Resistance Between Tip and Sleeve of 1/4" phono plug?

[Blitz Krieg]

What is the typical resistance provided by that phenolic wafer between the signal and ground parts at the end of an instrument cable?  Seems to be lower than I would have expected.

[bluebunny]

"Enormous"?  Phenolic was PCB substrate.  Conductivity would be counter-productive.

[Phoenix]

Here's some data I found:
Switchcraft 2 conductor right-angle jacks:
Insulation Resistance: 50,000 Megaohms minimum (initial).

Switchcraft 2 conductor open frame jacks:
Insulation Resistance: Commercial Jacks - 10,000 M(omega) minimum (initial), 1,000 M(omega) minimum (after humidity). Military Jacks - 10,000 M(omega) minimum (initial), 1,000 M(omega) minimum (after humidity, durability exposure).

Like Marc B says, enormous.

[Blitz Krieg]

that is what I would have expected.  however the few measurements I made suggested ~2Meg resistance.  Maybe my meter was confused.  thought it would have registered as overload.

but it is interesting to see that the jacks are rated so much lower than the plugs.  down to 1Meg in humidity?  could have been a culprit for some of my measurements as well.

[Phoenix]

but it is interesting to see that the jacks are rated so much lower than the plugs.  down to 1Meg in humidity?

Note that data came from an American manufacturer, and as such they use the English-speaking worlds convention of using commas as thousands-seperator, and period for decimal point. I know this often causes confusion for Europeans dealing with British, American or other English-speaking sources. It may have been better represented as 1Giga-ohm minimum insulation resistance when exposed to humidity.
Remember, this is only a single sample, other name-brand manufacturers will have their own specifications, while grey-market examples (no-name) will not likely have any specification at all.

[anotherjim]

I don't suppose you're measuring with an insulation tester instead of an ordinary DMM? An insulation tester can put out 1000v and the insulation in the plug is only rated 500v.
I believe that Phenolic insulation can absorb moisture in warm/humid conditions. There was enormous trouble with that in my old industry - thousands of relay sockets had to be replaced.

[thermionix]

that is what I would have expected.  however the few measurements I made suggested ~2Meg resistance.  Maybe my meter was confused.  thought it would have registered as overload.

but it is interesting to see that the jacks are rated so much lower than the plugs.  down to 1Meg in humidity?  could have been a culprit for some of my measurements as well.

Were you touching the meter probes with your fingers?  Were you reading plugs alone or attached to a cable?

[Blitz Krieg]

fingers were probably interfering with some of those readings.  and they were done with the cable and without the cable. 

good to know what to expect.

thanks

[antonis]

fingers were probably interfering with some of those readings.

Nice to know your body's resistance...

[PRR]

Anything under many-Megs is surely bad. Wet insulation, soot, or fingers.

FWIW, my Heathkit meter used a modified guitar plug for the probe and routinely read to 100 Megs. (Your wimpy new meters can't approach that.)

MY skin resistance is 10K-100K. However I have known someone who was much higher. (He said "no shock", I said "lick your fingers", he said "YOWW!!".)