Apparatus, system, and method for error detection in a stand alone power supply

A system for error checking in a power supply, the system comprising:

• a power supply that provides a regulated output voltage to an electronic load;
• a test load that provides a predetermined level of impedance, wherein the test load is internal to the power supply;
• a power module that determines that a stand-alone power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from the electronic load;
• a connection module that sends the power module a self-test signal in response to the power supply being disconnected from the electronic load;
• a load module that electrically connects the test load to the power supply in response to a determination by the power module that the power supply is in the self-test condition;
• an error checking module that performs one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load in response to the load module electrically connecting the test load, the error checking module further performing one or more error check operations while the power supply is connected to the electronic load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply using the results of the error check operations performed on the test load while the power supply is disconnected from said electronic load and wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply using the results of the error check operations performed while the power supply is connected to the electronic load;
• a notify module that actuates an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply;
• and a log module that records error messages reported from error check operations executed when the power supply is connected to the electronic load and when the power supply is connected to the test load in non-volatile memory.

A computer program product, comprising instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for checking a power supply for errors, the computer program product comprising instructions for:

• determining that a power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from an electronic load;
• connecting a test load that is internal to the power supply to an output terminal of the power supply in response to a determination that the power supply is in the self-test condition;
• performing one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load and performing one or more error check operations while the power supply is connected to the electronic load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply using the results of the error check operations performed on the test load while the power supply is disconnected from said electronic load and wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply using the results of the error check operations performed while the power supply is connected to the electronic load;
• actuating an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply;
• and recording error messages reported from error check operations executed when the power supply is connected to the electronic load and when the power supply is connected to the test load in non-volatile memory.

A method for checking a power supply for errors, the method comprising:

• determining that a power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from an electronic load;
• connecting a test load internal to the power supply in response to a determination that the power supply is in the self-test condition, wherein the test load is internal to the power supply;
• performing one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load and performing one or more error check operations while the power supply is connected to the electronic load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply using the results of the error check operations performed on the test load while the power supply is disconnected from said electronic load and wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply using the results of the error check operations performed while the power supply is connected to the electronic load;
• actuating an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply;
• and recording error messages reported from error check operations executed when the power supply is connected to the electronic load and when the power supply is connected to the test load in non-volatile memory.