Patent ID: 8508898

Claim:
A method of monitoring operation of a reverse-voltage protection circuit in an electrical system, the system including an electric load and the reverse-voltage protection circuit in a series-type configuration with a power source, the reverse-voltage protection circuit including a reverse-voltage protection switch having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal being coupled to the electric load, the second terminal being coupled to the power source, the reverse-voltage protection switch opening and closing a connection between the first terminal and the second terminal based on an input to the control terminal, and a ground switch connected between the first terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch and ground, the method comprising: disconnecting the second terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch from the power source; closing the ground switch to connect the first terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch to ground; applying a biasing voltage to the second terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch; opening the reverse-voltage protection switch; and determining that an improper short-circuit condition exists across the reverse-voltage protection switch when the voltage at the second terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch is less than a threshold while the second terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch is disconnected from the power source, the ground switch is closed, the reverse-voltage protection switch is opened, and the bias voltage is applied to the second terminal of the reverse-voltage protection switch.