4 ms·

Is there a cheap, reliable tester that someone can recommend that will test multiple USB cable types (A, micro & C)?

by pogue 2mo ago

joshstrange 2mo ago
$45 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYJL5Z67 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYJL5Z67 This is the one I use and I quite like it. I've had it for a little over a year and a half. I used it to sort (or trash) all my cables and to test new incoming cables.
- Casteil 2mo ago
  I just got this one a few days ago so it's kinda weird I've seen it mentioned or posted about multiple times since. Guerrilla marketing? Anyway, it's definitely better than having nothing, and tests resistance as well. I tossed a couple low value/duplicate/high resistance cables because I've got too many just lying around causing clutter. Also helped 'confirm' my good (e.g. TB4+) cables that weren't labeled clearly are indeed good cables - granted, this is only as dependable as the marker chip the manufacturer added.
  - joshstrange 2mo ago
    > Guerrilla marketing? Nope, or if so my royalty/referral checks never showed up :) I bought mine back in March of last year and used it to "process" all my cables and was just a happy customer. I've been watching this space (cable testers) for years (on and off) and wasn't interested in the "raw circuit board with led"-versions so once a nicer version came out at a price point I found tolerable I got one. It's nice to have all my cables organized now (h/t to Akro mills bins, those are a dangerous rabbit hole) and now instead of just buying a new cable [0] when I need one I can go grab one that matches the specs I need. [0] Call it wasteful, call it lazy, but when faced with "I have a cable that fits the hole and is the right length but I don't know what it's capabilities are" I would often just buy a new cable with the specs I needed/wanted rather than using an "unknown" cable.
- greenavocado 2mo ago
  If you just want to know what wires sets you have in your USB cables you can get the Gikfun "USB Cable Tester - Fast Check for Type-C/Lightning/RJ45 | Tests Charging Data Transfer | Continuity Check Quick Cable Sorting" It's only $14. It even offers test pads you can use to test the cable with a much more expensive multimeter.
deleted 2mo ago
[deleted]
exmadscientist 2mo ago
I'm not so sure about cheap. All the cheap ones I've tried have been pretty flaky, and ended up in the junk bin. I picked up this guy for work: https://bit-trade-one.co.jp/en/adusbcim/ https://bit-trade-one.co.jp/en/adusbcim/ and it's been pretty good. That was a while ago though, and some of the cheaper ones might have caught up.
- pogue 2mo ago
  Only $30, but with tariffs and shipping I assume it adds up.

Is there a cheap, reliable tester that someone can recommend that will test multiple USB cable types (A, micro & C)?

by pogue 2mo ago

Is there a cheap, reliable tester that someone can recommend that will test multiple USB cable types (A, micro & C)?

$45 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYJL5Z67 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYJL5Z67 This is the one I use and I quite like it. I've had it for a little over a year and a half. I used it to sort (or trash) all my cables and to test new incoming cables.

Casteil 2mo ago
I just got this one a few days ago so it's kinda weird I've seen it mentioned or posted about multiple times since. Guerrilla marketing? Anyway, it's definitely better than having nothing, and tests resistance as well. I tossed a couple low value/duplicate/high resistance cables because I've got too many just lying around causing clutter. Also helped 'confirm' my good (e.g. TB4+) cables that weren't labeled clearly are indeed good cables - granted, this is only as dependable as the marker chip the manufacturer added.
- joshstrange 2mo ago
  > Guerrilla marketing? Nope, or if so my royalty/referral checks never showed up :) I bought mine back in March of last year and used it to "process" all my cables and was just a happy customer. I've been watching this space (cable testers) for years (on and off) and wasn't interested in the "raw circuit board with led"-versions so once a nicer version came out at a price point I found tolerable I got one. It's nice to have all my cables organized now (h/t to Akro mills bins, those are a dangerous rabbit hole) and now instead of just buying a new cable [0] when I need one I can go grab one that matches the specs I need. [0] Call it wasteful, call it lazy, but when faced with "I have a cable that fits the hole and is the right length but I don't know what it's capabilities are" I would often just buy a new cable with the specs I needed/wanted rather than using an "unknown" cable.
greenavocado 2mo ago
If you just want to know what wires sets you have in your USB cables you can get the Gikfun "USB Cable Tester - Fast Check for Type-C/Lightning/RJ45 | Tests Charging Data Transfer | Continuity Check Quick Cable Sorting" It's only $14. It even offers test pads you can use to test the cable with a much more expensive multimeter.

deleted 2mo ago

[deleted]

exmadscientist 2mo ago

I'm not so sure about cheap. All the cheap ones I've tried have been pretty flaky, and ended up in the junk bin. I picked up this guy for work: https://bit-trade-one.co.jp/en/adusbcim/ https://bit-trade-one.co.jp/en/adusbcim/ and it's been pretty good. That was a while ago though, and some of the cheaper ones might have caught up.

pogue 2mo ago
Only $30, but with tariffs and shipping I assume it adds up.