How to tell whether the ear clip electrode is working?
Recently my CYTON board is not working again. I suspect that my two ear clip electrodes are broken. I used the beep mode of the multimeter to test its head and ear clip end, and found that they are not connected. I don't know if this is the right way to measure its quality. If not, how can I tell whether it is good or bad?
Comments
If there is a break or intermittent in the cable or connector, that could cause a loss of conductivity (high resistance / infinite resistance). Usually such defects arise at the point in the cable with the most flexing, such as the connector. Also some users pull the electrodes off by yanking the wire, which can loosen the connector internal wire clamps.
All multimeters, DMM meters have both a resistance meter (ohmmeter) mode, and the 'continuity checker', beep mode. The ohmmeter is somewhat more accurate and gives you the exact ohms measured.
If the break is at the connector, you could try splicing in a new segment of wire + connector. These are easy to obtain, for example by cutting in half, jumper cables.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/266
You can probably find wire splicing tutorials on Youtube.
I'm not sure which earclips you have, dry or paste?
You can buy completely new dry earclips in the Shop.
https://shop.openbci.com/products/earclip-electrode
Check the metal surface inside the earclip, by opening the hinge and using a flashlight. The metal appearance should be grey, which is the silver chloride coating. This is the same coating on the Ultracortex scalp electrodes.
If you are using paste or gel earciips, those have a pair of cup electrodes with a hinge. Check the wire/clip continuity.