Patent ID: 8198900

Claim:
An apparatus for testing a charging system of an automotive vehicle, comprising: electrical connections configured to couple to a battery of the vehicle; a user input configured to receive a battery rating from an operator; a display configured to display information to the operator; and a microprocessor configured to: prompt the operator to input rating information for the battery using the input; receive the rating information for the battery from the operator from the input; perform a battery test on the battery through the electrical connections to the battery; measure a dynamic parameter of the battery through the electrical connections to the battery; determine a condition of the battery by comparing the measured dynamic parameter to the received rating, the battery test result indicative of a battery condition, the battery condition including a fully charged battery and a battery which is not fully charged; detect revving of the engine by observing an increased frequency of an AC ripple of a voltage measured through the electrical connectors to the battery; detect a diode or stator problem if the AC ripple exceeds a threshold; instruct the operator to start an engine of the vehicle through the display; detect starting of the engine of the automotive vehicle by the operator by a drop in a voltage measured through the electrical connections to the battery; measure a starting voltage through the electrical connections to the battery during starting of the engine of the automotive vehicle; and provide a charge battery output to the operator through the display if the measured starting voltage is low relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a battery which is not fully charged, provide a cranking voltage low output to the operator through the display if the measured starting voltage is low relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a fully charged battery; provide a cranking voltage normal output to the operator through the display if the starting voltage is normal relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a fully charged battery.