Automotive test device for detecting a short circuit in automotive wiring

• US 6,608,486 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard M. Betts
• Original Assignee: Richard M. Betts
• Inventors: Betts, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEROUX, ETIENNE PIERRE
• Application Number:
  US09/589,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 324/503, 324/384, 361/826, 361/827, 361/828
• US Class Current: 324/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults

Abstract

A test device for indicating short-circuits in automotive wiring of a vehicle utilizing a 12-volt electrical system and including two incandescent lamps connected in series on opposite sides of a resettable circle breaker. The test devide is connected in series with the fuse junctions of a particular electrical circuit of the vehicle while the fuse is remove, when the second lamp is illuminated, then everything is normal and the particular electrical circuit of the vehicle is healthy, but if the second lamp is not illuminated and the first lamp is illuminated, this means that there is a short-circuit.

Claims

1. A test device for testing electrical power of a 12 volt battery of a vehicle having a positive terminal for connection with a positive battery cable and a negative terminal for connection with a negative battery cable, and for indicating a short-circuit in an electrical element of the a vehicle protected by a removable fuse installed in a fuse junction with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the test device comprising:

a. a first incandescent lamp having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

b. a second incandescent lamp having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

c. a first test lead having a first end electrically connected to said positive terminal of said first incandescent lamp and a second end electrically connected to a first test connector;

d. a second test lead having a first end electrically connected to said positive terminal of said second incandescent lamp and a second end electrically connected to a second test connector;

e. a ground lead having a first end electrically connected to said negative terminal of said second incandescent lamp and a second end electrically connected to a ground connector;

f. a circuit breaker having a first terminal electrically connected to said negative terminal of said first incandescent lamp and a second terminal electrically connected to said first end of said second test lead for protecting said electrical clement and said test device from damage;

g. whereby when said test device is used for testing electrical power of said battery, said first test connector is connected to said positive terminal of said battery, said second test connector is connected to said positive battery cable removed from said positive terminal of said battery, and said ground connector is connected to an electrical ground or a chassis of said vehicle, such that if said battery has electrical power, both said fist incandescent lamp and said second incandescent lamp will be illuminated, but if said battery has no electrical power, neither said first incandescent lamp nor said second incandescent lamp will be illuminated; and

h. when said test device is used for indicating whether there is a short-circuit in said electrical element of said vehicle, said fuse protecting said electrical clement is removed, said first test connector is connected to said positive terminal of said fuse junction, said second test connector is connected to said negative terminal of said fuse junction, and said ground connector is connected to an electrical ground or said chassis of said vehicle, such that if there is no electrical short-circuit in said electrical element, both said first incandescent lamp and said second incandescent lamp will be illuminated, but if there is an electrical short-circuit in said electrical element, said first incandescent lamp will be illuminated but said second incandescent lamp will not be illuminated.

2. The test device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said large incandescent lamp is of one color and said small incandescent lamp is of another color.

3. A test device for testing electrical power of a 12 volt battery of a vehicle having a positive terminal for connection with a positive battery cable and a negative terminal for connection with a negative battery cable, and for indicating a short-circuit in an electrical element of the vehicle protected by a removable fuse installed in a fuse junction with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the test device comprising:

a. a first indicating lamp having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

b. a second indicating lamp having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

c. a first test lead having a first end electrically connected to said positive terminal of said first indicating lamp and a second end electrically connected to a first test connector;

d. a second test lead having a first end electrically connected to said positive terminal of said second indicating lamp and a second end electrically connected to a second test connector;

e. a ground lead having a first end electrically connected to said negative terminal of said second indicating lamp and a second end electrically connected to a ground connector;

f. a circuit breaker having a first terminal electrically connected to said negative terminal of said first indicating lamp and a second terminal electrically connected to said first end of said second test lead for protecting said electrical element and said test device from damage;

g. whereby when said test device is used for testing electrical power of said battery, said first test connector is connected to said positive terminal of said battery, said second test connector is connected to said positive battery cable removed from said positive terminal of said battery, and said ground connector is connected to an electrical ground or a chassis of said vehicle, such that if said battery has electrical power, both said first incandescent lamp and said second indicating lamp will be illuminated, but if said battery has no electrical power, neither said first incandescent lamp nor said second indicating lamp will be illuminated; and

h. when said test device is used for indicating whether there is a short-circuit in said electrical element of said vehicle, said fuse protecting said electrical element is removed, said first test connector is connected to said positive terminal of said fuse junction, said second test connector is connected to said negative terminal of said fuse junction, and said ground connector is connected to an electrical ground or said chassis of said vehicle, such that if there is no electrical short-circuit in said electrical element, both said first incandescent lamp and said second indicating lamp will be illuminated, but if there is an electrical short-circuit in said electrical element, said first indicating lamp will be illuminated but said second incandescent lamp will not be illuminated.

4. The test device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first indicating lamp is of one color and said second indicating lamp is of another color.

5. A test device for testing electrical power of a 12 volt battery of a vehicle having a positive terminal for connection with a positive battery cable and a negative terminal for connection with a negative battery cable, and for indicating a short-circuit in an electrical element of the vehicle protected by a removable fuse installed in a fuse junction with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the test device comprising:

a. a first illuminating means having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

b. a second illuminating means having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

c. a first test lead electrically connected to said positive terminal of said first illuminating means;

d. a second test lead electrically connected to said positive terminal of said second illuminating means and said negative terminal of said first illuminating means;

e. a ground lead electrically connected to said negative terminal of said second illuminating means;

f. whereby when said test device is used for testing electrical power of said battery, said first test lead is connected to said positive terminal of said battery, said second test lead is connected to said positive battery cable removed from said positive terminal of said battery, and said ground lead is connected to an electrical ground or a chassis of said vehicle, such that if said battery has electrical power, both said first incandescent lamp and said second illuminating means will be illuminated, but if said battery has no electrical power, neither said first incandescent lamp nor said second illuminating means will be illuminated; and

g. when said test device is used for indicating whether there is a short-circuit in said electrical element of said vehicle, said fuse protecting said electrical element is removed, said first test lead is connected to said positive terminal of said fuse junction, said second test lead is connected to said negative terminal of said fuse junction, and said ground lead is connected to an electrical ground or said chassis of said vehicle, such that if there is no electrical short-circuit in said electrical element, both said first incandescent lamp and said second illuminating means will be illuminated, but if there is an electrical short-circuit in said electrical element, said first illuminating means will be illuminated but said second incandescent lamp will not be illuminated.

6. The test device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a circuit breaker connected between said second terminal of said first illuminating means and said first terminal of said second illuminating means for protecting the tested particular electrical wiring of said vehicle and said test device from damage.

7. The test device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a first connector connected to the other end of said first lead.

8. The test device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a second connector connected to the other end of said second lead.

9. The test device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first and second illuminating means includes an incandescent lamp.

10. The test device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first illuminating means is of one color and said second illuminating means is of another color.