Electrical system test apparatus

• US 4,086,531 A
• Filed: 04/26/1976
• Issued: 04/25/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Compunetics Inc. (Compunetix, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compunetics Inc. (Compunetix, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bernier, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolinec, Rudolph V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Time in patent office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158 MG, 324/15, 322/99, 322/28, 340/248 V, 340/249
• 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 31/343 in operation

Abstract

An alternator-battery electrical system test apparatus which, in one modification, includes a four stage voltage level sensing system, each stage being operative in response to a particular condition of the electrical system under test. The first stage senses the filtered and unfiltered output of the alternator to provide a pulsed output which provides an indication of any diode failure or winding failure in the alternator. The remaining three stages sense the voltage output from the alternator as compared to a fixed reference, each particular voltage condition providing an indication of a preselected electrical condition within the circuit. The entire system is calibrated by a single calibrating resistor. The second modification of the system provides two outputs, one output indicating a regular defect and a diode condition indicator and the other indicator providing an indication of no defects in the system if conducting alone, or an alternator defect if conducting simultaneously with the above mentioned one output. The circuit is substantially identical to the first modification, with certain elements eliminated.

Claims

1. In a test system for testing and analyzing an electrical system including an alternator assembly, a battery charged by the alternator assembly and connected thereto, and a regulator connected to the alternator assembly for controlling the charging of the battery, the alternator assembly including an alternator and a rectifier circuit whereby an output voltage is provided having a d-c voltage with a superimposed a-c ripple, the output voltage being provided at an output terminal on the alternator and an electrical ground, said system comprising a plurality of indicator circuits for indicating the condition of at least two of the alternator, rectifier circuit, regulator and/or battery, an input circuit means connected between the alternator assembly and the plurality of indicator circuits for providing an unfiltered voltage having an magnitude varying in accordance with the variations in magnitude of the d-c voltage and the a-c ripple, said input circuit means comprising only a single pair of lead conductors with one of said conductors adapted to be connected to the output terminal of the alternator and the other adapted to be connected to the electrical ground whereby said unfiltered voltage is provided by said pair of conductors without altering the alternator assembly, said input circuit means also providing a filtered voltage derived from said unfiltered voltage from said single pair of conductors and having a generally uniform magnitude varying in accordance with the magnitude of the output voltage, said input circuit means also providing a source of a reference voltage derived from said unfiltered voltage from said single pair of conductors and having a preselected magnitude less than and independent of the magnitude of the output voltage, said reference voltage being interconnected with at least some of said indicator circuits, one of said indicator circuits being connected to receive said unfiltered voltage and said filtered voltage for comparing said filtered voltage and said unfiltered voltage and providing an output indication when the magnitude of said filtered voltage and the magnitude of said unfiltered voltage including its a-c ripple bear a preselected relationship, one to the other, the remainder of said plurality of indicator circuits being connected as comparator circuits, one input to said remainder of said indicator circuits being connected to sense a preselected percentage of said filtered voltage and comparing that preselected percentage to said reference voltage, each of said remaining indicator circuits providing an output indication when said percentage bears a preselected relationship to said reference voltage to indicate selected faults in the alternator, regulator and/or the battery.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said reference voltage is derived from said filtered voltage by a constant voltage device.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising voltage divider means connected across said constant voltage device for providing said reference voltage.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said voltage divider means includes variable means for varying the division of voltage across said constant voltage device, said variable means being connected to each of said remainder of said indicator circuits.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein one of said remainder of said indicator circuits includes first comparator circuit means having first and second input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said first input circuit and said second input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of said filtered voltage, said one indicator circuit providing an indication when said filtered voltage percentage exceeds said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby excessive voltage output from the generator assembly is indicated.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said one of said remainder of said indicator circuits indicates a fault in the regulator.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein a second of said remainder of said indicator circuits includes second comparator circuit means having third and fourth input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said fourth input circuit and said third input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of said filtered voltage, said second indicator circuit providing an indication when said filtered voltage percentage is less than said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby a deficient voltage output from the generator assembly is indicated.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said second of said remainder of said indicator circuits indicates a fault in the alternator.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein a third of said remainder of said indicator circuits includes third comparator circuit means having fifth and sixth input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said sixth input circuit and said fifth input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of said filtered voltage, said third indicator circuit providing an indication when said filtered voltage percentage is less than said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby a deficient battery voltage is indicated.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said third of said remainder of said indicator circuits indicates a fault in the battery.

11. In a test system for testing and analyzing an electrical system including an alternator assembly, a battery charged by the alternator assembly and connected thereto, and a regulator connected to the alternator assembly for controlling the charging of the battery, the alternator assembly including an alternator and a rectifier whereby an output voltage is provided having a d-c voltage with a superimposed a-c ripple, the output voltage being provided at an output terminal on the alternator and an electrical ground, said test system comprising a plurality of indicator circuits for indicating the condition of at least two of the alternator, rectifier circuit, regulator and/or battery, an input circuit means connected between the alternator assembly and the plurality of indicator circuits for providing an unfiltered voltage having a magnitude varying in accordance with the variations in magnitude of the d-c voltage and the a-c ripple, said input circuit means comprising only a single pair of lead conductors with one of said conductors adapted to be connected to the output terminal of the alternator and the other adapted to be connected to the electrical ground whereby said unfiltered voltage is provided by said pair of conductors without altering the alternator assembly, said input circuit means also providing a filtered voltage derived from said unfiltered voltage from said single pair of conductors and having a generally uniform magnitude varying in accordance with the magnitude of the output voltage, said input circuit means also providing a source of a reference voltage derived from said unfiltered voltage from said single pair of conductors and having a preselected magnitude less than and independent of the magnitude of the output voltage, said input circuit means further providing a voltage single derived from said unfiltered voltage and having a magnitude varying in accordance with the variations in magnitude of the a-c ripple, said reference voltage being interconnected with at least some of said indicator circuits, one of said indicator circuits being connected to receive said voltage signal and providing an output indication when said voltage signal attains a preselected magnitude whereby said output indication will provide a signal indicating that the a-c ripple is excessive, the remainder of said plurality of indicator circuits being connected as comparator circuits, one input to said remainder of said indicator circuits being connected to sense a preselected percentage of said filtered voltage and comparing that preselected percentage to said reference voltage, each of said remaining indicator circuits providing an output indication when said percentage bears a preselected relationship to said reference voltage to indicate selected faults in the alternator, regulator and/or the battery.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said reference voltage is derived from said filtered voltage by a constant voltage device.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising voltage divider means connected across said constant voltage device for providing said reference voltage.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said voltage divider means includes variable means for varying the division of voltage across said constant voltage device, said variable means being connected to each of said remainder of said indicator circuits.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein one of said indicator circuits includes first comparator circuit means having first and second input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said first input circuit and said second input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of said voltage signal said one of said indicator circuits providing an indication when said voltage signal percentage exceeds said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby excessive voltage output from the generator assembly is indicated.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said one of said indicator circuits indicates a fault in the regulator.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein a second of said indicator circuits includes second comparator circuit means having third and fourth input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said fourth input circuit and said third input circuit being connected to receive said preselected precentage of said voltage signal said second indicator circuit providing an indication when said voltage signal percentage is less than saif reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby a deficient voltage output from the generator assembly is indicated.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said second of said indicator circuits indicates a fault in the alternator.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein a third of said indicator circuits includes third comparator circuit means having fifth and sixth input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said sixth input circuit and said fifth input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of said voltage signal said third indicator circuit providing an indication when said voltage signal percentage is less than said reference voltage signal by a preselected amount whereby a deficient battery voltage is indicated.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said third of said indicator circuits indicates a fault in the battery.

12. In a test system for testing and analyzing an electrical system including an alternator assembly, a battery charged by the alternator assembly and connected thereto, and a regulator connected to the alternator assembly for controlling the charging of the battery, the alternator assembly including an alternator and a rectifier circuit whereby an output voltage is provided having a d-c voltage with a superimposed a-c ripple, the output voltage being provided at an output terminal on the alternator and an electrical ground, said test system comprising a plurality of indicator circuits for indicating the condition of at least two of the alternator, rectifier circuit, regulator and/or battery, an input circuit means connected between the alternator assembly and the plurality of indicator circuits for providing an unfiltered voltage having a magnitude varying in accordance with the variations in magnitude of the d-c voltage and the a-c ripple, said input circuit means comprising only a single pair of lead conductors with one of said conductors adapted to be connected to the output terminal of the alternator and the other adapted to be connected to the electrical ground whereby said unfiltered voltage is provided by said pair of conductors without altering the alternator assembly, said input circuit means also providing a source of a reference voltage derived from said unfiltered voltage from said single pair of conductors and having a preselected magnitude less than and independent of the magnitude of the output voltage, said input circuit means further providing a first voltage signal derived from said unfiltered voltage and having a magnitude varying in accordance with the variations in magnitude of the a-c ripple, said reference voltage being interconnected with at least some of said indicator circuits, one of said indicator circuits being connected to receive said first voltage signal and providing an output indication when said voltage signal attains a preselected magnitude whereby said output indication will provide a signal indicating that the a-c ripple is excessive, said input circuit means providing a plurality of second voltage signals derived from said unfiltered voltage, the remainder of said plurality of indicator circuits being connected as comparator circuits, one input to each of said remainder of said indicator circuits being connected to sense a preselected percentage of one of said second voltage signals and comparing that preselected percentage to said reference voltage, each of said remaining indicator circuits providing an output indication when said preselected percentage bears a preselected relationship to said reference voltage to indicate selected faults in the alternator, regulator and/or the battery.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein one of said indicator circuits first comparator circuit means having first and second input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said first input circuit and said second input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of one of said second voltage signals, said one of said indicator circuits providing an indication when said one of said second voltage signals percentage exceeds said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby excessive voltage output from the generator assembly is indicated.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein a second of said indicator circuits includes second comparator circuit means having third and fourth input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said fourth input circuit and said third input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of another of said second voltage signals, said second indicator circuit providing an indication when said other of said voltage signals percentage is less than said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby a deficient voltage output from the generator assembly is indicated.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein a third of said indicator circuits includes third comparator circuit means having fifth and sixth input circuits, said reference voltage being connected to said sixth input circuit and said fifth input circuit being connected to receive said preselected percentage of a different one of said second voltage signals, said third indicator circuit providing an indication when said different one of said second voltage signals percentage is less than said reference voltage by a preselected amount whereby a deficient battery is indicated.

16. The system of claim 15 with said second voltage signals being filtered voltages derived from said unfiltered voltage from said single pair of conductors with said filtered voltage having a generally uniform magnitude varying in accordance with the magnitude of the output voltage.

26. The system of claim 12 wherein said input circuit means further provides a filtered voltage having a generally uniform magnitude varying in accordance with the magnitude of the output voltage and further includes a first voltage divider having said unfiltered voltage applied thereacross and a second voltage divider having said filtered voltage applied thereacross, said comparator circuit means having a first input circuit connected to said first voltage divider for receiving a preselected proportion of said unfiltered voltage and a second input circuit connected to said second voltage divider for receiving a preselected proportion of said filtered voltage.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said first and second voltage dividers comprise a plurality of resistors of preselected values having close tolerances of approximately ±

1%.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said indicator circuit further includes an indication device, said comparator circuit means including an output circuit connected to said indicator device.

29. The system of claim 12 wherein all of its operating electrical energy is received from said alternator assembly, battery and/or regulator.