METHOD OF TESTING AN AUTOMOBILE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE IN CIRCUIT, USING A BOOSTER BATTERY

• US 3,638,108 A
• Filed: 04/28/1969
• Issued: 01/25/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry M. Channing
• Original Assignee: Harry M. Channing
• Inventors: Channing, Harry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolinec, Rudolph V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corcoran, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US04/819,650
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 324/29.5,16,73,15 340/249 73/118
• US Class Current: 324/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/005 Testing of electric installations on transport means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00

Abstract

A combination booster and automobile electrical system tester, including a booster battery, polarity protector, voltmeter, remote control switch, operational indicator lights and interconnecting cables all mounted on a handtruck-type cart with a detachable handle, for making comparison tests of the voltages present in an automobile electrical system with and without the starter cranking and with and without the booster battery connected.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating performance of a specific battery in a specific automobile electrical system and ascertaining the electrical condition thereof, comprising the steps of connecting a voltmeter across the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery terminals while the latter are connected to the automobile electrical system to measure voltage thereacross, operating the automobile starter to crank the engine while preventing starting of the engine to measure voltage thereacross under starting load, connecting a fully charged high ampere-hour booster battery to the automobile electrical system in parallel with the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery, and operating the automobile starter to crank the engine while preventing starting of the engine to measure voltage across the terminals of the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery for comparison of voltage in the automobile electrical system under cranking load with and without said booster battery, whereby if said electrical system is in a first condition wherein the voltage is below a standard value with only the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery connected to the automobile electrical system while under cranking load and is above said standard value when the booster battery is connected to the automobile electrical system in parallel with the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery while under cranking load the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery is at fault, and whereby if said electrical system is in a second condition wherein the voltage is below said standard value when the booster battery is connected to the automobile electrical system in parallel with the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery while under cranking load the automobile'"'"''"'"'s starter system is at fault.

2. A method as described in claim 1, and wherein in the event said electrical system is in said first condition said method comprises the additional steps of connecting a voltmeter across the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery terminals while the latter are connected to the aUtomobile electrical system to measure voltage thereacross under no cranking load conditions with the engine stopped, starting the engine of the automobile and measuring the voltage across said terminals with the engine running, whereby if said electrical system is in a third condition wherein the measured voltage under no cranking load conditions with the engine stopped is below a first standard value the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery is discharged, and whereby if said electrical system is in a fourth condition wherein the measured voltage with the engine running is below a first standard value the generator is at fault and if said electrical system is in a fifth condition wherein the measured voltage with the engine running is above a second higher value the voltage regulator is at fault.

3. A method as described in claim 1, and wherein in the event said electrical system is in said second condition said method comprises the additional steps of connecting a voltmeter across the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery terminals while the latter are connected to the automobile electrical system to measure voltage thereacross with said booster battery connected in parallel and the engine stopped and the starter not cranking, whereby if said electrical system is in a sixth condition wherein the measured voltage is below a standard value a short circuit is indicated in the electrical system outside the ignition and starter portions of the system.

4. A method as described in claim 1, and wherein in the event said electrical system is in said second condition said method comprises the additional steps of connecting a voltmeter across the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery terminals while the latter are connected to the automobile electrical system to measure voltage thereacross with said booster battery connected in parallel and the engine not running and the starter cranking, whereby if said electrical system is in a seventh condition wherein the measured voltage is below a standard value a fault in the starter system is confirmed, and whereby if said electrical system is in an eighth condition wherein the measured voltage is above said last named standard value a fault in the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery is confirmed.

5. A method as described in claim 2, and wherein in the event said electrical system is in said fourth condition and not in said eighth condition said method comprises the additional steps of measuring the voltage across the booster battery terminals while the latter are connected to the automobile electric system to measure voltage thereacross with the engine running and the automobile battery disconnected from the automobile electrical system, whereby if the measured voltage is below a standard value the generator is at fault and if the measured voltage is above a standard value the automobile'"'"''"'"'s battery is discharged.