Patent ID: 7576519

Claim:
A vehicle electrical system comprising: (a) a generator comprising a conductor operative to generate a first signal indicative of an electrical potential across the conductor and wherein a total electrical output current generated by the generator is substantially proportional to the electrical potential; and (b) means to generate a second signal indicative of a temperature of the conductor; (c) means to generate a third signal indicative of electrical current through a field coil included in the generator; and (d) means to generate a fourth signal indicative of a rotational speed of the generator; and (e) a control device responsive to the first, second, third, and fourth signal and operative to (i) obtain a first value of the total electrical current according to at least one of the first, second, and third signal, (ii) obtain a second value of the total electrical current according to at least one of the second, third, and fourth signal, and (iii) generate an error signal indicative of a fault condition when a difference between the first and second values of the total electrical current is substantially above a predetermined value.