Fuse saving tester for fused circuit
First Claim
1. A tester for testing an electrical system for excessive current flow, which system is powered by an electricity source and includes a fuse holder for a fuse having a predetermined rating, the tester comprising:
- a pair of contacts electrically coupleable across the fuse holder;
a switch coupled with the contacts and coupleable with the electricity source, the switch being momentarily closeable to pass a current pulse to the fuse holder;
a controller, coupled to the switch that controls the switch to momentarily close repeatedly;
a comparator that compares the magnitude of the current pulse with a prescribed reference current value; and
an indicator that produces a perceptible signal when the magnitude of the current pulse exceeds that of the prescribed reference current value.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one form, tester for an electrical system, such as for a vehicle, develops repetitively applied, short duration, control current pulses for reducing load current pulses through the electrical system. An operator connects a pair of input contacts across a fuse holder. A circuit between the input contacts is closed momentarily and repetitively to produce repetitive current pulses from the electricity source through the system. A perceptible alert is produced when the magnitude of the current pulse exceeds that of a prescribed reference current value. In another form, a tester for an electrical system is designed to plug into the fuse terminals in a fuse box. The tester can include a plurality of interchangeable circuit breaker modules to allow the tester to be used on circuits having differing current ratings.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A tester for testing an electrical system for excessive current flow, which system is powered by an electricity source and includes a fuse holder for a fuse having a predetermined rating, the tester comprising:
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a pair of contacts electrically coupleable across the fuse holder;
a switch coupled with the contacts and coupleable with the electricity source, the switch being momentarily closeable to pass a current pulse to the fuse holder;
a controller, coupled to the switch that controls the switch to momentarily close repeatedly;
a comparator that compares the magnitude of the current pulse with a prescribed reference current value; and
an indicator that produces a perceptible signal when the magnitude of the current pulse exceeds that of the prescribed reference current value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of testing an electrical system for current flow exceeding a prescribed value, which system is powered by an electricity source and includes a fuse holder for a fuse having a predetermined rating, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a pair of contacts across the fuse holder;
momentarily closing a circuit between the contacts to produce a current pulse from the electricity source through the electrical system;
comparing the magnitude of the current pulse with a prescribed reference current value; and
producing a perceptible signal when the magnitude of the current pulse exceeds that of the prescribed reference current signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A tester for testing an electrical system, which includes a fuse holder for a fuse having a predetermined current load rating, the device comprising:
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a pair of contacts electrically coupleable to the fuse holder;
a circuit breaker electrically coupled to the pair of contacts and having the same predetermined current load rating as the fuse; and
an indicator which produces a perceptible signal when an overcurrent situation exists in the circuit breaker. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A plurality of testers for testing an electrical system, which includes a fuse holder for a fuse having one of a plurality of predetermined load ratings, each tester comprising:
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a pair of contacts electrically coupleable to the fuse holder;
a circuit breaker electrically coupled to the pair of contacts, the circuit breaker having one of a plurality predetermined current load ratings; and
an indicator which produces a perceptible signal when an overcurrent situation exists in the circuit breaker. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of testing an electrical system, which system includes a fuse holder for a fuse having a predetermined rating, comprising:
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providing a plurality of testers respectively having circuit breakers respectively with predetermined current load ratings, selecting from the plurality of testers, a tester having a circuit breaker with a predetermined current load rating that matches the predetermined rating of the fuse for the fuse holder;
connecting the contacts of the selected tester across the fuse holder; and
providing a perceptible indication of an overcurrent situation through the circuit breaker.
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30. A tester for testing an electrical system, which system includes a fuse holder for a fuse having one of plurality of possible predetermined ratings, the tester comprising:
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an indicator unit including a first pair of contacts electrically coupleable to the fuse holder and a second pair of contacts electrically coupled to the first pair of contacts and an indicator coupled to the second pair contacts; and
a circuit breaking module having a third pair of contacts for removably coupling to the second pair of contacts, the circuit breaking module including a circuit breaker having a predetermined current load rating;
wherein the indicator produces a perceptible signal when an overcurrent situation exists in the circuit breaking module. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification