calling for cleaver, cool, coax cable counting.....

Nike

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If you have 10 coaxial cables running in a bundle and you can't easily access the ends, is there a way to identify or pick up the signal/current running through them? I want to number my wires CAM#1, CAM#2 etc... I have the ability to power each camera independently, so how can I know which cable is live. There would be HD-CVI signals running through them to each camera.

Thanks for any advice!
 

Boydellis

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Pretty simple just use an ohm meter before you terminate the cable ends. Twist together any two wires then at the other end tone them out to find them
 

DavidR1

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Pretty simple just use an ohm meter before you terminate the cable ends. Twist together any two wires then at the other end tone them out to find them
The OP indicates that the cables are bundled, the ends are not readily accessible, and implies they are already terminated since there is mention of HD-CVI signals on them. If I'm understanding the question correctly, I believe it's: "How to identify a coaxial cable run somewhere along it's length so that the cables in the bundle can be labeled after the fact."

I don't personally know of a way to do this short of some type of vampire tap; the whole point of coax is to have something of a closed environment (if everything is terminated correctly, etc.) for the signal carried by the inner conductor. Without accessing that inner conductor at one of the ends, I don't think you'd be able to pick up anything elsewhere along the cable in the bundles without piercing the outer braid/foil. There are signal leakage detectors for finding problems in an installation but even those are unlikely to be of any use for something like this.
 

TonyR

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@Nike ,
I realize this thread is well over a month old, but here goes, as similar cable and conductor tracing questions arise from time to time:

I have one of these Fluke Pro3000 sets and for the last several years have used it a lot to trace "not live" 120VAC conductors, Telco wiring, doorbell wiring and CAT-5e cables. Although I have not used it to trace and identify bundled coax cables, I'd be VERY surprised if it did not work like a charm. Several amazon reviewers state that it will, as evidenced here.

I bought mine at Home Depot; if you are gentle with the packaging, I'd say try it and if you're not satisfied with it, return it for a refund. :rolleyes:

Fluke_Pro3000.jpg
 
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DsineR

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A little confused - if you can't access the ends of the cables, what the purpose of ID'ing each cable? Usually the cables are labeled at each end so you know where to land each cable. Not really concerned with the middle of the cable run unless there is some kind of junction.
 
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