Power indicator for use with electrical cables
AssigneeDCD Enterprises, LLC
InventorsBryce Dalton, Tyler Moore, Lon Dalton, Justin Pratt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power indicator for extension cords has a male connector at a first end and a female receptacle at a second end, a transformer interposed between, and electrically coupled to, the male connector and female receptacle, the transformer configured to read a load on a circuit and illuminate at least one LED when the load is above a predetermined threshold, indicating that a block heater or other device is drawing power. When connected to an engine block heater, a user can confirm that the block heater is drawing power by the indication of the LED.
Claims18
A power indicator, comprising:
- a male connector at a first end;
- a female receptacle at a second end;
- a transformer interposed between the male connector and the female receptacle, the transformer electrically coupled to the male connector and female receptacle;
- and
- a light-emitting diode (LED) electrically coupled to the transformer;
- wherein the transformer is configured to read a load on a circuit and illuminate the LED when the load is above a predetermined threshold.
A power indicator, comprising:
- a male connector at a first end, the male connector coupled to a plurality of first wires;
- a plurality of second wires at a second end;
- a housing comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) transformer therein, the PCB transformer interposed between the plurality of first wires and the plurality of second wires, the plurality of first wires each coupled to a respective insulation displacement connector on a first end of the PCB transformer, and the plurality of second wires each coupled to a respective insulation displacement connector on a second end of the PCB transformer;
- at least one light-emitting diode (LED) within the housing and electrically coupled to the PCB transformer, wherein at least a portion of the housing proximal to the at least one light-emitting diode is semi-transparent;
- and
- wherein the PCB transformer is configured to read a load on a circuit and illuminate the at least one LED when the load is above a predetermined threshold.
A method of indicating a load on a circuit using a power indicator, the method comprising:
- plugging a male connector into a power source;
- coupling a female receptacle to a device requiring power, thereby closing a circuit;
- wherein at least one light-emitting diode (LED) is configured to illuminate when a transformer interposed between the male connector and the female receptacle detects the load on the circuit that is above a predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.