A device includes test transmitter having a hot test prong configured for electrical coupling the test transmitter with a hot line of an electrical circuit and signal generator, coupled to the hot test prong, configured to generate a ping signal on the hot line. The hot test prong is configured for insertion into a hot receptable of the electrical outlet. The ping signal is received over the hot line from a test transmitter coupled to the electrical circuit. The device includes a neutral receive prong configured for electrical coupling with a neutral line and a ground receive prong configured for electrical coupling with a ground line. The device may detect presence of the ping signal at the neutral receive prong when a reversed polarity wiring configuration exists and at the ground receive prong when a bootleg ground configuration exists.

A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.

A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.

A test cable is adapted to test punch down blocks used in voice or data communication wiring. The test cable includes a patch cable section having a plurality of wires surrounded by a sheath, a first adapter connected to an end of the patch cable section, a plurality of sub-cables that emerge from patch cable section, each sub-cable including a pair of wires continuing from the plurality of wires in the patch cable section, and a plurality of sub-cable adapters connected to the plurality of sub-cables. Characteristically, each sub-cable has a sub-cable adapted thereto. A method for applying the test cable is also provided.

A device for supplying power to a vehicle-control-unit, including: a first-connection (FC) for a first power-supply-path (PSP), a second-connection (SC) for a second PSP and a neutral-point for connecting the first-PSP and the second-PSP; a first-switch having first and second contacts, the first-contact being connected to the FC and the second-contact being connected to the neutral-point, and a second-switch having first and second contacts, the first-contact being connected to the SC and the second-contact being connected to the neutral-point; a first-measuring-contact for capturing a first-measured-value representing a voltage-potential of the first-PSP, and a second-measuring-contact for capturing a second-measured-value representing a voltage-potential of the second-PSP; a control-device to keep one of the switches open and to keep the other of the switches closed in response to a test-state; and a monitoring-device to provide a monitoring-signal using the first and second measured-values if in the test-state. Also described is a related method.

It is possible to determine, with a simple configuration, that the connection direction of a cable is the reverse direction. A cable is connected for use between a transmission device and a reception device, and transmits data in one direction. A connection direction determination unit determines whether the connection direction is the reverse direction, on the basis of a result of voltage monitoring at a predetermined position on a power-supply line. When the connection direction is determined to be the reverse direction, the information transmission unit transmits information indicating that the connection direction is the reverse direction, to the transmission device or the reception device.

It is possible to determine, with a simple configuration, that the connection direction of a cable is the reverse direction. A cable is connected for use between a transmission device and a reception device, and transmits data in one direction. A connection direction determination unit determines whether the connection direction is the reverse direction, on the basis of a result of voltage monitoring at a predetermined position on a power-supply line. When the connection direction is determined to be the reverse direction, the information transmission unit transmits information indicating that the connection direction is the reverse direction, to the transmission device or the reception device.

Devices, systems and methods for detecting reversed polarity bootleg ground wiring configurations of an electrical outlet are disclosed. For at least one embodiment, a system in includes a test transmitter and a test receiver. The test receiver being configured to detect a ping generated by the test transmitter and determine whether the ping is received via a proper receptacle of an outlet being tested. The system also includes a test receiver configured to determine is a bootleg ground configuration exists using one of time domain reflectometry and/or a resistance based measurement approach. A method for testing an outlet includes one or both of testing for reversed polarity and bootleg ground configurations.

A device may include a wire interface (e.g., port), a detection circuit and a microcontroller. The detection circuit may include a resistor, a comparator, and wiring connecting the resistor to the wire interface and to a first input of the comparator. The microcontroller may provide a test signal to the resistor, and a threshold signal to a second input of the comparator. The test signal passes through the resistor and continues to the wire connector and the comparator first input with little to no change or attenuation when the wire interface is disconnected, but is attenuated when the wire interface is connected to a wire with capacitance charging and discharging based on the test signal. The comparator may compare the voltage of a resulting signal at the wire interface to the threshold signal voltage, and depending on the comparison may detect if a wire is connected to the wire interface.

The present disclosure provides a method and system for ground fault detection. The method may include obtaining an input voltage and a null-ground voltage; determining whether the null-ground voltage is less than a voltage threshold; if yes, further determining whether the null-ground voltage is less than a preset voltage; if yes, determining that the grounding state is normal; if the null-ground voltage is greater than or equal to the preset voltage, determining that the grounding state is abnormal; if the null-ground voltage is greater than or equal to the voltage threshold, determining that the live wire and the null wire are reversed; in the case that the live wire and the null wire are reversed, determining whether the difference between the input voltage and the null-ground voltage is less than the preset voltage; if yes, determining that the grounding state is normal; if no, determining that the grounding state is abnormal.