Microprocessor-based hand-held electrical-testing system and method
First Claim
1. A method of measuring voltage drops in an electrical system, the method comprising:
- connecting a plurality of load leads to a charging component of the electrical system, said plurality of load leads including a positive load lead and a negative load lead, each of said plurality of load leads being coupled to a testing device, connecting a plurality of voltage leads to a battery of the electrical system, said plurality of voltage leads including a positive voltage lead and a negative voltage lead, said plurality of voltage leads being coupled to said testing device;
applying a load of known resistance to the electrical system by the testing device;
measuring a voltage at the load;
measuring a first voltage drop between the positive load lead and the positive voltage lead; and
measuring a second voltage drop between the negative load lead and the negative voltage lead, wherein measurements of the first and second voltage drops are based, at least in part, on the voltage at the load.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for testing voltage drops in positive and negative legs of an electrical system and for determining maximal current capacity of the electrical system based on the measured voltage drops. This is accomplished by connecting load leads of a testing unit at a starter or alternator of the electrical system, and connecting voltage leads of the testing unit at a battery of the electrical system. A load of known resistance is applied and a voltage at the load is measured. Voltage drops at the positive and negative legs of the electrical system are determined, based at least in part on the voltage at the load. A maximum current capacity of the electrical system is calculated based on the determined voltage drops.
83 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of measuring voltage drops in an electrical system, the method comprising:
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connecting a plurality of load leads to a charging component of the electrical system, said plurality of load leads including a positive load lead and a negative load lead, each of said plurality of load leads being coupled to a testing device, connecting a plurality of voltage leads to a battery of the electrical system, said plurality of voltage leads including a positive voltage lead and a negative voltage lead, said plurality of voltage leads being coupled to said testing device;
applying a load of known resistance to the electrical system by the testing device;
measuring a voltage at the load;
measuring a first voltage drop between the positive load lead and the positive voltage lead; and
measuring a second voltage drop between the negative load lead and the negative voltage lead, wherein measurements of the first and second voltage drops are based, at least in part, on the voltage at the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of measuring voltage drops in positive and negative legs of starting components of an electrical system, the method comprising:
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connecting a plurality of load leads to a starting component of the electrical system, the plurality of load leads including a positive load lead and a negative load lead, the plurality of load leads being coupled to a testing device;
connecting a plurality of voltage leads to a battery of the electrical system, the plurality of voltage leads including a positive voltage lead and a negative voltage lead, the plurality of voltage leads coupled to the testing device;
applying a load of known resistance to the electrical system by the testing device;
measuring a voltage at the load;
measuring a first voltage drop between the positive load lead and the positive voltage lead; and
measuring a second voltage drop between the negative load lead and the negative voltage lead, wherein measurements of said first and second voltage drops are based, at least in part, on the voltage at the load. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of testing a magnetic switch circuit in an electrical system, the magnetic switch circuit coupled to a starter component, the method comprising
disconnecting the magnetic switch circuit from an “ - S”
terminal of the starter component;
connecting a first positive lead of a plurality of load leads to the “
S”
terminal, the plurality of load leads being coupled to a testing device;
connecting to ground a first negative lead of the plurality of load leads;
connecting to a second terminal of the starter component a second positive lead of a plurality of voltage leads, the plurality of voltage leads coupled to the testing device;
connecting to ground a second negative lead from the plurality of voltage leads;
energizing the magnetic switch circuit;
calculating, within the testing device, a first voltage drop between the first positive lead and the first negative lead and calculating a second voltage drop between the second positive lead and the second negative lead; and
providing an indication of results obtained, the indication being based, at least in part, on the first and second voltage drops. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for testing and measuring voltage drops in a positive and a negative leg of an electrical system, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of load leads adapted to connect to a charging component of the electrical system, the plurality of load leads including a positive load lead and a negative load lead;
a plurality of voltage leads adapted to connect to a battery of the electrical system, the plurality of voltage leads including a positive voltage lead and a negative voltage lead;
means for applying a load of known resistance to the electrical system;
means for measuring a voltage at the load; and
means for measuring a first voltage drop between the positive load lead and the positive voltage lead and a second voltage drop between the negative load lead and the negative voltage lead, wherein measurements of said first and second voltage drops are based, at least in part, on the voltage at the load. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for measuring voltage drops in positive and negative legs of an electrical system, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of load leads adapted to connect to a starting component of the electrical system, the plurality of load leads including a positive load lead and a negative load lead;
a plurality of voltage leads for connecting to a battery of the electrical system, the plurality of voltage leads including a positive voltage lead and a negative voltage lead;
means for applying a load of known resistance to the electrical system;
means for measuring a voltage at the load; and
means for measuring a first voltage drop between the positive load lead and the positive voltage lead and a second voltage drop between the negative load lead and the negative voltage lead, wherein measurements of said first and second voltage drops are based, at least in part, on the voltage at the load. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An apparatus for testing a magnetic switch circuit in an electrical system, the magnetic switch coupled to a starter component, the apparatus comprising:
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means for disconnecting the magnetic switch circuit from an “
S”
terminal of the starter component;
a first positive lead of a plurality of load leads adapted to connect to the “
S”
terminal, the plurality of load leads coupled to the apparatus;
a first negative lead of the plurality of load leads adapted to connect to ground;
a second positive lead from a plurality of voltage leads adapted to connect to a second terminal of the starter component, the plurality of voltage leads coupled to the apparatus;
a second negative lead from the plurality of voltage leads adapted to connect to ground;
means for energizing the magnetic switch circuit;
means for calculating a first voltage drop between the first positive lead and the first negative lead and calculating a second voltage drop between the second positive lead and the second negative lead; and
a first indicator, for providing a first indication of results obtained, said first indication being based, at least in part, on the first and second voltage drops. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification