Patent ID: 7635983

Claim:
A battery testing apparatus for use with a battery and a utility power source, said battery testing device comprising: a battery charger/tester, to be connected to the battery, operable to selectively allow either: electrical current to flow to the battery through said battery charger/tester; or electrical current to flow from the battery through said battery charger/tester; a switch, connected to said battery charger/tester and to be connected to the utility power source, wherein when the switch is closed the utility power source and the battery charger/tester are electrically connected and when the switch is open the utility power source and the battery charger/tester are electrically disconnected; a controller electrically connected to said battery charger/tester and said switch via control lines, and to be electrically connected to the utility power source, and the battery via sense lines, and having a battery charge mode and a battery test mode, wherein: in the battery charge mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the battery charger/tester, and control said battery charger/tester to allow electrical current to flow from the utility power source to the battery; and in the battery test mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the battery charger/tester, control said battery charger/tester to allow current to flow from the battery to the utility power source via said switch, and to collect test data from the current flowing from the battery.