Alternator and starter tester with alternator cable check

• US 7,696,759 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Xia, Weixing, Raichle, Kurt, Krampitz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Vincent Q
• Application Number:
  US11/889,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20090039898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 324/380, 324/402, 324/538, 324/158.1
• US Class Current: 324/538
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An alternator and starter motor tester system having alternator cable check. The alternator cable connector is specific to an alternator type. The cable connector is monitored so that if it fails a certain alternator type for a predetermined number of times in a row, the cable will be locked.

Claims

1. A method for checking an alternator cable of an alternator and starter motor tester, comprising the steps of:

selecting a part to be tested by the alternator and starter motor tester;

identifying a cable connector to connect to the part to be tested;

determining if the cable connector is locked out from being used;

testing the part with the alternator and starter motor tester if the cable connector is not locked;

increasing a count on a counter when the part fails the test, wherein one end of the cable connector connects to the part and a second end to the alternator and starter motor tester; and

unlocking the locked out cable connector by performing the test on a known good part, wherein the cable connector will remain locked out if the known good part does not pass the test and will be unlocked if the known good part passes the test.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the cable connector is locked out, then using the cable connector to test the part is prevented.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if the count has reached a predetermined amount; and

locking out the cable connector once the count reaches the predetermined amount.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the part is an alternator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein locking out the cable connector is further based on the cable connector used with a type of alternator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the part passes the test, then the count on the counter is cleared.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the count only if the same type of part is failed when used with the same cable connector specific for that type of part.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the count only occurs if the tester fails the same type of part using the cable connector specific for that type of part in a sequence.

9. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

identifying a cable connector to connect to a part to be tested by an alternator and starter motor tester, wherein the part to be tested was selected by a user;

determining if the cable connector is locked out from being used;

testing the part with the alternator and starter motor tester if the cable connector is not locked;

increasing a count on a counter when the part fails the test, wherein one end of the cable connector connects to the part and a second end to the alternator and starter motor tester;

unlocking the locked out cable connector by performing the test on a known good part, wherein the cable connector will remain locked out if the known good part does not pass the test and will be unlocked if the known good part passes the test.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein if the cable connector is locked out, then using the cable connector to test the part is prevented.

11. The article of claim 9 further comprising:

determining if the count has reached a predetermined amount; and

locking out the cable connector once the count reaches the predetermined amount.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the part is an alternator.

13. The article of claim 11, wherein locking out the cable connector is further based on the cable connector used with a type of alternator.

14. The article of claim 9, wherein if the part passes the test, then the count on the counter is cleared.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein increasing the count only if the same type of part is failed when used with the same cable connector specific for that type of part.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein increasing the count only occurs if the tester fails the same type of part using the cable connector specific for that type of part in a sequence.

17. A method for checking an alternator cable of an alternator and starter motor tester, comprising the steps of:

selecting a type of alternator to be tested by the alternator and starter motor tester;

identifying a cable connector specific for the type of alternator to be tested, wherein the cable connector connects to the alternator at one end and to the tester on a second end;

determining if the cable connector is locked out from being used;

testing the alternator with the alternator and starter motor tester if the cable connector is not locked;

increasing a count on a counter when the type of alternator fails the test; and

unlocking the locked out cable connector by performing the test on a known good part, wherein the cable connector will remain locked out if the known good part does not pass the test and will be unlocked if the known good part passes the test.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining if the count has reached a predetermined amount;

locking out the cable connector once the count reaches the predetermined amount.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein increasing the count only if the same type of alternator is failed when used with the same cable connector specific for that type of alternator.