Handheld communication tester and method for testing direct serial communication capability of an intelligent electronic device in a power system

A handheld communication tester for testing direct serial communication capability of a first intelligent electronic device (IED) in a power system, the first IED including a plurality of transmit bit channels and a plurality of receive bit channels, the handheld communication tester comprising:

• a housing sized for single-hand portability;
• a connector disposed in a wall of the housing, the connector adapted for connection to the first IED or to a serial communication link to the first IED;
• and
• a microcontroller disposed inside of the housing and operatively coupled to the connector and a power source, the microcontroller including a microprocessor and a memory operatively coupled to the microprocessor, the microcontroller being programmed to:
• detect operative connection with the first IED,
• automatically detect and store a Baud rate of the first IED,
• automatically detect and store a transmit identification of the first IED, the transmit identification used to encode transmissions from the first IED, and
• automatically detect and store a receive identification of the first IED, the receive identification used to decode transmissions received by the first IED.

A method for testing direct serial communication capability of a first intelligent electronic device (IED) in a power system, the first IED including a plurality of transmit bit channels and a plurality of receive bit channels, the method comprising:

• providing a handheld communication tester having a housing, a connector adapted for connection to the first IED, and a microcontroller disposed inside of the housing and operatively coupled to the connector and a power source, the handheld communication tester sized for single-hand portability;
• detecting connection with the first IED;
• automatically detecting and storing a Baud rate of the first IED;
• and
• automatically detecting and storing at least one identification of the first IED, wherein the identification comprises a receive identification of the first IED used to decode transmissions received by the first IED.