Fire alarm testing device and method

A fire alarm testing device, the device comprising:

• an electrical-switch assembly, said electrical-switch assembly including a faceplate with said face-plate including two screw-holes, a control knob, two voltage/resistor measuring points, a plurality of electrical contacts, and two mounting screws;
• and
• an internal circuitry, with said internal circuitry mechanically and electrically coupleable to said face-plate and electrically in communication with a fire alarm system, said internal circuitry including a plurality of terminals, said plurality of terminals comprising a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an R-positive terminal, an R-negative terminal, and a ground terminal;
• wherein said positive terminal and said negative terminal are each electrically coupleable to a corresponding terminal of a fire alarm control panel;
• wherein said control knob comprises four rotatable positions;
• wherein said four rotatable positions comprise a normal position, an open position, a ground position, and a short position such that said fire alarm system is testable by a user by said user rotating said knob to a desired position;
• wherein the normal position connects the positive terminal of the fire alarm control panel to the R-positive terminal and the negative terminal of the fire alarm control panel to the R-negative terminal;
• wherein the open position creates an open circuit between the positive and negative terminals of the fire alarm control panel;
• wherein the ground position connects the positive and negative terminals of the fire alarm control panel to the ground terminal;
• wherein the short position connects the positive and negative terminals of the fire alarm control panel;
• wherein said electrical-switch assembly is rated for 0-40 volts direct current;
• wherein said electrical-switch assembly is rated up to at least 350 milliamps;
• wherein said electrical-switch assembly is rated up to at least 3.5 continuous current-amps;
• wherein said electrical-switch assembly is water resistant;
• wherein said electrical-switch assembly is sealed from dust and debris;
• wherein a height and a width of said face-plate are greater than a standard plate, such that when said standard plate is removed and replaced by said fire alarm testing device said face-plate conceal damage produced by removing said standard plate;
• wherein said control knob includes a keyhole, such that a key is required to operate said control knob;
• wherein said face-plate includes indicia to determine a current position of said four rotatable positions of the control knob;
• wherein said face-plate includes break-away tabs on vertical sides of said faceplate such that a user may adjust an overall height of said face-plate;
• and
• wherein said face-plate includes break-away tabs on horizontal sides of said faceplate such that a user may adjust an overall width of said face-plate.