Patent ID: 8860429

Claim:
A sensor test system, comprising: a case configured to house a circuit; a power source for producing a voltage; a cable electrically connecting a first sensor to the circuit; the first sensor comprising multiple connector pins and a grounded connector shell; wherein the circuit comprises: a high-impedance resistor connected between the power source and a common connection of the multiple connector pins such that the connector pins remain at a electrical potential; a first voltage test point and a second voltage test point across the high-impedance resistor; a common return line from the grounded connector shell to the power source, such that each of the multiple connector pins remain at the same electrical potential having a single voltage source and a single return path, the voltage produced from the power source renders a contaminant between the connector pins and the connector shell conductive, in that the contaminant provides conductive path between the connector pins and the grounded connector shell, while the contaminant also provides a contaminant resistance; wherein interpretation of a measured voltage between the first voltage test point and the second voltage test point provides an indication of the contaminant due to the contaminant resistance affecting the measured voltage.