Electronic circuit testing device

Abstract

The invention relates to testing electrical circuits e.g. for resistance, polarity or continuity testing. A device for use in dead testing radial circuits, the device comprising three connectors 2a, 2

Description

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic testing device. Particularly, it relates to a device for dead testing radial circuits. Background to the Invention There are various safety standards which are required for electrical circuits, on account of the inherent dangers that electricity poses when improperly installed. Examples of such safety tests are resistance and polarity testing. Conventionally, resistance and polarity testing entails making temporary connections between the earth terminal and either live or neutral conductors at the distribution board when the distribution board is not connected to a power supply, and then testing the earth terminal and either live or neutral conductor (as appropriate) at the relevant sockct / outlct / fitting using a multimeter. These tests are commonly known in the field as R1-R2 (Live and Earth) and the RN-R2 (Neutral and Earth) tests. The electrician would then return to the distribution board, remove the temporary connection between the earth terminal and live or neutral conductor (as appropriate), and proceed to perform R1-R2 and RN-R2 tests on all radial circuits of the distribution board as required. Typically, such resistance testing can be time and energy intensive. The testing electrician has to individually make the temporary connections at the distribution board, and then make their way to the socket / outlet / fitting to be tested, which on larger sites can be some distance away from the distribution board. In some cases, a second person can assist the electrician, and make the temporary connection or perform the testing at the socket / fitting / outlet. However, this requires two people, and is thus expensive and time consuming for both people. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above issues with conventional methods of resistance testing for radial circuits. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in dead testing radial circuits, the device comprising three connectors, one configured to be connected to an earth conductor of the circuit to be tested, one configured to be connected to a live conductor of the circuit to be tested, and one configured to be connected to a neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested, a remotely operable relay circuit configured to make and sever connections between two of the earth, live and neutral conductors in response to control signals received from a remote controller, and a power connection configured to connect to an external power source and provide power to the remotely operable relay circuit. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is an apparatus for use in testing radial circuits comprising a device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a remote controller configured to send control signals to the remotely operable relay circuit of said device in response to user control inputs, and a power source configured to connect to the power connection of the device and provide power thereto. Provision of such a device which can remotely make and sever connections at the distribution board allows for an electrician to make and sever the connections whilst at the sockct / outlct / fitting being tested, saving significant time in travelling between the distribution board and said socket / outlet / fitting. Further, provision of a power source within the device allows these tests to be performed whilst there is no power supplied to the distribution board, which enables the testing to be performed in a safer manner, and in scenarios where no power is supplied to the distribution board. This enables the full suite of dead testing between live and neutral, live and earth and earth and neutral to be performed from the socket / outlet / fitting. The relay circuit and, where provided, the remote controller may be operable via any suitable wireless communication technique. Suitable wireless communication techniques include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth (RTM), radio, infrared, 3G, 4G and / or Wi-Fi (RTM). The power connection may be wired. For example, the power connection may be USB-B, USB-C cable or the like. Alternatively, the power connection may be wireless, for example an inductive charger The connectors may each comprise a connection means. The connection means of each connector may be configured to contact the conductor being tested. The connection means may be a crocodile clip, a conventional probe tip or the like. The connectors may comprise a conduit. The conduit may extend between and connect the connections means and relay circuit. The conduit may be a conventional wire. The device may comprise more than three connectors. In a particular embodiment, the device comprises five connectors. This allows for the device to be used for testing 3-phase circuits, as will be understood by the skilled person. The skilled person will understand that a 3-phase circuit comprises an earth conductor, a neutral conductor and three individual live conductors. In such embodiments there may be: one connector configured to be connected to an earth conductor of the circuit to be tested, one connector configured to be connected to a neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested, and three connectors configured to each be connected to one of the three live conductors of the circuit to be tested. In such embodiments, the relay circuit may be configured to make and sever connections between any two of the earth, live and neutral conductors. This enables the full suite of dead testing for a 3-phase circuit to be performed from the socket / outlet / fitting. The remote controller may comprise a power source. Said power source may be a battery. The remote controller may comprise a single user input. The single user input may be in the form of a button. The single user input may be operable to control the relay circuit by in turn making and severing the connections in a set manner. For example, a first user input may generate a control signal to make a connection between a designated pair of conductors of the device (say the earth and live conductors). The second user input may generate a control signal to sever the previously made connection between a designated pair of conductors of the device (in this example the earth and live conductors). A third actuation may make a connection between a different pair of conductors (say the live and neutral conductors). A subsequent actuation would then sever the most recently made connection. This process could then repeat until all pairs of conductors have been made and severed (and tested therebetween). Alternatively, the remote controller may have one or more dedicated user input for each connection which the relay circuit is configured to make and sever. In a particular embodiment, there is one dedicated input for each connection which the relay circuit is configured to make and sever, and in such embodiments a first actuation makes the relevant connection, and the second actuation severs the connection. Alternatively, there may be two dedicated user inputs for each connection which the relay circuit is configured to make and sever, and in such embodiments a one user input is configured to make the relevant connection, and the second user input is configured to sever the connection. The remote controller may comprise a display unit configured to display the status of the connections of the relay circuit. In a specific example, the controller comprises a lamp which, when lit, indicates that a connection has been made by the relay circuit. The remote controller may comprise one or more lamps. In a particular embodiment, there is a dedicated lamp for each connection that the relay circuit is operable to make and sever. This enables the user to quickly determine whether or not any conductors are connected for testing and, if so, which conductors need to be tested. Alternatively, the remote controller may comprise a display unit in the form of a screen. Such a screen may be operable to show a user information on the state of any connections within the relay circuit. In such embodiments, the screen may be a touch screen to allow user inputs thereto. The device of the apparatus may comprise any optional features of the device as desired or as required. The power source may comprise a battery. The power source may be a conventional battery pack, power bank or the like. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of testing a radial circuit using an apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the method comprising: connecting the power connection of the device to the power source, connecting the relevant connectors of the device to the relevant earth, live and neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested on the distribution board, remotely making a connection between two of the earth, live and neutral conductors by sending appropriate control signals from the remote controller to the remotely operable relay circuit, testing the circuit, and remotely severing the connection between said two of the earth, live and neutral conductors by sending appropriate control signals from the remote controller to the remotely operable relay circuit. The steps of remotely making, testing and then severing a connection can be repeated iteratively until any and / or all combination of conductors of the circuit to be tested have been tested as required or desired. It will be understood that the power connection may be connected to the power source after the connection of the relevant connectors of the device to the relevant earth, live and neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested on the distribution board. The testing may comprise resistance testing. The testing may comprise polarity testing. The testing may comprise continuity testing. The method may comprise an initial step of isolating the distribution board to ensure no power is supplied to the circuits to be tested. The method may comprise a final step of connecting the distribution board to provide power to the tested circuits, to allow further (live) testing. Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a device according to the present invention Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention Figure 3 shows a flow chart detailing a method according to the present invention. Turning to figure 1, there is provided a device 1. The device 1 is a device for use in dead testing electronic circuits, and in particular radial circuits. The device 1 has three connectors 2a,2b,2c. In this embodiment, the connectors 2a,2b,2c each comprise a connection means in the form of a crocodile clip 3a,3b,3c at their free ends to facilitate connection of each connector 2a,2b,2c to a conductor of a radial circuit to be tested (not shown). The opposing ends of the connectors 2a,2b,2c are each coupled to a relay circuit 4. The relay circuit 4 is operable in response to control signals form a remote controller (not shown in figure 1) to make and sever connections between any two of the three connectors 2a,2b,2c. This enables any pair of two connectors 2a,2b,2c to be connected in order that, when the connectors 2a,2b,2c are connected to conductors of the radial circuit to be tested, a closed loop is formed, and testing can be performed on the connected pair of conductors. The relay circuit 4 is operable such that any pair of connectors 2a,2b,2c can be connected, to allow any pairing of conductors of the circuit to be tested to connected and tested. The relay circuit 4 comprises a wireless receiver configured to receive control signals from a remote controller (not shown in figure 1). In this embodiment, the receiver is a wireless 433Mhz 2-channel relay receiver board with transmitter fob. In an alternative embodiment, a 4-channel relay and corresponding transmitter fob is used. The device 1 comprises a power connection 5 connected to the relay circuit 4, such that power is supplied to the relay circuit 4 when the power connection 5 is connected to a power source (not shown in figure 1). Turning to figure 2, there is provided and apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the apparatus 10 is formed of a device 1 as described above, a power source 11 and a remote controller 12. In this embodiment, the power source 11 is a conventional battery pack / power bank, and the power connection 5 of the device 1 is a conventional wire having an appropriate fitting to connect to the power source 11, for example a USB-B cable. The remote controller 12 has a built in (but removable and replaceable) battery providing power to a wireless transmitter (in this specific embodiment a key-fob style 2-button receiver) configured to wirelessly communicate with the corresponding wireless receiver of the relay circuit 4 of the device 1. In this embodiment, the remote controller 12 comprises 2 user inputs in the form of a pair of buttons 13a, 13b. Each button 13a, 13b is configured to make and sever a connection within the relay circuit 4. Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, one button 13a is configured to make and sever a connection between the live and earth conductors of the circuit to be tested, and the other button 13b configured to make and sever a connection between the neutral and earth conductors to be tested. In another embodiment (not shown), the device has five connectors, each having a crocodile clip at their free end to facilitate connection to the conductors of a 3-phase circuit. In such embodiments, the relay circuit is operable to make and sever connections between any combination of two of the five connectors, so as to enable testing of each and every combination of pairs of conductors of a 3-phase circuit. Turning to figure 3, there is shown a method 100 of dead testing a radial circuit using an apparatus 10. The method 100 includes the step (step 101) of connecting the power connection 5 of the device 1 of the apparatus 10 to a power source 11 (in this embodiment a battery pack / power bank). After step 101, the connectors 2a,2b,2c of the device 1 of the apparatus 10 are attached (using the crocodile clips 3a,3b,3c) to the relevant conductors of the circuit to be tested (step 102). Once the connectors 2a,2b,2c have been connected to the relevant conductors, the user then makes a connection between two of the connectors 2a,2b,2c by using the buttons 13a, 13b of the remote controller 12 to send appropriate control signals to the relay circuit 4 (step 103). The conductors which have been connected at the previous step 103 can then be tested by the user (step 104). Once testing is complete, the connection between the two connected connectors 2a,2b,2c can be remotely severed by using the appropriate buttons 13a, 13b of the remote controller 12 to send appropriate control signals to the relay circuit 4 (step 105). The steps 103, 104, 105 of making, testing and severing connections can be completed for as many connections are required to be tested. Once all tests are complete, the connectors 2a,2b,2c can be disconnected from the conductors, and the device 1 can be disconnected from the power source 11 (step 106). The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for use in dead testing radial circuits, the device comprising three connectors,one configured to be connected to an earth conductor of the circuit to be tested,one configured to be connected to a live conductor of the circuit to be tested, andone configured to be connected to a neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested,a remotely operable relay circuit configured to make and sever connections between two of the earth, live and neutral conductors in response to control signals received from a remote controller, anda power connection configured to connect to an external power source and provide power to the remotely operable relay circuit.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the power connection is wired.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the power connection is wireless.

4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the connectors each comprise a connection means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the connection means of each connector is configured to contact the conductor being tested.

6. A device according to either claim 4 or 5 wherein the connection means is a crocodile clip.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the connectors eachcomprise a conduit.

8. A device according to claim 7 when dependent upon any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the conduit extends between and connects the connections means and relay circuit.

9. A device according to any preceding claims wherein the device comprises more than three connectors.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the device comprises five connectors.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein one connector configured to be connected to an earth conductor of the circuit to be tested,one connector configured to be connected to a neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested, andthree connectors configured to each be connected to one of the three live conductors of the circuit to be tested.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the relay circuit is configured to make and sever connections between any two of the earth, live and neutral conductors.

13. An apparatus for use in testing radial circuits comprising a device according to any of claims 1 to 12,a remote controller configured to send control signals to the remotely operable relay circuit of said device in response to user control inputs, anda power source configured to connect to the power connection of the device and provide power thereto.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the remote controller comprises a power source, such as a battery.

15. An apparatus according to either claim 13 or 14 wherein the remote controller comprises a single user input.

16. An apparatus according to either claim 13 or 14 wherein the remote controller comprises one or more dedicated user inputs for each connection which the relay circuit is configured to make and sever.

17. An apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 16 wherein the power source comprises a battery.

18. A method of testing a radial circuit using an apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 17, the method comprising:connecting the power connection of the device to the power source, connecting the relevant connectors of the device to the relevant earth, live and neutral conductor of the circuit to be tested on the distribution board,remotely making a connection between two of the earth, live and neutral conductors by sending appropriate control signals from the remote controller to the remotely operable relay circuit,testing the circuit, andremotely severing the connection between said two of the earth, live and neutral conductors by sending appropriate control signals from the remote controller to the remotely operable relay circuit.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the testing comprises any one of:5 resistance testing,polarity testing, andcontinuity testing.

20. A method according to either of claims 18 or 19 wherein the method comprises an initial step of isolating the distribution board to ensure no power is supplied 10 to the circuits to be tested.

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