Metering Continuity Tester

• US 20160266190A1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Vosbrink, Daniel Wayne, Hughes, Joseph Lee, Packard, Duan Earl III
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3275 Fault detection or status indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3333 Apparatus, systems or circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/69 of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances

Abstract

A testing device for a meter socket assembly, including breaker load lugs, includes a base unit having a plurality of test probes, a ground node, and a breaker node having a plurality of breaker probes. To perform the test, the base unit is inserted into a jaw meter socket such that each of the plurality of test probes are in contact with jaws of the jaw meter socket, at least two of the plurality of breaker probes are in contact with each of a plurality of breaker load lugs of a main breaker, and the breaker node is electrically connected to the base unit. The testing device determines the jaw type of the meter socket assembly and can output results of tests relating to phase to phase, phase to ground, crossed cables, and interruption of electrical paths. The testing device can output results of the test audibly and visually.

Claims

1. A testing device comprising:

a base unit having a plurality of test probes; and

a breaker node having a plurality of breaker probes, wherein

the base unit is inserted into a jaw meter socket such that the plurality of test probes are in contact with jaws of the jaw meter socket,

at least two of the plurality of breaker probes are in contact with corresponding breaker load lugs of a main breaker, and

the breaker node is electrically connected to the base unit.

2. The testing device according to claim 1, further comprising a ground node, wherein the ground node is electrically connected to an electrical ground or neutral, and is electrically connected to the base unit.

3. The testing device according to claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to:

perform a test on the jaw meter socket with the main breaker; and

output a result of the test.

4. The testing device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to visually output a result of the test to a display of the testing device.

5. The testing device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to audibly output a result of the test via beep codes from a speaker.

6. The testing device according to claim 3, wherein the test is one of a phase to phase, phase to ground, crossed cables, and interruption of electrical paths tests.

7. The testing device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to:

automatically detect the type of meter socket;

perform the test according to the detected type of meter socket; and

visually output the detected type of meter socket on a display of the testing device,

wherein the meter socket is one of a 4 jaw, 5 jaw, and 7 jaw.

8. The testing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of breaker probes has a brush for interfacing with a load lug of the main breaker.

9. The testing device according to claim 1, wherein a spacing between the plurality of breaker probes is adjustable.

10. A testing method comprising:

placing a base unit of a testing device on a jaw meter socket such that test probes of the base unit are in contact with jaws of the jaw meter socket;

inserting a breaker node of the testing device into a main breaker such that breaker probes of the breaker node are in contact with breaker load lugs of the main breaker;

detecting a type of the jaw meter socket; and

performing a test on the jaw meter socket with the main breaker according to the detected type of meter socket,

wherein the breaker node is electrically connected to the base unit.

11. The testing method according to claim 10, further comprising electrically connecting a ground node to an electrical ground or neutral, wherein the ground node is electrically also connected to the base unit of the testing device.

12. The testing device according to claim 10, further comprising visually outputting a result of the test to a display of the testing device.

13. The testing method according to claim 10, further comprising visually outputting the detected type of meter socket on a display of the testing device.

14. The testing method according to claim 10, further comprising audibly outputting a result of the test via beep codes from a speaker.

15. The testing method according to claim 10, wherein the test is one of a phase to phase, phase to ground, crossed cables, and interruption of electrical paths tests.

16. The testing method according to claim 10, wherein the meter socket is one of a 4 jaw, 5 jaw, and 7 jaw.

17. The testing method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of breaker probes has a brush for interfacing with a load lug of the main breaker.

18. The testing method according to claim 10, wherein a spacing of the breaker probes is adjusted before inserting the breaker node of the testing device into the main breaker.