AFCI circuit test module

• US 20060103390A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David F. Groene, Michael Lee Simmons
• Original Assignee: David F. Groene, Michael Lee Simmons
• Inventors: Simmons, Michael Lee, Groene, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,091,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/508
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3277 of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches

Abstract

An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) module includes a plug portion, a probe receiving portion and an AFCI test actuator for initiating a test of an AFCI protected circuit. More specifically, the plug portion includes a plurality of prongs configured to matingly engage with a standard three-prong receptacle. With this construction, upon engaging the plug portion with a AFCI protected receptacle, manipulation of the AFCI test actuator will cause a properly operating AFCI device to trip, i.e., terminate power to the AFCI protected receptacle. The module can also be provided with an AFCI circuit. The module can then be employed to protect an electrical device that is plugged into an unprotected circuit. The probe receiving portion is adapted to interconnect and expand the testing capabilities of a standard receptacle tester or, alternatively, be interconnected with various test probes associated with standard voltage testers.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit testing device comprising:

a primary circuit tester including a main housing having a first end including a plurality of electrodes and a second end having a display member, wherein said plurality of electrodes are adapted to matingly engage with a standard household receptacle with said display member providing information relating to parameters associated with the standard household receptacle; and

an AFCI circuit test module including a main body portion, a plug portion having a plurality of prongs adapted to matingly engage with a standard three-prong receptacle, a probe receiving portion including a plurality of openings formed in the main body portion for receiving and electrically interconnecting the plurality of electrodes of the primary circuit tester with the plug portion of the AFCI circuit test module, an AFCI test circuit for testing AFCI protected circuits, an AFCI circuit provided in the main body portion for providing arc fault protection to an unprotected electrical circuit, and an AFCI test actuator provided on the main body portion for initiating a test of an AFCI protected circuit wherein, upon engaging the plug portion with an AFCI protected receptacle, activation of the AFCI test actuator tests the operation of the AFCI protected circuit through the AFCI test circuit.

2. The electrical circuit testing device according to claim 1, wherein the primary circuit tester includes a GFCI test circuit for testing an operational capacity of a GFCI protected circuit.

3. The electrical circuit testing device according to claim 1, wherein the primary circuit tester is a receptacle tester.

4. The electrical circuit testing device according to claim 1, wherein the primary circuit tester is a solenoid-type voltage tester.

5. An AFCI circuit test module comprising:

a main body portion;

a plug portion having a plurality of prongs adapted to matingly engage with a standard three-prong receptacle;

a probe receiving portion including a plurality of openings formed in the main body portion, said openings being adapted to receive and electrically interconnect a circuit tester with the plug portion;

an AFCI test circuit for testing AFCI protected circuits; and

an AFCI test actuator provided on the main body portion for initiating a test of an AFCI protected circuit wherein, upon engaging the plug end with an AFCI protected receptacle, activation of the AFCI test actuator tests the operation of the AFCI protected receptacle through the AFCI test circuit.

6. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 5, further comprising:

a GFCI test actuator provided on the main body portion, said GFCI test actuator being used in testing an operational capacity of a GFCI protected circuit.

7. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 5, wherein the probe receiving portion includes three openings formed in the main body portion, said three openings being adapted to receive a plurality of electrodes arranged in a standard three-prong receptacle configuration to electrically interconnect the plurality of electrodes with the plug portion of the AFCI circuit tester.

8. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 7, further comprising:

a circuit testing device, said probe receiving portion being adapted to receive and electrically interconnect with the circuit testing device.

9. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 8, wherein the circuit testing device is a receptacle tester.

10. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 8, wherein the circuit testing device is a solenoid voltage tester.

11. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 5, wherein the main body portion includes an electrical cable that separates and electrically interconnects the plug portion with the probe receiving portion.

12. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 11, wherein the AFCI test actuator is positioned at the plug portion.

13. An AFCI circuit test module comprising:

a main body portion;

plug means provided on the main body portion for engaging with a standard three-prong receptacle;

probe receiving means formed in the main body portion for receiving and electrically interconnecting a circuit tester with the plug means; and

an AFCI test means carried by the main body portion for initiating a test of an AFCI protected circuit, wherein upon engaging the plug means with an AFCI protected receptacle, activation of the AFCI test means tests the operational capacity of the AFCI protected receptacle.

14. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 13, further comprising:

a GFCI test means carried by the main body portion, said GFCI test means being used in testing an operational capacity of a GFCI protected circuit.

15. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 13, wherein the probe receiving means is constituted by three openings formed in the main body portion, said three openings being adapted to receive a plurality of electrodes arranged in a standard three-prong receptacle configuration to electrically interconnect the plurality of electrodes with the plug means of the AFCI circuit tester.

16. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 15, further comprising:

a circuit testing device, said probe receiving means receiving and electrically interconnecting with the circuit testing device.

17. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 16, wherein the circuit testing device is a receptacle tester.

18. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 16, wherein the circuit testing device is a solenoid voltage tester.

19. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 13, wherein the main body portion includes an electrical cable separating and electrically interconnecting the plug means and the probe receiving means.

20. The AFCI circuit test module according to claim 19, wherein the FCI test means is positioned at the plug means.

21. An AFCI circuit module comprising:

a main body portion;

a plug portion having a plurality of prongs adapted to matingly engage with a standard three-prong receptacle;

a probe receiving portion including a plurality of openings formed in the main body portion for receiving and electrically interconnecting an electrical device; and

an AFCI circuit provided in the main body portion, said AFCI circuit providing ARC fault protection to an electrical device when plugged into an unprotected circuit.

22. The AFCI circuit module according to claim 21, further comprising:

a GFCI test actuator provided on the main body portion, said GFCI test actuator being used in testing an operational capacity of a GFCI protected circuit.

23. The AFCI circuit module according to claim 21, wherein the probe receiving portion includes three openings formed in the main body portion, said three openings being adapted to receive a plurality of electrodes arranged in a standard three-prong receptacle configuration.