Breakout boxes are used for a variety of
interface and
electronic troubleshooting. Generally a
cable containing the
signal to be tested is plugged into the breakout box, and the breakout box is plugged into the
socket the cable was plugged into. Typically there is a
test point on the breakout box for each wire in the cable under test. Various pieces of test equipment such as
multimeters or
oscilliscopes can then be connected to the breakout box via the test points to observe signals and
voltages in the cable being tested.
Modern breakout boxes often have
LED's or other indicators and displays, often with sophisticated microprocessor support, to allow for troubleshooting without the need for external test equipment. Some modern breakout boxes can also be connected to a computer, using it for
display or
analysis.