Method and device system for testing electrical components

Abstract

The method is for testing an electrical component. The sender unit 12 may be applied to an electrical plug 24 that has a first line 28 , a second line 32 and a ground line 36 . It is determined which of the lines 28, 32, 36 that has a voltage potential relative to the surrounding. The phase configuration of the electrical plug 24 may be determined. The unit 14 is applied to a remote electrical unit and the sender sends a synchronization signal 41 to the receiver unit 14 that starts a counter providing a measurement of the time difference between corresponding phase positions of the alternating current of the plug 24 and that of the remote electrical unit. This time difference can then be converted to a phase difference value. The system may also be used to identify a specific fuse that is associated with the plug and for testing ground fault interrupting devices.

1 . A method for testing an electrical component, comprising: 
 providing a sender unit  12  having a sensor;    applying the sender unit  12  to an electrical plug  24 , the plug having a first line  28 , a second line  32  and a ground line  36 ;    determining if the first line  28 , the second line  32  or the ground line  36  has a voltage potential relative to the surrounding;    connecting the sender unit  12  to a remote receiver unit  14 ;    determining a phase configuration of the electrical plug  24 ;    applying the unit  14  to a remote electrical unit  44 ,  46  having a voltage to be measured;    the sender unit  12  sending a synchronization signal  41  to the receiver unit  14 ;    the receiver unit  14  starting a counter to determine if a specific phase position of the measured voltage of the remote electrical unit is same or different from a corresponding phase position of a measured voltage present at a live line  28 ,  32 ,  36  in the plug  24 ; and    determining a relative phase position between the measured voltage of the remote electrical unit sensed by the receiver unit  14  and a voltage sensed at the plug  24 .    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the remote electrical unit is a fuse  44  and the receiver unit  14  has a probe  43 , the method further comprises applying the probe  43  adjacent to the fuse  44 .  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the method further comprises providing the probe with a sensor  42  for sensing a magnetism  80  about the fuse  44 .  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the method further comprises the sender unit  12  applying a current at the plug  24  and comparing the synchronization signal  41  with the magnetism  80  at the fuse  44 .  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the method further comprises providing the probe  43  with a phase discriminator and transmitting a reference phase from the sender unit  12  to the receiver unit  14 .  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the method further comprises transmitting the reference phase by means of a radio signal and allowing the probe to sense the fuse with a correct current path only.  
     
     
         7 . A method for testing an electrical component, comprising: 
 providing a sender unit  12  having a sensor;    applying the sender unit  12  to an electrical plug  24 , the plug being connected to a first line  28 , a second line  32  and a ground line  36 ;    connecting the sender unit  12  to a remote receiver unit  14 ;    applying a probe  43  of the unit  14  adjacent to a fuse  44 ;    the sender unit  12  sending an synchronization signal  41  to the receiver unit  14 ;    the probe  43  sensing a magnetic field  80  about the fuse  44 ;    the sender unit  12  applying a current at the plug  24 ; and    comparing the synchronization signal  41  with the magnetic field  80  at the fuse  44 .    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises the receiver unit  14  starting a counter to determine if a specific phase position of a measured voltage at a wire  46  is same or different from a corresponding phase position of a measured voltage present at a live line  28 ,  32 ,  36  connected to the plug  24  to determine a relative phase position between a voltage sensed by the receiver unit  14  and a voltage sensed at the plug  24 .  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises the sender unit  12  sending a radio signal  40  to the receiver  14 .  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the method further comprises comparing peak values of a wave curve of a current at the wire  46  with a position of peak values of a current at the plug  24 .  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the method further comprises determining if the current in the wire  46  is in same phase as the current in the plug  24 .  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the method further comprises displaying a phase relationship between the current of the wire  46  with the current of the plug  24 .  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises determining which fuse  44 ,  45  is connected to the plug  24 .  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises the receiver unit  14  transmitting a trigger signal  47  to the sender  12  to apply a current at the plug  24 .  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the method further comprises measuring a time period until a fault detector  51  is released.