battery is good. Replace the battery
if the green LED does not light or is
very dim.
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2: MIC, 2-T, 3-R:
a: MIC: Connects the LED metering circuit to
the microphone located in the back of
the unit. If the mic receives a
positive pressure, the green LED
lights. If the mic receives a
negative signal, the red LED lights.
b: 2-T: Connects the LED metering circuit
to pin #2 of the XLR jack and the tip
of the 1/4" jack. If pin #2 or tip is
positive, the green LED lights. If it
is negative the red LED lights.
c: 3-R: Connects the LED metering circuit
to pin #3 of the XLR jack and the
ring of the 1/4" jack. If pin #3
or ring is positive, the green LED
lights. If it is negative the red
LED lights.
3: CON/POL:
a: CON: Allows the receive unit to be used
as a cable tester, offering specific
indications of fault conditions.
b: POL: Allows the receive unit to be used
strictly for polarity testing. A
particularly useful setting for
direct testing of most dynamic
microphones and certain transformer
balanced outputs and splits that
are not referenced to ground.
4. GAIN: This control is a sensitivity control
connected to the input of the metering
circuit.
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II. Battery Installation for both Send and Receive units
(Use only alkaline batteries)
1. Remove the single phillips head screw from the
battery door on the top of the case.
2. Lift up the door and remove it from the case.
3. Locate the battery terminal snap and attach a 9
volt alkaline battery to it.
4. Slide the battery into the clip mounted to the under
side of the battery door.
5. Reinstall the battery door to the case, making sure
no wires are pinched in the door.
6. Reinstall the single phillips head screw.
III. How to set units for testing.
A. Send unit.
1. LO-HI-SPKR: To test speaker polarity put the
selector switch in the "SPKR" position and use
the 1/4" jack marked "EXT SPKR". To test
balanced cable polarity/continuity set the
selector switch to the "LO" position and use
either of the jacks marked "BALANCED OUT". To
test an unbalanced cable for polarity/
continuity set the selector switch to the"HI"
position and use the appropriate "BALANCED OUT"
jack. The "HI" position may also be used for
tests that involve connecting to the input of
an amplifier where the "LO" position is first
proven to be too low a level signal to conduct
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the test and the polarity being checked is that
of a speaker connected to the amplifier output.
Never use the "HI" position for balanced
continuity tests, as continuity fault
indications are available only for unbalanced
conditions in this position.
B. Receive unit: When you first turn the unit on, and
after extended use, you should test the battery,
using the power switch "BAT" position. A weak
battery can cause erratic readings.
1. CON/POL: (located on rear panel) This switch
should generally remain in the "POL" position
for all tests other than cable tests. When
testing balanced or unbalanced cables use the
"CON" position. Never use the "POL" position
when testing cables, as the only fault
indication available in this position is for
reversal of polarity, which, alone, may not
indicate that a cable is, in fact, properly
terminated.
2. GAIN: ALWAYS start with the gain control
in the fully counterclockwise position,
bringing it up slowly until only one LED
lights.
IV. How to test
A. Self test: Set the send unit to "SPKR" position,
receive unit to "MIC" and "POL". Place the receive
unit directly (1" to 3") in front of the send
unit's speaker. The green LED should light on the
receive unit.
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B. Cables:
1. Balanced: Connect cable between send and
receive units using the balanced jacks. Put the
selector switch on the send unit in "LO"
position and the "CON/POL" switch on the
receive unit in the "CON" position. On the
receive unit a properly polarized cable will
light the green LED with the front panel switch
in the 2-T position and the red LED in the 3-R
position. Cable must be tested in both
positions.
2. Unbalanced: Connect the cable between the send
and receive units using the balanced jacks.
Put the selector switch on the send unit in
"HI" position and the "CON/POL" switch on the
receive unit in the "CON" position. With the
front panel switch in the 2-T position a
properly polarized cable will light the receive
unit's green LED. In the 3-R position no LED's
will light on the receive unit.
See Section V for more information on fault indications
C. Amplifiers, mixers, etc: (Polarity check through
device)
1. Set send unit to "LO" position. Set receive
unit "CON/POL"switch to "POL" position.
2. Connect send unit to the input of the device
you are testing, using a known good cable.
3. Set the receive unit to 2-T and connect it to
the output of the device you are testing, using
a known good cable.
4. A non-inverted signal will light the green LED.
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5. Test the 3-R position; a non-inverted signal
from a balanced output will light the red LED.
If the output you are testing is unbalanced, a
non-inverted signal will not light either LED
in the 3-R position.
D. Condenser microphones using phantom power:
1. Test the mixer and input and output cables.
(See B & C above)
2. Using a known good cable, connect the mic to
the mixer, make sure that the phantom power is
on, set the send unit to "SPKR" position and
hold it so that its' internal speaker is
directly in front of and 1/2" to 1" from the
microphone being tested.
3. Set the receive unit's "CON/POL" switch to "
"POL", its front panel selector to the 2-T
position, and connect it to the output of the
imixer using an appropriate, known good cable.
A non- inverted signal will light the green
LED.
4. Test the 3-R position; a non-inverted signal
from a balanced output will light the red LED.
If the output is unbalanced, a non-inverted
signal will not light either LED in the 3-R
position.
5. In a balanced system you need only test the mic
in one position, 2-T or 3-R.
E. Dynamic microphones and condenser microphones
using batteries:
1. Test a mic cable. (See B above)
2. Set the send unit to "SPKR" position and hold
it so that its' internal speaker is directly in
front of and 1/2" to 1" from the microphone
being tested.
3. Set the receive unit's "CON/POL" switch to
"POL", its front panel selector to the 2-T
position, and plug the microphone into the
appropriate balanced input. A non-inverted
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signal will light the green LED.
4. Test the 3-R position; a non-inverted signal
from a balanced output will light the red LED.
If the output is unbalanced, a non-inverted
signal will not light either LED in the 3-R
position.
5. In a balanced system you need only test the
mic in one position, 2-T or 3-R.
F. Wireless microphones:
1. Test a cable appropriate for connection to the
output of the wireless receiver. (See B above)
2. Set the send unit to "SPKR" position and hold
it so that its' internal speaker is directly in
front of and 1/2" to 1" from the microphone
being tested.
3. Set the receive unit's "CON/POL" switch to
"POL", its front panel selector to the 2-T
position, and plug the wireless receiver's
output into the appropriate balanced input. A
non-inverted signal will light the green LED.
4. Test the 3-R position; a non-inverted signal
from a balanced output will light the red LED.
If the output is unbalanced, a non-inverted
signal will not light either LED in the 3-R
position.
5. In a balanced system you need only test the
mic in one position, 2-T or 3-R.
G. Speakers:
1. Set the send unit to "SPKR" position.
2. Use a known good cable to connect from the send
unit's 1/4" unbalanced speaker jack to the
speaker you are testing.
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3. Set receive unit to "MIC", and the "CON/POL"
switch to "POL".
4. Hold the receive unit directly in front of the
speaker, 1/2" to 2" away.
5. A speaker that is in proper polarity (positive
signal moves cone away from magnet) will light
6. An out of polarity speaker will light the red
LED.
F. Testing the polarity of flown speakers, or
distributed system speakers in permanent
installations.
1. Test amplifier as in "C", above.
2. Turn down the system's amplifier and, using a
known good cable, connect the send unit's 1/4"
balanced output to the system amplifier's `
input. If the amplifier has a balanced input,
an intact, properly polarized three conductor
cable should be used. If the amplifier has an
unbalanced input, use a good two conductor
cable terminated with only #1 or sleeve and #2
or tip properly connected to three conductor
connectors.
3. Set the send unit to "Lo" and slowly turn up
the amplifier to a comfortable level. If enough
gain is not available, turn the amp down, set
the send unit to "Hi" and slowly turn up the
amp. If suitable gain is still not available,
turn down the amplifier and connect the send
unit's 1/4" unbalanced "EXT SPKR" output to the
amplifier's input. Turn the amplifier up to a
comfortable level.
4. Set the receive unit to "MIC" position and the
"CON/POL" switch to "POL" position. Point it,
on axis, towards the speaker you are testing,
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and turn up the receiver's gain until only one
LED lights. For rooms with high ceilings,
multi-transducer clusters, or highly
reverberant conditions, it may be necessary to
attach the receive unit to a piece of conduit
or broomstick to obtain proper proximity to the
source.
5. A speaker that is in proper polarity (positive
signal moves cone away from magnet) will light
the green LED.
6. An out of polarity speaker will light the red
LED.
V. What does all this mean?
A. Balanced device polarity:
1. An intact properly polarized device will light
the green LED in the 2-T position and the red
LED in the 3-R position.
2. If there is a dead short between any two
conductors, neither LED will light.
3. If #2/tip and #3/ring are reversed the red LED
will light in the 2-T position and the green
LED will light in the 3-R position.
4. Any other combinations of LED's lit, or the
presence of hum when the device is in use,
indicate opens or reversals that warrant visual
inspection, repair, and re-testing.
NOTE: Proper and reverse polarity of #2/tip and
#3/ring will be indicated whether #1/shield is intact
or not when tests are performed with the "CON/POL"
switch in the "POL" position.
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B. Balanced cable fault indications.
1. An intact properly polarized device will light
the green LED in the 2-T position and the red
LED in the 3-R position.
2. If #1 or sleeve is open or there is a dead
short between any two conductors, neither LED
will light.
3. If #2 or tip is open, no LED will light in the
2-T position and the red LED will light in the
3-R position if #1/sleeve and #3/ring are
intact and properly polarized.
4. If #3 or ring is open, the green LED will light
in the 2-T position and no LED will light in
the 3-R position if #1/sleeve and #2/tip are
intact and properly polarized.
5. If #1/sleeve and #2/tip are reversed and
#3/ring is intact, the red LED will light in the
2-T position. No LED's will light in the 3-R
position.
6. If #1/sleeve and #3/ring are reversed and
#2/tip is intact, the green LED will light in the
3-R position. No LED's will light in the 2-T
position.
7. If #2/tip and #3/ring are reversed and
#1/sleeve is intact, the red LED will light in
the 2-T position and the green LED will
light in the 3-R position.
C. Unbalanced device continuity and polarity:
1. In the 2-T position the green LED should light.
If the red LED lights, the circuit is reversing
the polarity. If neither LED lights then there
is either a short between #1/shield and #2/tip
or an open circuit.
2. In the 3-R position most unbalanced devices
ground these connections. Whatever the case, no
LED's should light in this position.
Quick reference charts are located on the bottom of the
Send and Receive units.
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CRICKET POLARITY TEST SET SPECIFICATIONS
CRICKET-S Pulse Generator:
PULSE WAVEFORM
Polarity: positive-going
BALANCED LINE OUTPUT PULSE: Switch selectable for hi or low
level balanced signal with
positive pressure produced at
tip of 1/4" jack and pin #2 of
XLR jack
SPEAKER OUTPUT PULSE: Accepts minimum 2 Ohm load with
positive pressure produced at tip of
1/4" speaker jack and positive
terminal of internal speaker
CASE DIMENSIONS: 3.33"W 1.75"H 5.25"L
WEIGHT (with battery): 11 oz.
BATTERY: 9 volt, alkaline only
CRICKET-R Pulse Detector
LED INDICATION
GREEN: indicates positive-going pulse polarity with
power switch in "ON" position and battery
status with power switch in "BAT" position
RED: indicates negative-going pulse polarity
DETECTION INPUTS: 1-1/4", balanced
1-XLR, balanced
MIC SENSITIVITY: -64dB, +/-3dB
FUNCTION SELECT: Polarity only or continuity
CASE DIMENSIONS: 3.33"W 1.75"H 5.25"L
WEIGHT (with battery): 10.5 oz.
BATTERY: 9 volt, alkaline only
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GALAXY AUDIO
MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL HOT SP T PERSONAL MONITORO
GALAXY AUDIO
601 E. Pawnee
Wichita, KS 67211
(316) 263-2852
(800) 369-7768
Fax: (316) 263-0642
www.galaxyaudio.com
Specifications subject to change without notice.
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