Light Bulb method to test serial cable?

[RxMan]

How is this performed? What type of battery and light bulb is needed. Probably simple, but, I can't get bulb to light. :(

[BubbleLamp]

Get a battery and flashlight bulb. Just touch one of the wires to the bottom of the battery, hold the bulb on the top of the battery, and touch the side of the bulb to one section of the plug at a time. When it lights, you'll know you have the right section. DO NOT use a regular light bulb!

[BubbaJ]

get a <DON'T DO THIS> 100 watt bulb, rig it up <DON'T DO THIS> to one end of the cable, and rig <DON'T DO THIS> the other end into your eectrical outlet, when <DON'T DO THIS> the blub lights up and the wire melts, you kn<DON'T DO THIS> ow you have the right one.. :D

[Pointfreak!]

RXMan...all you are doing is making a circuit...or should I say seeing if you CAN make a circuit.

If you want the absolute, super-duper, poor mans way, go buy a Duracell 9-volt battery...the one with the tester on the package. Cut out the tester, and use it instead of a light bulb. If the bars show "good", you know you got it right!

Also remember there are only three wires in the mix, and one is the ground (bare wire). That means you only have TWO possible combinations to try! Just swap them and try again...