Patent ID: 7703315

Claim:
In a motor vehicle comprising a powerplant in which fuel is combusted to generate heat for operating the powerplant to enable the powerplant to propel the vehicle and to operate electrical equipment in an electrical system of the vehicle that includes an alternator operated by the powerplant for generating electricity to maintain a desired state-of-charge of a D.C. battery bank comprising one or more D.C. batteries, a method for testing the electrical system which comprises the steps of: connecting a test load bank to positive and negative terminals of one of the battery bank and the alternator; connecting a service tool for performing the test to the electrical system; disconnecting all electrical equipment from the battery bank except equipment required for operating the powerplant and maintaining battery bank state-of-charge; operating the powerplant; operating the service tool to perform the test; and during the test, wirelessly operating the test load bank to change the load that the battery bank imposes on the one of the battery bank and the alternator.