Battery tester capable of identifying faulty battery post adapters

• US 20050264296A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Philbrook, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382

Abstract

An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery. The tester includes a first connector configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery via a first battery post adapter and a second connector configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery via a second battery post adapter. The tester also includes an input configured to receive a battery-post-adapter-connection indicator. Test circuitry, which is coupled to the input, upon receipt of the battery-post-adapter-connection indicator, determines whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first connector configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery via a first battery post adapter;

a second connector configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery via a second battery post adapter;

an input configured to receive a battery-post-adapter-connection indicator; and

test circuitry, coupled to the input, configured to, upon receipt of the battery-post-adapter-connection indicator, determine whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an output device configured to receive information from the test circuitry and to output the received information to a tester user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output information relates to a condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the output information further comprises customer service contact information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is further configured to, if the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are found to be faulty, substantially disable primary testing functions of the tester.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is configured to determine whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty by:

(a) measuring a voltage of the battery when the tester is coupled to the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter; and

(b) measuring a conductance of the battery when the tester is coupled to the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter to thereby determine a measured cold cranking amp (CCA) value for the battery; and

(c) comparing the measured battery voltage to a rated voltage of the battery and comparing the measured battery CCA with a rated CCA of the battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the test circuitry is further configured to repeat steps (a) through (c), a predetermined number of times, to verify a condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the test circuitry is further configured to determine that the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty if the measured battery voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage and the measured battery CCA is substantially lower than the rated battery CCA.

6. The apparatus of clam 5 wherein the input is further configured to, if the primary testing functions of the tester are disabled, receive a battery reset sequence from a tester user, the battery reset sequence being provided by customer services, and wherein the test circuitry is further configured to, upon receipt of the battery reset sequence, enable the primary testing functions of the tester.

10. A method of testing a storage battery having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being coupled to a first battery post adapter and the second terminal being coupled to a second battery post adapter, the method comprising:

(a) measuring a voltage of the battery between the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter;

(b) measuring a conductance of the battery from the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter to thereby determine a measured cold cranking amp (CCA) value for the battery; and

(c) comparing the measured battery voltage to a rated voltage of the battery and comparing the measured battery CCA with a rated CCA of the battery; and

(d) determining a condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter based on the comparisons carried out in step (c).

11. The method of claim 10 and further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d), a predetermined number of times, to verify the condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step (d) comprises determining that the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty if the measured battery voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage and the measured battery CCA is substantially lower than the rated battery CCA.

13. The method of claim 10 and further comprising providing output information relating to a condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the output information further comprises customer service contact information.

15. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first connector configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery via a first battery post adapter;

a second connector configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery via a second battery post adapter; and

means for determining whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 and further comprising an output device configured to output information related to a condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the output information further comprises customer service contact information.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for determining whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty, comprises test circuitry, which is further configured to substantially disable primary testing functions of the tester if the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are found to be faulty.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the test circuitry is configured to determine whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty by:

(a) measuring a voltage of the battery when the tester is coupled to the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter; and

(b) measuring a conductance of the battery when the tester is coupled to the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter to thereby determine a measured cold cranking amp (CCA) value for the battery; and

(c) comparing the measured battery voltage to a rated voltage of the battery and comparing the measured battery CCA with a rated CCA of the battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the test circuitry is further configured to repeat steps (a) through (c), a predetermined number of times, to verify a condition of the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter.