Automotive alternator and solid state regulator tester

• US 3,936,744 A
• Filed: 04/30/1974
• Issued: 02/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Perlmutter
• Original Assignee: David Perlmutter
• Inventors: Perlmutter, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolinec, R. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Time in patent office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158 R, 324/73 R, 324/28 R, 324/158 MG
• US Class Current: 324/765.01
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58

Abstract

A tester for a solid state voltage regulator includes two parallel branches available for interconnection to the two output contacts of the voltage regulator. The two branches both interconnect to the high voltage side of a battery. One of the branches includes a resistor in parallel combination with an indicator bulb. One of the branches includes a normally open switch. For use with automobile alternators having a built-in regulator, the tester can be connected directly to the regulator and test both the regulator and the alternator. When the regulator is independent of the alternator, it can be tested by itself by using actual rotor current available from an alternator used in conjunction with the tester. The on/off condition of the indicator bulb, when the switch and various contact terminals are interconnected, provides an indication of the effective operation of the regulator. A volt meter can be included integrally with the tester to provide output readings of the regulator.

Claims

1. A tester for a solid state voltage regulator and/or associated alternator having two outputs, comprising:

first and second circuit branches;

said first circuit branch including, in parallel combination, resistance means and indicator light bulb means continuously connected in said first circuit;

first terminal means adapted to be interconnected to a battery source;

second and third output terminal means adapted to interconnect respectively to said regulator output contacts;

one end of said first and second circuit branches being interconnected and the interconnection coupled to said first terminal means;

the other ends of said first and second circuit branches respectively being simultaneously coupled to said second and third output terminal means, and normally open switch means serially interconnected only in said second circuit branch.

2. The tester as in claim 1 and wherein said regulator is built into an alternator having a battery contact and wherein said first terminal means is adapted to be coupled to to said battery contact.

3. The tester as in claim 1 and wherein said regulator includes three internal contacts, and wherein said testing circuit further comprises first and second field lines adapted to interconnect two of said internal contacts to an alternator field, a ground line adapted to interconnect the third of said internal contacts to a ground connection, and a second switch means interconnecting one of said field lines to said first circuit branch.

4. The tester as in claim 3 and further comprising housing means, said first and second circuit branches, said first and second field lines, and said ground lines all located within said housing means, both said switch means available externally of said housing means, and further comprising three floating contact means located on the outside of said housing means being respectively electrically connected to said field lines and said ground line, and clamp means located on said housing means and positioned to clamp the regulator onto said housing means such that said three internal contacts are coupled to said three floating contact means.

5. The tester as in claim 4 and wherein said second switch means is positioned adjacent said floating contact means such that when said regulator is in a clamped position and said second and third terminal means are interconnected to said regulator output contacts, said second switch means is inaccessible.

6. The tester as in claim 5 and wherein said second switch means is a push button switch.

7. The tester as in claim 1 and wherein said resistance is a 10 OHM resistor.

8. The tester as in claim 1 and wherein said switch means is a single pole, single throw, toggle switch.

9. The tester as in claim 1 and further comprising a fourth terminal means adapted to be connected to the low side of the battery source, and a voltmeter interconnected between said first terminal means and said fourth terminal means.

10. The tester as in claim 1 and further comprising fourth and fifth terminal means connected in parallel across said resistance means for interconnection to an alternator having an external voltage control means.