Modular/re-configurable test platform

A system for testing industrial control modules having at least one output signal, the system comprising:

• a tester interface panel;
• a measurement instrument coupled to the tester interface panel, the measurement instrument being adapted to measure the at least one output signal;
• an electronic load device;
• at least one power relay including a normally open contact, a common contact, and a normally closed contact coupled to the tester interface panel;
• and
• at least one analog relay including a normally open contact, a common contact, and a normally closed contact coupled to the tester interface panel wherein the at least one power relay is configurable to couple the load to the at least one output signal and the at least one analog relay is configurable to couple the measurement instrument to the at least one output signal.

A system for testing industrial control nodules having at least one of a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, the system comprising:

• a tester interface panel;
• an input stimulus device coupled to the tester interface panel, the input stimulus device adapted to provide a plurality of input stimulus signals;
• an electronic load coupled to the tester interface panel;
• a measurement instrument coupled to the tester interface panel, the measurement instrument being adapted to measure the at least one of a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
• a plurality of power relays each including a normally open contact, a common contact, and a normally closed contact coupled to the tester interface panel;
• and
• a plurality of analog relays each including a normally open contact, a common contact, and a normally closed contact coupled to the tester interface panel wherein any of the plurality of power relays are configurable to couple one of the electronic load and any of the plurality of input stimulus signals to any of the at least one of a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs and any of the plurality of analog relays are configurable to couple the measurement instrument to any of the at least one of a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs.

A method for testing industrial control modules having at least one of an input and an output, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tester interface panel;
• coupling input stimulus signals, output stimulus signals, measurement instrument lines and relay contacts to the tester interface panel, the relay contacts including a normally open contact, a common contact, and a normally closed contact for each relay coupled to the tester interface panel;
• configuring at least one relay of the each relay coupled to the tester interface panel so that at least one of the input stimulus signals, output stimulus signals and measurement instrument lines are coupleable to the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• providing a control system for moving the at least one relay between a normally closed state and a normally open state for coupling the at least one of the input stimulus signals, output stimulus signals and measurement instrument lines to the at least one of an input and an output.

A system for testing industrial control modules having at least one of an input and an output, the system comprising:

• means for providing accessibility to input stimulus signals, output stimulus signals, measurement instrument lines and relay contacts, the relay contacts including a normally open contact, a common contact, and a normally closed contact for each relay;
• means for configuring at least one relay of the each relay, so that at least one of the input stimulus signals, output stimulus signals and measurement instrument lines are coupleable to the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• means for moving the at least one relay between a normally closed state and a normally open state for coupling the at least one of the input stimulus signals, output stimulus signals and measurement instrument lines to the at least one of an input and an output.