Body Wires
The body wire is the part of the system of
wires connecting weapon to electric judging
apparatus (“the box”) for which
the individual fencer is responsible. It is
a simple piece of kit which suffers a good deal
of wear through frequent connection and disconnection.
Here are some hints to help reduce the irritating
delays on the piste caused by body wire failure.
-
If the box indicates
a broken circuit in foil or sabre, by a
continuous white light, or a failure in
epee to complete a circuit, disconnect the
body wire from the weapon and test by completing
the appropriate connection, using the weapon
guard foil and sabre - with the continental
2-pin plug this is quite obvious; with the
Leon Paul bayonet plug it is a little trickier
- the central screw head and the crossbar
of the plug must be brought into contact
with the guard (or any other convenient
way of connecting the two points electrically).
If the body wire is sound then it should
be possible to silence the box in this way,
indicating a fault in the weapon. Failure
to do so indicates a fault in the body wire
epee - by similar means the epee body wire
can be tested by using the edge of the guard
to make a connection between the A and B
pins of the plug (the two that are closer
together). This should cause the box to
indicate a hit; if it does not the body
wire is faulty. Make sure the c pin of the
plug does not make contact anywhere. There
are two places where a body wire fault can
occur - in the wire, i.e., a break inside
the insulation, or within either plug or,
in the case of foil and sabre, at the crocodile
clips on the A wire.
-
If you have the simple
weapon text box with two lights and sockets
for a 3-pin plug you can use it to find
out which line is faulty. Foil/sabre –
the B-C circuit is completed as described
above and the appropriate lights should
show the completion of a circuit. If it
does not, test the A-B circuit by touching
the crocodile clip to the B pin of the weapon-end
plug (the central screw of the Leon Paul
plug and the thicker pin of a 2-pin plug).
If a light is obtained then the B wire is
sound and the fault is in the C wire. Provided
the A-wire is sound, absence of a light
in this test indicates a fault in the B
line. Test the A wire by touching the A
pin to the B socket of the test box and
the crocodile clip to either of the other
sockets. A light shows the A line to be
sound.<br>
Epee - with the body wire plugged in, short
across the pins at the other end. A light,
or not, in each case will show if the A-B
and B-C circuits are sound. If nothing shows
test the B line by touching the B pin of
one end of the wire to the B socket of the
tester and the B pin of the other end of
the body wire to either of the other sockets.
Absence of a light indicates a fault in
the B wire.
This testing process works on the basis that
the battery in the tester is connected at one
pole to the B socket only, and at the other
pole, via the indicator lights to the A and
C sockets. Consider this in conjunction with
the item on the principles of the 3-wire system
for the judging apparatus.
Information given on this
site is correct to the best of our knowledge
and presented in good faith. It is, however,
your responsibility to ensure any fencing activities
you are involved in are safe. Stormont Fencing
Club, or its members or servants, can accept
no liability for any injury, damage or loss
however caused based on information within this
web site.
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Body Wire for Epee
(Leon Paul)
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