Breakout Board and Cable Maintenance Best Practices

For breakout boards and their cables, it's vital to complete visual inspections and functionality tests, as well as storing them carefully. While these products are covered by our limited lifetime warranty, following these tips you can extend the life of both your boards and harnesses.

Breakout Board

Inspection

• Check for broken or bent pins within the cue connections
• Check the board for any corrosion. This can appear as a powdery film and is caused by moisture
• Check the plastic of the cue connections for any cracks or chips
• Connect the breakout board to a module and check the continuity of each cue connection. If continuity is not showing, try a different cable. To learn how to check continuity, please see How to Check Connected Igniters for Continuity.

Storage

• Store in a dry, climate controlled location
• Clean off any debris or residue from your fireworks with a lightly dampened cloth
• Use compressed air in short bursts to blow any debris out from the cue connections
• Ensure unit is fully dry before storing to avoid corrosion

Harness

Inspection

• Check the cable for any kinks, breaks, or splits in the insulation. 

Tip:

Gentle bends in the harness are expected, but hard kinks that stay bent could indicate a break in the internal wire. Test these cables for continuity to confirm they're working.

• Inspect the ridged strain relief on each end of the harness where the plugs connect with the cable. Make sure they're not cracked or bending too easily
• Check the inside of the plugs to confirm there are no obstructions
• Connect to a breakout board with an igniter installed and complete a continuity check to ensure the harness is working.

Storage

• Store in a dry, climate controlled location
• Clean off any debris or residue from your fireworks with a lightly dampened cloth
• Use compressed air in short bursts to blow any debris out from the plugs
• Gently fold or wrap the cable and secure it with a cable tie to stop it from tangling with other cables. Try to avoid tightly wrapping the harness as this could damage the internal wire

Need more help? Contact us, we're always happy to assist!