Designed by Rat Sound to deal with the "real world" of pro audio,
the Rat Sniffer cable tester is a amazingly simple and reliable tester with many unique features.
Testing snake lines and cables with the ends located at a distance from each other is now simple
and easy and you can do it without running extra cables just to test. The ability to test snake lines
using phantom power as a test source allows you to troubleshoot an entire snake system in minutes.
The simple 3 LED readout indicates every possible short, open or cross wire in XLR cables.
If the tester reads "green" the cable will work!
A key feature of the "patent pending" design is its ability to detect a short between pin 2 and 3 while
utilizing phantom power as the test source along with the ability to test for every other possible fault
that would cause the mic to lose signal. This means that when experiencing a "bad line", troubleshooting
complexity and time can be greatly reduced by using phantom power and the sniffer.
Many people are familiar with dealing with a bad line during line check or set change
"hey the house engineer says line 7 is down, try another mic, check one two, radio the engineer and ask if it
works, nope still bad, try swapping the mic cable, radio the engineer and see if it works and so on and so on.
The Rat Sniffer gives the stage tech the ability to trouble shoot without feedback from the console operator.
Instantly know whether it is the mic or the line. Have the engineer supply console phantom power to the bad line.
Plug in the sniffer where the mic was, "green lights" means the mic is bad,
any other combination means it is the cabling.
Plug the sniffer into the stage box, "green lights" means the snake line is good, mic cable is bad.
What normally would take 10, 15 precious minutes or more can be accomplished in a minute or so.
The Rat Sniffer is a simple, inexpensive, reliable, compact tool that can save valuable time with accurate results.

Checks mic line for phantom power

The simplest way to trouble shoot snake systems and long installed cables

Checks all potential faults and wiring problems in XLR lines

Can be used with or without the Send Unit

When used with any standard Phantom Power source,
 the Rat Sniffer indicates faults with the following indications:

Phantom present and all wiring is correct (green, green, green)

Pin 1 to 2 short (off, off, green)

Pin 1 to 3 short (green, green, off)

Pin 2 to 3 short (off, green, green)

Pin 1 & 2 reversed (red, red, green)

Pin 1 & 3 reversed (green, green, red)

Pin 1 no connection (off, off, off)

Pin 2 no connection (off, off, green)

Pin 3 no connection (green, green, off)

Pin 2 & 3 reversed (green, green, green) *Send unit required to detect fault*.

* Additionally when used with the "Send Unit" the Sniffer will indicate all of the above plus:

Pin 2 & 3 reversed (off, green, green)

This LED chart above is attached to the Sniffer with a protective clear heat shrink

The Send Unit - "Sender"

On/Off switch allows storing the Send and Receive units plugged into each other.

No battery drain if unit is left on while not plugged in.

Will not harm microphones or electronics if in inadvertently

 plugged into a cable with a Mic or console attached to the other end.

Powered by a 12 volt "car alarm" battery - included

Extremely long battery life. Months to years on a single battery!

Sniffer- 3/4" diameter X 2 7/8" in length
Sender- 3/4" diameter X 4 9/16" in length
Stored together- 6 15/16" in length