Patent ID: 8675321

Claim:
A method for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by at least one DC direct current starter motor comprising the steps of: (a) calibrating a meter relay operably interlinked with a starter battery system and an associated starter control switch; (b) establishing two set points for said meter relay; (c) closing said starter battery system and said associated starter control switch causing said starter battery system to discharge through a shunt whereby current is fed into said starter motor; (i) if said current falls outside a range established by said two set points, then activating a meter relay alarm output; and, (ii) if said current remains within said range, then said meter relay alarm output is not activated; (d) interoperably connecting a circuit module, to said starter motor, for applying a test voltage, said test voltage operable effective for determining the possibility of said starter motor's failure due to deterioration of the electrical insulation of said starter motor's windings: (e) wherein said interoperably connecting step further comprises the steps of; (1) applying a DC test voltage within the range of 50-500 VDC to said starter motor windings: (2) measuring the ohmic resistance of said starter motor windings to determine a measured value; (3) comparing said measured resistance value with a determined profile value to determine a compared value; and (I) if said measured value is proximate to said profile value, then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is not imminent; and (II) if said measured value is low relative to said profile value. then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is imminent.