Thermostatic controller and circuit tester

• US 7,079,040 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Errol Wendell Barton
• Original Assignee: Errol Wendell Barton
• Inventors: Barton, Errol Wendell
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/047,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/657, 340/658, 340/659, 340/660, 340/664, 340/653, 340661-663, 340/680, 340/652, 324/500, 700/276, 700/183, 700/278
• US Class Current: 340/657
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2825 in household appliances or professional audio/video equipment testing LAN's H04L43/50; testing TV systems H04N17/00; testing loudspeakers H04R29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2836 Fault-finding or characterising G01R31/2822 - G01R31/2831 take precedence

Abstract

Thermostatic Controller and Circuit Tester is a new trouble shooting device, designed to improve the air conditioning technicians fault diagnostic capabilities. The device comes equipped with two independent circuits and its own built in flashlight. The first circuit is the controller, which is outfitted with test leads with alligator clips controlled by four push on-push off switches. When attached to the thermostat wires or the air handlers connector block, it allows the air conditioning system to be manually overridden, so as to determine and locate defects in the system. The next circuit, with detachable test leads and probes, performs line voltage and continuity tests.

Claims

1. A portable thermostatic controller for use with an HVAC unit located remotely from a thermostat, comprising:

a controller circuit for connection to one of a controller block and thermostat wire connections associated with the HVAC unit, said controller circuit including a plurality of switches, wherein operation of said plurality of switches are used to control certain functions of the HVAC unit from said controller circuit, located remotely from the thermostat;

a test circuit for testing at least one of continuity and voltage, said test circuit including an interface for selective connection with an element to be tested.

2. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 1, further including a built-in flashlight for illuminating an area at which said flashlight is directed.

3. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 2, wherein the state of said built-in flashlight is controlled by a flashlight switch located on the portable thermostatic controller.

4. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 3, wherein said flashlight switch is a momentary switch.

5. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 1, further including a plurality of wires operatively connected to said controller circuit to connect said controller circuit to one of a controller block and thermostat wire connections associated with the HVAC unit and located remotely from the thermostat.

6. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of wires includes a first end and a second end, wherein each first end is operatively connected to said controller circuit and each second end includes a clip for connection with said one of a controller block and thermostat wire connections, associated with the HVAC unit and located remotely from the thermostat.

7. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the certain functions of the HVAC unit controlled by said control circuit, remote from the thermostat is one of a fan function, a heating function and a cooling function of the HVAC unit.

8. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 7, wherein said test circuit includes a circuit for performing continuity testing.

9. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 8, further including test probes electrically connected to said test circuit, via said interface.

10. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 8, wherein said test circuit additionally includes a circuit for performing voltage testing.

11. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 10, wherein said test circuit additionally includes a switch for selecting between said voltage testing circuit and said continuity testing circuit.

12. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 1, wherein said test circuit additionally includes at least one indicator for indicating at least one of continuity and voltage level.

13. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 12 wherein said test circuit includes circuitry for testing continuity and wherein said at least one indicator includes an audible indicator.

14. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 12 wherein said test circuit includes circuitry for testing voltage and wherein said at least one indicator includes a visual indicator for indicating the presence of 120 VAC, when 120 VAC is detected by the voltage detector.

15. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 14 wherein said at least one indicator includes a second visual indicator for indicating the presence of 240 VAC, when 240 VAC is detected by the voltage detector.

16. A portable thermostatic controller for use with an HVAC unit located remotely from a thermostat, comprising:

a casing including at least a front face and a top face;

a plurality of switches accessible from the front face of said casing, wherein operation of said plurality of switches is used to control certain functions of the HVAC unit from a location remote from the thermostat;

a controller circuit contained within said casing for connection to one of a controller block and thermostat wire connections associated with the HVAC unit, said controller circuit being operable by said switches, to control certain functions of the HVAC unit remote from the thermostat;

a flashlight circuit, said flashlight circuit including a flashlight source and a flashlight switch, said flashlight source extending through the top face of said casing for illuminating an area at which said flashlight source is directed.

17. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 16, wherein at least one of the certain functions of the HVAC unit controlled by said control circuit, remote from the thermostat is one of a fan function, a heating function and a cooling function of the HVAC unit.

18. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 16, wherein said controller circuit is powered by the power source of the HVAC unit and said flashlight is powered by batteries contained in said casing.

19. A portable thermostatic controller for use with an HVAC unit located remotely from a thermostat, comprising:

a controller circuit for connection to one of a controller block and thermostat wire connections associated with the HVAC unit located remotely from the thermostat, said controller circuit being used to control at least one of a fan function, a heating function and a cooling function of the HVAC unit;

a test circuit for testing at least one of continuity and voltage, said test circuit including a pair of test probes for selective connection with an element to be tested between said pair of test probes.

20. The portable thermostatic controller of claim 19, further including a built-in flashlight for illuminating an area at which said flashlight is directed.