Keysight Technologies 85131E, Operating And Service Manual

85131E/F/H

3-7

Use, Maintenance, and Care of the Cables

Gaging Connectors

Gaging Connectors

The gages available from Agilent Technologies are intended for preventive maintenance 
and troubleshooting purposes only. (See 

Table 4-1 on page 4-4

 for part number 

information.) They are effective in detecting excessive center conductor protrusion or 
recession, and conductor damage on test cables and other accessories, DUTs, and 
calibration kit devices.

Do not use the gages for precise pin depth measurements.

Connector Gage Accuracy

The connector gages are only capable of performing coarse measurements. They do not 
provide the degree of accuracy necessary to precisely measure the pin depth of the cable 
connectors. This is partially due to the repeatability uncertainties that are associated with 
the measurement. Only the factory—through special gaging processes and electrical 
testing— can accurately verify the mechanical characteristics of the cable connectors. 

With proper technique, however, the gages are useful in detecting gross pin depth errors on 
cable connectors. To achieve maximum accuracy, random errors must be reduced by taking 
the average of at least three measurements having different gage orientations on the 
connector. Even the resultant average can be in error by as much as 

±

 0.0001 inch due to 

systematic (biasing) errors usually resulting from worn gages and gage masters. The 
information in Table 2-3 on page 2-4 assumes new gages and gage masters. As your gages 
undergo more use, their systematic errors can become more significant in the accuracy of 
the measurement.

NOTE

When measuring pin depth, the measured value (resultant average of three 
or more measurements) contains measurement uncertainty and is not 
necessarily the true value. Always compare the measured value with the 
observed pin depth limits (which account for measurement uncertainties) in 

Table 2 on page 2-4

 to evaluate the condition of cable connectors.

When to Gage Connectors 

Gage a connector at the following times:

• Prior to using a cable for the first time: record the pin depth measurement so that it can 

be compared with future readings. (It will serve as a good troubleshooting tool when you 
suspect damage may have occurred to the cable connector.)

• If either visual inspection or electrical performance suggests that the connector 

interface may be out of typical range (due to wear or damage, for example).

• If a cable is used by someone else or on another system or piece of equipment.

• Initially after every 100 connections, and after that as often as experience indicates.