CA1228393A - Vehicle-residential battery access system - Google Patents

Abstract

S P E C I F I C A T I O N

IMPROVED VEIHCLE-RESIDENTIAL BATTERY ACCESS SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure An improved system for conveniently and safely accessing and utilizing the electrical system and storage battery of a vehicle, allowing safe and rapid connection of said system to other vehicle's electrical systems, to auxilary electrical apparatus, or to compatable storage batteries for jump start-ing, for supplying power to external devices, or for emergency electrification of the home. The present invention obtains these results while protecting against shorted circuits, faulty connections or improper voltage polarities. The apparatus is amenable to automotive, marine, aircraft, industrial or stationary use for temporary, emergency or permanent connections.

Description

~2Z8393 BACKGROUND OF TOE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to access and utilization systems for electrical power supply systems and equip-mint, and in particular to an improved access and utilization system for permanent or emergency connection of external power S sources or loads, including the home power distribution wiring system, to the storage battery electrical system of an automobile.

Modern automobiles, vehicles, and many stationary power sources commonly utilize electrical systems to start the respective engines and to operate other associated equipment. These elect tribal systems generally rely upon and utilize storage batteries to supply the necessary electric current.

Although such systems are generally reliable, it is often necessary or desirable to supply electrical current to the system from an external source to supplement the output of the storage battery, such as when the storage battery is in a discharged or depleted condition. Conversely, it it desirable to be able to supply electric current from the automotive system to other such systems which may be similarly depleted.

Many homes today rely extensively upon an uninterrupted I supply of electricity in order to maintain indispensable functions of modern life. For example, electric sup pumps are often no-squired to prevent flooding or foundation erosion, particularly during heavy rainstorms. Further, many homes utilize gas, oil or other types of forced air or circulated hot water heating I systems Although the requisite combustible material may be available to such furnaces during power outages, electricity is still needed to run the various fan motors, pumps and elect tribal relays which are necessary for such heating systems to operate.

-2-Therefore, it is desirable to be able to energize the home electrical distribution system during periods of power outage to maintain such functions, and is desirable to utilize the available potential of the automotive electrical system to S provide such electrification. An appropriate access, connection and conversion system is thus required.

In addition to the foregoing, it is also often convenient and desirable to be able to readily insert or remove toe storage battery from an associated automobile electrical system. For example, discharged batteries may be removed for recharging and then reinstalled, or may be exchanged for previously charged batteries, thereby insuring that the automobile's power system will be in top readiness for uses as described above.

There are many dangers and difficulties associated with lo performing the aforementioned tasks of accessing, connecting to, and utilizing the storage battery electrical system of a vehicle.
Because very high currents may typically be involved, it is necessary to insure that electrical connections are secure.
Further, sparks often result when such connections are made, and these sparks may ignite hydrogen gas and other flammable vapors or fluids associated with an automobile's storage battery and engine. In addition, modern vehicles typically employ elect ironic and other electrical equipment which may be seriously damaged if electrical current of improper voltage polarity is US attached. Further, typical methods of connecting storage batteries to automotive systems and to external devices are cumbersome, difficult to apply or remove, and prone to corrosion.

l2za3s3 Therefore, it is desirable to have a system which will permit secure and corrosion free access to a vehicle's electrical system, will minimize the danger of incorrect polarity of connection, will permit rapid, secure and corrosion free connection to the storage battery, and will permit such advantageous connections to be made quickly, even under adverse conditions.

Previous devices have attempted to provide some of the aforementioned qualities. Among these are Applicant's prior patent, US. Pat. No. 4,157,492 issued June 5, 1979. However, such devices have not completely or adequately provided all of the desirable functions or qualities. The present invention provides such an an improved and useful system.

The advantages offered by the present invention are that the system described provides the necessary safety and protection against short circuits and incorrect voltage polarity, by insuring that only proper connections can be effected, or by informing the operator when incorrect connections are made in a manner best Dyson to draw the potentially dangerous condition to the alien-lion of the operator. Further safety is achieved by providing a system that permits such access to an automotive power system to be made external to the engine compartment of the automobile.

Convenience is enhanced by providing a system which may be permanently attached to the automotive electrical system and stored within the engine compartment, whereby it is always available for unexpected emergency use. Finally, flexibility is achieved by providing a system which is amenable to supply-in electrical current to a diversity of external loads, in-cludiny the anility to energize a home electrical distribution wiring system for emergency maintenance of essential functions.
isles and other objects and advantages of the invention shall be apparent in light of the present specification.

lZ28393 Summary of the Invention The present invention comprises an improved system for accessing and utilizing the electrical system and storage battery of automotive or other battery electrical systems.

The system includes a first electrical cable assembly S which is designed to be permanently or semi-permanently attached to the electrical system of a first automobile, a second cable assembly designed for attachment of an external load to the first vehicle's electrical system, and a connecting adapter designed to permit these two cable assemblies to be electrically joined.

In order to insure that correct voltage polarity is maintained in such connections, the male plugs associated with the cable assemblies are geometrically polarized such that they may cooperate with the female sockets of the connecting adapter in one physical and electrical orientation only.

The connecting adapter in the preferred embodiment includes a multiplicity of female sockets designed to cooperate with the male plugs, wherein the respective electrical contacts of the female sockets are electrically connected so that a male plug inserted into one of the multiplicity of female sockets is thereby electrically connected in proper polarity to a similar male plug inserted into another of the multiplicity of sockets.
.

In order to warn the operator when an accidental situp-lion of incorrect voltage polarity exists with respect to the second cable assembly, the present invention further includes I a polarity indicator. In the preferred embodiment, this India actor provides audio or visual warning when the second cable assembly has been incorrectly attached. Further, the present invention provides such polarity indicator within the housing ~228393 of the male plug itself. This is important for the access system will be advantageously utilized by making the connection between any two electrical systems by the final act of plugging the male plug of one system into the male plug and connecting S adapter combination of a second system. Therefore, inclusion of the polarlty~indicator into the male plug assures that the warning will be delivered most directly to the operator prior to the final connection being made, thereby maximizing the probability that such warning will be noted.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the alone-mentioned connection to the storage battery or electrical system of the automobile is accomplished by attaching the male plug of the access system directly to the battery itself by means of a female socket which is integral to the storage battery. Such a female socket may be attached to or may be molded integrally into the case of such a storage battery, with the electrical contacts of such socket being internally connected to the power bus of the battery so as to pro-vise direct access to the battery's electrical capacity. Such a battery may further include alternative standard top or side mounted binding posts or, in the preferred embodiment, may include a multiplicity of such integral female sockets. Further, in one em-bodiment, a first cable assembly attached to the automobile electric eel system may be utilized in conjunction with one of the multiply-city of female sockets to provide the requisite electrical connect I lion of the storage battery to the automobile electrical system, thereby permitting rapid and corrosion-free plagues connection of the storage battery to the automobile, facilitating the in-stallation and removal of the battery.

The second cable assembly of the present invention may be utilized to attach many forms of external loads to the autumn-live system. In one embodiment, spring biased clamps are provided ~228393 to permit temporary connection to other vehicle electrical systems which are not equipped with a corresponding battery access system, such as for jump starting. Alternatively, emergency lighting or other electrical equipment may be connected directly to the second cable assembly.

In another embodiment, such external equipment includes an electrical converter for converting the electrical output of the the vehicle, which is generally a direct current, to a second electrical vower output which may be of an elevated voltage alter-noting current, such as that typically supplied to the home by power utilities for operation of lighting equipment and apply-antes. In this manner, the battery access and utilization system may be used to supply standard electrical power to remote toga-lions, or may be used to supply emergency power for the operation I of necessary equipment to the home during periods of utility power outage. In relation to such emergency home use, special-iced connectors may be used to permit connection of the converter directly to the home power distribution wiring system, whereby tune home distribution system is energized, thereby supplying I and distributing necessary electrical power to the appropriate appliances an equipment.

~Z28:~93 rife Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 of the drawings is an exploded elevation Al view of one embodiment of the battery access system, showing particularly the relationship between the male plugs and the female adapter;

Fig. 2 of the drawings is a schematic representation of a typical application of the present invention for inter-connection of the electrical systems of two automobiles;

Fig. 3 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the female adapter;

Fig. 4 of the drawings is an exploded view of a repro-tentative system incorporating an integrated storage battery and female socket unit, an appropriate male plug cable assembly for connecting the battery to a first automobile electrical system, an electrical extension for connecting the battery to external devices, and corresponding caps for sealing and protecting the electrical plugs and sockets.

Fig. 5 of the drawings is an exploded elevation Al view of another embodiment of the invention illustrating use of a converter means;

I Fig. 6 of the drawings is a side elevation Al view of another embodiment of the system with converter means comprising an electric motor coupled to an electric generating means, and further illustrating alternative output connection apparatus; and Fig. 7 of the drawings is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the converter means, namely a relax-lion oscillator circuit.

lZZ8393 Detailed Description of the Drawings While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

one embodiment and configuration of the improved battery access system is shown in Fig. 1. The system includes a first cable assembly, a connecting adapter, and a second cable assembly, each with appropriate respective connectors attached. Specific gaily, the first cable assembly consists of a first insulated electric cable 11, said cable containing a multiplicity of electrical conductors 12 surrounded by suitable oil and gasoline resistant flexible insulation. First system connection means 13 are attached to a first end of the first insulated electric cable 11, which in Fly. 1 consist of electrically conducting lugs 52 designed for perrllanent or semi-permanent attachment of the first cable assembly to the electrical system of an automobile.

First-male plug connection means 10 is attached to the MU second end of the first insulated electric cable 11. This male ply connection means 10 includes a multiplicity of male electric gaily conducting prongs 14 which are connected respectively to the multiplicity of electrical conductors 12. In the preferred embodiment, the male ply connection means 10 includes a pair of I male electrically conducting prongs 14 situated orthogonally to one another in a geometrically polarized manner, thereby per-Mouton cooperation of the resulting male plug connection means 10 with a cooperating female plug connection means 21 in one pry-steal and electrical orientation only.

go lzza3s3 The male plug connection means 10 further includes an insulating shroud 31 extending from the perimeter of the body of the male ply connection means 10 a distance substantially equal to or treater than the distance that said male electrically conducting prongs 14 protrude from the body of the male plug 10.
In this fashion, a protective insulating cavity 32 is created which substantially encloses the male electrically conducting prongs 14.

The system illustrated in Fig. 1 further includes a con-nicotine adapter 20 for interconnecting a multiplicity of the alone-described male slug connection means 10. The connecting adapter 20 includes a multiplicity of female plug connection means 21 which are designed to cooperate with the male plug connection means 10. Each female plug connection means 21 further includes lo a multiplicity of female electrically conducting sockets 22 which are designed to slid ably electrically engage the male electrically conducting prongs 14. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the preferred embodiment for the connecting adapter 20 includes a pair of female plug connection means 21 contained in a unit MU tired body 23 formed of suitable insulating material. The female electrically conducting sockets 22 for each of the pairs of female plug connection means 21 are formed from unitized single pieces of suitable metallic conducting material, such as copper, thereby providing the requisite internal electrical connection, and are mounted within the body 23 of the connecting adapter 20 and recessed therein to provide electrical insulation and isolation.
apertures 24 passing through the body 23 permit the male electrically conductillg prongs 14 to pass through and into the body 23 to elect tribally engage said recessed female sockets 22.

~2Z8393 The system of Fig. 1 further illustrates a second male plug connection means lo containing voltage polarity indicating means 30 within the body of the plug. This polarity indicating means 30 may in one embodiment comprise a visual warning output device, or in another embodiment, an audible output warning device, each designed to inform the operator when a condition of incorrect voltage polarity exists with respect to the electrical conductors 12 associated with the second insulated electric cable 15, which cable is attached at its first end to the second male plug connect lo lion means lo Second system connection means are attacked to the sea-on end of the second insulated electric cable 15. In one embody-mint, this second system connection means comprises spring biased electrically conducting clamps 40, which are designed for rapid temporary connection of the second cable assembly to ester-net devices, such as for jump starting an automobile which is not equipped with a permanent first cable assembly as described.

Flexible attachment mounting means 35 are attached to both the male plug connection means lo and to the connecting adapter 20.
I In one embodiment, these flexible attachment mounting means 35 come rise loops, to which suitable flexible connecting means 36 are attached, thereby flexibly connecting the connecting adapter 20 to the male plug connection means 10, yet permitting them to be selectively engaged or disengaged. Storage attachment means 37 is attached to the connecting adapter 20 to facilitate storage within the engine compartment by securing the battery access system therein to the fireball or to other engine compartment equipment during periods between use.

Fig. 2 illustrates a typical application for the battery access system illustrated in Fig. l. The first cable assembly is Shelley attached by means of electrically conducting lugs 52 to the electrical system of a first automobile, car A. The second cable assembly is shown connected in a temporary fashion by means of sprint biased electrically conducting clamps 40 to the electrical system or battery of a second automobile, car B. The first and second male ply connection means 10 are then shown cooperating with the connecting adapter 20 to complete the electrical connect lion of the electrical systems of the two automobiles, cars A and I, while maintaining there between the correct respective voltage polarities as illustrated.

Fly. illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention which includes female plug connection means 21 integral to an electrical storage battery 50. Illustrated is the pro-furred embodiment wherein said storage battery 50 includes a multi-I plicity of said female plug connection means 21.

A first cable assembly consisting of a first insulated electric cable 11 terminated at its first end by male plug connect lion means 10 and at its second end by electrically conducting lugs 52 is provided for connecting the storage battery 50 to the electrical system of the automobile in cooperation with one of the female plug connection means 21 integral to the storage battery 50.
A second cable assembly comprising an electrical extension means 51 is shown. This electrical extension means 51 includes a second insulated electric cable 15 terminated at both its first and I second ends by male plug connection means 10. Connecting adapter 20 cooperates with one of the male plug connection means 10 to provide means for connection of external devices.

Fig. 4 further illustrates a male protective cap 38 with protruding tangs 43 designed to cooperate with and engage the female plug connection means 21 and thereby protect the .. .. .. ..

lZX8393 connection means from dirt and corrosion, and to provide additional insulation. Similarly, a female protective cap 39 is shown which is designed to engage the insulating shroud 31 of the male plug connection means 10, thereby substantially enclosing the cavity 32 and similarly insulating and protecting the male electrically conducting prongs 14.

Further representative embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In each, a con-venter means 25 is provided for converting a first electrical output of a riven source into a second electrical output with differing electrical characteristics. The first electrical output is supplied to the converter by an insulated electric cable 15 which is connected at its first end to a male plug connection means 10, and which is connected at its second end to the converter 25. Connecting adapter 20 is further shown.

Output insulated electric cable 18 containing a multiply-city of electrical conductors is connected at its first end to the output of the converter means 25, and is further connected at its second end to output connection means 17. Output connection means 17 is designed for connecting the electrical output of the convert ton 25 to external electrical loads and devices and, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, is susceptible of alternative embodiments. In one embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, the output connection means 17 comprises a standard female output socket means 34, into which I standard appliance plugs may be inserted.

Another embodiment of the output connection means 17, as illustrated in Fog. 6, includes a first insulated connection plug means 53 attached to the second end of the output insulated elect trig cable 18. This first insulated connection plug means 53 I includes a multiplicity of first electrical contacts 54 which are connected to the multiplicity of conductors contained within lZ28393 the output electric cable 18. Insulated house plug means 56 are provided, which contains a multiplicity of second electrical contacts 55. These second electrical contacts 55 are designed to cooperate with the first electrical contacts 54 during engagement 5 - of the first insulated connection plug means 53 with the insulatedhouse plug means 56, whereby the output of the converter 25 is supplied to the parallel power distribution system of the home by means of connecting wires 59 attached at their first end to the second electrical contacts 55 and at their second end to the parallel power distribution system of the home.

In one specific embodiment, the first insulated connect lion plug means 53 comprises a standard male electrical appliance plug 57, and the insulated house plug means 56 comprises a stank dart home wall outlet socket 58. In this manner, the system may be attached by means of any existing standard outlet socket 58 to any home for emergency use, without the need for specialized home connectors.

Fig. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the converter means 25, namely a relaxation oscillator converter circuit. A relaxation oscillator including a unijunction transistor 45 is utilized to repetitively trigger a silicon controlled rectifier 46, which is connected in series with the input winding of an output transform men 47. this series connection is further connected via appear-private male plug connection means 10 to an input direct current power source. Switch 48 is included in series with the input power supply to permit the supply current to be selectively applied or removed from the converter 25.

The unijunction transistor 45 operating in conjunction with the silicon controlled rectifier 46 creates a substantially I square wave signal which is applied to the input primary winding of the output transformer 47, whereby a similarly alternating output ~2Z8393 of differing voltage is produced at the output winding of the transformer 47. This output is connected by the output insulated electric cable 18 to the output connection means 17 as previously described.

Fig. 7 further illustrates the inclusion of a current limiting means 44 inserted in series with one electrical conductor of the output insulated electric cable 18, which in the preferred embodiment comprises an appropriate fuse or circuit breaker de-signed to limit the output current to a redefined maximum, such as MU amps.

Because of the differing electrical power requirements of certain equipment, alternative converter means 25 may be required.
Such an alternative converter is illustrated in Fig. 6, and come proses an electric motor 26 mechanically coupled to an electrical generating means 27 by appropriate coupling means 28. Power to the electric motor 26 is supplied by insulated electric cable 15. The rotational mechanical output of the motor 26 is connected to the rotational input shaft of the generating means 27 by coupling means 28, which may comprise conventional speed altering trays-mission means, frictional or mechanical clutch means, or other connection means. In the preferred embodiment, the electric motor 26 consists of a twelve volt direct current shunt motor, and the electrical generating means 27 comprises an electrical alternator designed to output approximately 110 volt peak to I peak alternating current at approximately 60 Hertz.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art having the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from tune scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:

1. An improved system for accessing and connecting auto-motive and other battery electrical systems, including a first insulated electric cable with a multiplicity of electrical conductors, said first cable being connected at its first end to a first electrical system by first system connection means, with first male plug connection means being attached to the second, free end of said cable, wherein said male plug connection means contains a multiplicity of male electrically conducting prong means connected respectively to said multiplicity of conductors, said prong means being geometrically polarized for permitting connection to a cooperating female plug connection means in one orientation only, said system further including second insulated cable means with a multiplicity of conductors, with second male plug connection means connected to the first end of second cable means, and with second system connection means attached to the second end of said second cable means for connection to a second electrical system, and said system for accessing and connecting said electrical systems further including connecting adapter means for connecting two or more of said male plug connection means so as to electrically connect said first insulated electric cable with said second electric cable while maintaining respective electrical polarities therebetween, said system further comprising:
- polarity indicating means contained in one or more of said first and second male plug connection means and attached between at least two of said multiplicity of electrical conductors such that said indicating means produces a first given output when a first of said at least two conductors is at a positive potential with respect to a second and differing given output when said first of said at least two conductors is at a negative potential with respect to said second of said at least two conductors;

- said connecting adaptor means comprising two female plug connection means, each of said two female plug connection means operably connectable with said first and second male plug connection means respectively, each said female plug connection means including a multiplicity of female electrically conducting socket means designed and oriented to slidably engage and electrically contact one of said first and second male electrically conducting prong means, said socket means of each said female electrically conducting socket means being substantially encased and recessed within suitable insulating material forming the body of said female plug connection means, with apertures passing through said insulating body proximate to each of said female electrically conducting socket means, whereby one of said male prong means may pass through said apertures and into said insulating body to engage said female socket means;
- said connecting adapter means further comprising both said female plug connection means integrated to form a single assembly, and wherein said corresponding electrically conducting female socket means are internally electrically connected, and - insulating shroud means connected to said male plug connection means, said shroud means extending from the periphery of the body of said male plug means a distance substantially equal to or greater than the protruding length of said male electrically conducting prong means, whereby a recessed cavity is created, said cavity being open at one end to receive said cooperating female plug connection means, and being formed at its sides by said insulating shroud means and at its base by said body of said male plug connection means, said male prong means being thereby substantially enclosed within said cavity.

2.

The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said system further comprises flexible attachment mounting means attached to said male plug connection means, and flexible attachment mounting means attached to said connecting adapter means, whereby said connecting adapter means may be flexibly connected to said male plug connection means by suitable flexible connecting means passing through or attached to said flexible attachment mounting means, thereby permitting said adapter means to be selectively engaged or disengaged from said male plug connec-tion means yet attached to and retained in the proximity of said male plug connection means.

The improved system of Claim 2 wherein said system further comprises storage attachment means attached to said connecting adapter means to permit said adapter means to be removably secured to said first electrical system for storage between use or for temporary mounting during use.

The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said system further comprises male protective cap means for use in cooperation with said female plug connection means, said male protective cap means being of such size as to substantially cover and thereby protect said female plug connection means, said male protective cap means further including protruding tang means designed to enter, engage and protect said female electrically conducting socket means of said female plug connection means, said cap means being of suitable electrically insulating material.

5.
The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said system further comprises female protective cap means wherein said female cap means are designed to substantially cover and mechanically engage said insulating shroud means of said male plug connection means, thereby covering and electrically insulating said opening of said resulting cavity when attached, whereby said male prong means are substantially encased within a continuous protective cavity.

6.
The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said polarity indicating means comprises audio output means cooperating with suitable polarity determining means, whereby an audible warning signal is produced when improper voltage polarity exists between said first and second of said of at least two conductor means.

7.
The improved system of Claim 6 wherein said audio out-put means comprises piezoelectric audio transducing means.

8.
The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said polarity indicating means comprises visible light emitting means cooperating with suitable polarity determining means.

9.
The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said polarity indicating means comprises light emitting diode means.

10.
The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said second system connection means comprises spring biased electrically conducting clamp means for rapid, temporary connection of said second insulated electric cable to said second electrical system.

11.

The improved system of Claim 1 wherein said system further comprises:
- converter means for converting the first electrical output of said automotive electrical system to a second elec-trical output of differing electrical characteristics;
- output connection means for connecting said second electrical output of said converter means to external loads; and - output insulated electric cable means with a multipli-city of electrical conductors, said output insulated electric cable means being attached at its first end to the output of said converter means, and attached at its second end to said output connection means.
12.
The system of Claim 11 wherein said converter means comprises:
- electrical motor means;
- electrical generating means; and - coupling means coupling the rotating output shaft of said electrical motor means to the rotatable input shaft of said electrical generating means.

13.
The system of Claim 12 wherein:
- said electrical motor means comprises direct current shunt motor means; and - said electrical generating means comprises elec-trical alternator means.

14.
The system of Claim 11 wherein said converter means comprises relaxation oscillator means, said relaxation oscillator including a unijunction transistor means cooperating with silicon controlled rectifier means to produce a control-lable frequenty alternating electrical signal from said first electrical source, said alternating current electrical signal being further applied to transformer means to obtain said second electrical output.

15.
The system of Claim 11 wherein said output connection means comprises female output socket means, said female output socket means for cooperating with standard male electrical appliance plug means.

16.
The system of Claim 11 wherein said output connection means comprises:
- first insulated connection plug means, said first insulated connection plug means including a multiplicity of first electrical contacts connected to said multiplicity of conductors of said output insulated electric cable;
- insulated house plug means, said house plug means including a multiplicity of second electrical contacts designed to cooperate with and electrically engage said first electrical contacts of said first insulated connection plug means, said second electrical contact means being substantially protected and insulated by the housing of said house plug means, and said house plug means being designed to cooperate with said insulated connection plug means to allow the electrical en-gagement of said first and second multiplicity of electrical contacts; and - said multiplicity of second electrical contacts of said insulated house plug means being connected to the parallel power distribution wiring system of a structure to provide access to and to permit the energization of said wiring system.

17.
The system of Claim 11 wherein said system further com-prises current limiting means, said current limiting means connected to said converter means and designed to prevent said second electrical output from exceeding a predefined maximum amperage current.