Edward I Adams

US Patent:

6522147, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

May 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/865913

Inventors:

Paul Kenneth Pickard - Conyers GA
Edward Roger Adams - Englewood TN

Assignee:

Acuity Brands, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G01R 3100

US Classification:

324414, 315 86, 200314

Abstract:

A manually operable test switch useful for testing of inverter units installed in fluorescent lighting fixtures, the inverter units providing an emergency lighting capability to the lighting fixtures on interruption of usual mains AC power and the test switch providing an ability to test the condition of the inverter units during normal maintenance activity. Operation of the test switch shorts an LED carried by a housing of the switch, the housing also being formed integrally with an adjustable toothed connector for mounting the test switch to a portion of the lighting fixture. The switch housing mounts an electrical contact element under spring loading from a resilient bushing, the contact being displaceable against the spring loading by manual manipulation of an electrical circuit which includes the inverter unit so that the LED is shorted and lamping driven under normal conditions is illuminated at reduced levels to prove functional use of the lamping and associated circuitry of the inverter unit for worthiness to function on loss of usual AC mains power.