Microprocessor-based hand-held battery tester system
First Claim
1. A method of testing a lead-acid battery comprisingmeasuring the beginning voltage across the terminals of the battery in the absence of a load, connecting the battery to a first load, measuring the AC ripple in the output current drawn from the battery by the first load, and computing an estimated CCA of the battery using said beginning voltage and AC ripple, connecting the battery to a second load that draws more current from the battery than said first load and measuring the loaded voltage of the battery, and evaluating the condition of the battery at least in part on the basis of said beginning voltage, said loaded voltage and said estimated CCA.
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Abstract
A system for determining the operating characteristics of an energy source. The system comprises a controller for generating and shaping a time-varying voltage signal for application to the energy source; a converter for receiving from the energy source a time-varying return voltage signal and for converting the tire-varying return voltage signal into a digital signal. The amplitude of the time-varying return signal contains information representative of the operating characteristics of the energy source. The time-varying return voltage signal is produced in response to the time-varying voltage signal. The controller is responsive to the digital signal and determines the operating characteristics of the energy source. The controller generates display signals, and the display signals are representative of the operating characteristics of the energy source. The system also includes a display for displaying the display signals.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of testing a lead-acid battery comprising
measuring the beginning voltage across the terminals of the battery in the absence of a load, connecting the battery to a first load, measuring the AC ripple in the output current drawn from the battery by the first load, and computing an estimated CCA of the battery using said beginning voltage and AC ripple, connecting the battery to a second load that draws more current from the battery than said first load and measuring the loaded voltage of the battery, and evaluating the condition of the battery at least in part on the basis of said beginning voltage, said loaded voltage and said estimated CCA.
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16. A hand-held battery tester for testing a lead-acid battery comprising
means for measuring the beginning voltage across the terminals of the battery in the absence of a load, means for connecting the battery to a first load, means for measuring the AC ripple in the output current drawn from the battery by the first load, means for computing an estimated CCA of the battery using said beginning voltage and AC ripple, means for connecting the battery to a second load that draws more current from the battery than said first load, means for measuring the loaded voltage of the battery, and means for evaluating the condition of the battery at least in part on the basis of said beginning voltage, said loaded voltage and said estimated CCA.
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27. A method of testing an alternator that is part of a charging system for a lead-acid battery, said alternator also being connected to an engine, said method comprising
connecting the battery to a load and measuring the regulation voltage across the battery while said engine is running, measuring the AC ripple voltage in the load current drawn from the battery, and evaluating the condition of the alternator on the basis of the measured regulation voltage and AC ripple voltage.
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29. A method of testing an alternator that is part of a charging system for a lead-acid battery, said alternator also being connected to an engine, said method comprising
automatically connecting the battery to a load and measuring the voltage across the battery while said engine is running, cycling said load on and off during a preselected time interval according to whether the measured voltage is above or below a preselected threshold, and estimating the alternator output current from the percentage of time said load is on during said cycling.
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31. A method of testing a starter powered by a lead-acid battery and connected to an engine to be started, said method comprising
connecting the battery to a load and measuring the loaded voltage across the terminals of the battery while connected to said load, measuring the beginning voltage across the terminals of the battery in the absence of a load, starting the engine and measuring the minimum voltage across the terminals of the battery during the starting of the engine, and estimating the starter current draw from said loaded voltage, beginning voltage, and minimum voltage.
Specification