Method and apparatus for determining the status of a relief valve

An apparatus adapted to determine a status of a relief valve located within a fluid system having a pump and an actuator valve, the fluid system being located on an earth moving machine, the pump delivering fluid to an actuator through the actuator valve comprising:

• a pressure compensation assembly adapted to receive a pressure compensation command and responsively control the fluid pressure of the system, said assembly connecting the pump to a tank;
• a pressure sensor adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid within the circuit and responsively generate a pressure signal;
• and
• a controller adapted to receive said pressure signal, deliver an actuator valve command to the actuator valve thereby placing the actuator valve in a closed position, deliver said pressure compensation command to said pressure compensation assembly, said command placing the assembly in a deactivated position, determining a pressure of said fluid in response to said pressure signal and said deactivated pressure compensation assembly, and determining a status of the relief valve in response to said fluid pressure.