Voltage controlling apparatus and methods of calibrating a device
A voltage controlling apparatus includes a housing, an ammeter, and a voltage adjustment mechanism. The voltage adjustment mechanism is configured to be in electrical communication with a power source and a device, e.g., a vehicle contactor assembly. For calibration of the device, the voltage adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a voltage being delivered to the device, and the ammeter is configured to display a corresponding current reading of the device in response to adjustment of the voltage to the device.
1 . A voltage controlling apparatus comprising:
a voltage adjustment mechanism, in electrical communication with a power source and a contactor assembly onboard a vehicle, the voltage adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a voltage being delivered to the contactor assembly from the power source, wherein the contactor assembly comprises a coil, contact absorbing member, and a calibrating fastener;
an ammeter, in electrical communication with the contactor assembly, configured to display a current reading of the contactor assembly in response to adjustment of the voltage to the contactor assembly, wherein the calibrating fastener is configured to adjust an amount of force that the contact absorbing member applies to the coil; and
a housing for the voltage adjustment mechanism and the ammeter.
2 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voltage controlling apparatus enables calibration of the contactor assembly while the contactor assembly is mounted with respect to the vehicle.
3 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voltage adjustment mechanism comprises a variable resistor.
4 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a circuit and a first pair of leads configured for electrically connecting the circuit to the power source and a second pair of leads configured for electrically connecting the circuit to the coil, the circuit comprising the ammeter and the variable resistor electrically connected in series.
5 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the ammeter and the variable resistor are at least partially housed together in the housing, and wherein the first pair of leads and the second pair of leads extend from respective electrical connections within the housing to outside of the housing for respective attachment to the coil and the power source, and wherein the variable resistor includes an actuator positioned on an external surface of the housing for user adjustment of the variable resistor by a user, and the ammeter includes a display positioned on the external surface of the housing and configured to display the current reading to the user.
6 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising at least one of a battery or a power supply in the housing and a first switch attached to the housing and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ammeter from said at least one of the battery or the power supply, and said at least one of the battery or the power supply configured to power the ammeter to measure and display the current reading.
7 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a second switch attached to the housing, the second switch being normally open and configured, when closed and concurrent with the first pair of leads and the second pair of leads respectively attached to the coil and the power source, to establish an electrical connection between the ammeter, the variable resistor, the coil, and the power source.
8 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coil is in electrical communication with the voltage adjustment mechanism.
9 . The voltage controlling apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the coil is configured to move between a first position and a second position and wherein the voltage is delivered to the contactor assembly when the coil is in the second position.