Testing and comparing two batteries connected in parallel method and apparatus

• US 20070080691A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Robinson, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/204,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a battery testing apparatus and method include a processor, a first clamp coupled to the processor, a second clamp coupled to the processor, and a third clamp coupled to the processor wherein the processor is configured to collect data on a current flow when the first and second clamps are connected with a first battery and the third clamp is connected to a conductor connecting the first battery with a second battery connected to the first battery in parallel. The processor is further configured to process the data to determine whether the first battery is stronger than, weaker than or the same capacity as the second battery.

Claims

1. A battery testing apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a first clamp coupled to the processor;

a second clamp coupled to the processor; and

a third clamp coupled to the processor wherein the processor is configured to collect data on a current flow when the first and second clamps are connected with a first battery and the third clamp is connected to a conductor connecting the first battery with a second battery connected to the first battery in parallel, the processor further configured to process the data to determine whether the first battery is stronger than, weaker than or the same capacity as the second battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for the first clamp to couple to a positive terminal of the first battery, the second clamp to couple to a negative terminal of the first battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a load.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third clamp is configured to measure the current flow.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor records a first current flow associated with the first battery and records a second current flow associated with the second battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor analyzes the first and second current flows to determine whether the first battery is stronger than, weaker than or the same as the second battery

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third clamp is an amprobe clamp.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second clamps are alligator clamps.

9. A method of testing a battery comprising:

connecting a first clamp coupled to a processor to a positive battery terminal of a first battery;

connecting a second clamp coupled to the processor to a negative battery terminal of the first battery; and

connecting a third clamp coupled to the processor to a conductor connecting the first battery to a second battery wherein the first battery and the second battery are connected in parallel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a first load to the first battery.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of analyzing with the processor a first current flow between the first battery and the second battery.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor records the first current flow as a first value.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of connecting the first clamp to a positive terminal of the second battery;

and

connecting the second clamp to a negative terminal of the second battery.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a second load to the second battery.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of analyzing with the processor a second current flow between the first battery and the second battery.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the processor records the second current flow as a second value.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of analyzing the first and the second current flows with the processor to determine whether the first battery is stronger than, weaker than or has the same capacity as the second battery.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the processor determines whether the first value is greater than, less than or equal to the second value.

19. A system for testing a battery comprising:

a first clamping means operably connecting a processing means to a positive battery terminal of a first battery;

a second clamping means operably connecting the processing means to a negative battery terminal of the first battery; and

a third clamping means operably connecting the processing means to a conductor connecting the first battery to a second battery wherein the first battery and the second battery are connected in parallel and the processing means measures and records a first current flow between the first battery and the second battery.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising

the first clamping means operably connecting the processing means to a positive terminal of the second battery;

the second clamping means operably connecting the processing means to a negative battery terminal of the second battery; and

the third clamping means operably connecting the processing means to the conductor connecting the first battery to the second battery and the processing means measures and records a second current flow between the first battery and the second battery.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising the processing means analyzing the first and the second current flows to determine whether the first battery is stronger than, weaker than or has the same capacity as the second battery.