Patent ID: RE41466

Claim:
A tester for testing an electrical system for excessive current flaw, which system is powered by an electricity source and includes a fuse holder for a fuse having a predetermined rating, the tester comprising: a pair of contacts removably electrically coupleable across the fuse holder; a switch coupled with the contacts and coupleable with the electricity source, the switch being momentarily closeable to pass a current pulse to the fuse holder; a controller, coupled to the switch that controls the switch to momentarily close repeatedly; a comparator that compares the magnitude of the current pulse with a prescribed reference current value; an indicator that produces a perceptible signal when the magnitude of the current pulse exceeds that of the prescribed reference current value; and a rectifier in circuit with the pair of contacts, wherein the rectifier produces an input voltage signal that is independent of the polarity of the connection to the pair of contacts.