Newbie needs advice on making continuity LED box.

[Paul R.]

I currently have a LED box that I used to test continuity on a 28 pin circular connector. See attached photo. Pin 1 when probed (probe is attached to box) on the circular connector corresponds to LED 1, etc.

I would like to make a digital display version of this.

Any help appreciated on components needed, circuit examples, etc.

 

[HarryA1]

You could use an Arduino Mega 2560 as it has enough digital input/output pins for your 28 connections. Other micro-controllers may work but I only know the Arduino controllers.

Do you need more than a simple one line display?  "Yup pin 13 is okay"

 

[Paul R.]

Thank you.

The display just needs to display "1", "2", etc.

My colleague was interested in one that had 63 inputs or more.

He also mentioned a Raspberry Pi.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with either the Arduino or Raspberry Pi units.

 

[HarryA1]

If it interest you, I could program the micro-controller for you.  That would give you an introduction to micro-controllers. The micro-controller is about 21$, a LCD  about 13$, You would need a 9 volt battery, a battery connector, a battery to micro_controller connector, and a switch also.

An assortment of colored wire would be helpful. Plus a plastic or metal box to pack it all into.

If you are checking your cables near a computer you could uses the computer as a simple display device instead of the LCD.

LCD : https://www.amazon.com/SunFounder-Serial-Module-Arduino-Mega2560/dp/B01GPUMP9C/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=1335907194272933

Micro-controller: https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-ATmega2560-ATMEGA16U2-Arduino-Compliant/dp/B01H4ZDYCE/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1L06F0IP302BX&keywords=Arduino+R3+Mega2560&qid=1684882151

wire: https://www.amazon.com/TUOFENG-Hookup-Wires-6-Different-Colored/dp/B07TX6BX47/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=colored+wire+spool&link_code=qs&qid=1684885902&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-3

 

[Paul R.]

How much more would it cost for unit that has 63 or more inputs?

 

[HarryA1]

The Mega 2560 has 54 digital I/O pins plus 16 analog pins for a total of 70. You lose  2 pins for the display for either  the PC  display or LCD. You can have speech on the PC for free.

You may need a larger LCD for numerous pins. Mapping the Mega pin numbers to the cable pin numbers would have to be predetermined.  Some connectors use alpha characters (A - Z) I gather.