Motor programming tool

A tool for programming a programmable controller of an electric motor by temporarily associating with a connection block of the electric motor and providing high voltage power and communicating programming signals to the programmable controller, the tool comprising:

• a tool body including an interface portion configured to selectively engage the connection block of the electric motor;
• wiring configured to carry the programming signals, and presenting a plurality of tool terminals at the interface portion for selective electrical contact with a plurality of motor terminals at the connection block to facilitate communication of the programming signals between the tool and the programmable controller;
• a mechanical connection configured to selectively maintain the interface portion engaged with the connection block, wherein the mechanical connection is normally biased toward a closed position in which the mechanical connection is physically engaged with a complimentary structure on the electrical connection block;
• and
• a microswitch interlock configured to be closed by engagement of the interface portion of the tool body with the connection block of the electric motor, and to allow provision of the high voltage power only when closed.

A tool for programming a programmable controller of an electric motor by temporarily associating with a connection block of the electric motor and providing high voltage power and communicating programming signals to the programmable controller, the tool comprising:

• a tool body including an interface portion configured to selectively engage the connection block of the electric motor;
• wiring configured to carry the high voltage power and the programming signals, and presenting a plurality of tool terminals at the interface portion for selective electrical contact with a plurality of motor terminals at the connection block to facilitate providing the high voltage power and communicating the programming signals to the programmable controller;
• a mechanical connection configured to selectively maintain the interface portion engaged with the connection block, wherein the mechanical connection is normally biased toward a closed position in which the mechanical connection is physically engaged with a complimentary structure on the electrical connection block;
• a microswitch interlock configured allow provision of the high voltage power only when closed by engagement of the interface portion of the tool body with the connection block of the electric motor, and to;
• a software interlock configured to allow provision of the high voltage power only during programming of the programmable controller by automatically allowing the high voltage power to be provided at the beginning of a programming process and automatically disallowing the high voltage power from being provided at the end of the programming process;
• and
• a visual indicator mechanism including a light source configured to emit light when the high voltage power is being provided to the programmable controller.