ELECTRICAL LOAD FOR ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER AND ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER INCLUDING SUCH ELECTRICAL LOAD

• US 20180113171A1
• Filed: 10/24/2017
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 11,054,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrical load assembly is provided for use by an electronic battery tester used to perform an electronic battery test on a storage battery. The electrical assembly comprises a load wire providing an electrical load resistance and a housing which at least partially encloses the load wire. An airflow passageway is provided in the housing adjacent the load wire. Electrical terminals connected to the load wire are configured to connect to the electronic battery tester.

Claims

1. An electrical load assembly for use by an electronic battery tester used to perform an electronic battery test on a storage battery, the electrical assembly comprising:

a load wire providing an electrical load resistance;

a housing which at least partially encloses the load wire;

an airflow passageway in the housing adjacent the load wire; and

electrical terminals connected to the load wire and configured to connect to the electronic battery tester.

2. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, including at least one temperature sensor.

3. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, wherein the load wire comprises nichrome wire.

4. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, including a printed circuit board for supporting components.

5. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, including a fan for providing airflow through the passageway through the airflow passageway.

6. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cover.

7. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, wherein the load wire is forming in a coil.

8. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is fabricated of a plastic.

9. The electrical load assembly of claim 1, including a thermo-insulator between the load wire and the housing.

10. The electrical load assembly of claim 9, wherein the thermo-insulator comprises mica paper.

11. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery comprising:

a first Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery;

a second Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery;

a forcing function configured to apply a time varying signal to the battery through the first and second Kelvin connections;

a load resistance RL provided by the electrical load assembly of claim 1 configured to couple across the first and second terminals of the battery and draw a relatively large current therethrough; and

a microprocessor configured to test the storage battery as a function of a dynamic parameter measured through the first and second Kelvin connections in response to applied time varying signal and as a function of a response of the storage battery to the relatively large current drawn through the load resistance.

12. The electronic battery tester of claim 11 wherein the dynamic parameter measured when the load resistance is coupled across the terminals of the battery is compared to the dynamic parameter measured prior to the load resistance being coupled across the battery.

13. The electronic battery tester of claim 11 wherein the battery test is a function of voltage measured while the load resistance is applied to the battery.

14. The electronic battery tester of claim 11 wherein the battery test is a function of a slope of the voltage measured while the load resistance is applied to the battery.

15. The electronic battery tester of claim 11 wherein the resistance load is connected externally to the tester.

16. The electronic battery tester of claim 15 wherein the resistive load is located within a Kelvin cable assembly.