Patent Publication Number: US-2022231527-A1

Title: Power Distribution System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/238,053, filed Apr. 22, 2021, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2019/057745, filed Oct. 24, 2019, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/750,360 filed Oct. 25, 2018, the content of which are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure relates generally to distribution of power to one or more power consuming devices over power wiring, and more particularly to distributing higher (e.g., in-rush) current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for a power source in a power distribution system, such as a remote power distribution system for distributing power to remote units in a distributed communications system (DCS) such as distributed antenna systems (DAS). 
     Wireless customers are increasingly demanding wireless communications services, such as cellular communications services and (Wireless Fidelity) Wi-Fi services. Thus, small cells, and more recently Wi-Fi services, are being deployed indoors. At the same time, some wireless customers use their wireless communication devices in areas that are poorly serviced by conventional cellular networks, such as inside certain buildings or areas where there is little cellular coverage. One response to the intersection of these two concerns has been the use of distributed antenna systems (DASs). DASs include remote antenna units (RAUs) configured to receive and transmit communications signals to client devices within the antenna range of the RAUs. DASs can be particularly useful when deployed inside buildings or other indoor environments where the wireless communication devices may not otherwise be able to effectively receive radio frequency (RF) signals from a source. 
     In this regard,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a distributed communications system (DCS)  100  that is configured to distribute communications services to remote coverage areas  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N), where ‘N’ is the number of remote coverage areas. The DCS  100  in  FIG. 1A  is provided in the form of a wireless DCS, such as a DAS  104 . The DAS  104  can be configured to support a variety of communications services that can include cellular communications services, wireless communications services, such as RF identification (RFID) tracking, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), local area network (LAN), and wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless solutions (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Global Positioning System (GPS) signal-based, and others) for location-based services, and combinations thereof, as examples. The remote coverage areas  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) are created by and centered on RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) connected to a central unit  108  (e.g., a head-end controller, a central unit, or a head-end unit). The central unit  108  may be communicatively coupled to a source transceiver  110 , such as for example, a base transceiver station (BTS) or a baseband unit (BBU). In this regard, the central unit  108  receives downlink communications signals  112 D from the source transceiver  110  to be distributed to the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). The downlink communications signals  112 D can include data communications signals and/or communication signaling signals, as examples. The central unit  108  is configured with filtering circuits and/or other signal processing circuits that are configured to support a specific number of communications services in a particular frequency bandwidth (i.e., frequency communications bands). The downlink communications signals  112 D are communicated by the central unit  108  over a communications link  114  over their frequency to the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1A , the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) are configured to receive the downlink communications signals  112 D from the central unit  108  over the communications link  114 . The downlink communications signals  112 D are configured to be distributed to the respective remote coverage areas  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) of the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). The RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) are also configured with filters and other signal processing circuits that are configured to support all or a subset of the specific communications services (i.e., frequency communications bands) supported by the central unit  108 . In a non-limiting example, the communications link  114  may be a wired communications link, a wireless communications link, or an optical fiber-based communications link. Each of the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) may include an RF transmitter/receiver  116 ( 1 )- 116 (N) and a respective antenna  118 ( 1 )- 118 (N) operably connected to the RF transmitter/receiver  116 ( 1 )- 116 (N) to wirelessly distribute the communications services to user equipment (UE)  120  within the respective remote coverage areas  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N). The RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) are also configured to receive uplink communications signals  112 U from the UE  120  in the respective remote coverage areas  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) to be distributed to the source transceiver  110 . 
     Because the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) include components that require power to operate, such as the RF transmitters/receivers  116 ( 1 )- 116 (N) for example, it is necessary to provide power to the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). In one example, each RAU  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) may receive power from a local power source. In another example, the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) may be powered remotely from a remote power source(s). For example, the central unit  108  in the DCS  100  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  includes a power source  122  that is configured to remotely supply power over the communications links  114  to the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). For example, the communications links  114  may be cable that includes electrical conductors for carrying current (e.g., direct current (DC)) to the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). If the DCS  100  is an optical fiber-based DCS in which the communications links  114  include optical fibers, the communications links  114  may by a “hybrid” cable that includes optical fibers for carrying the downlink and uplink communications signals  112 D,  112 U and separate electrical conductors for carrying current to the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N). 
     Some regulations, such as IEC  60950 - 21 , may limit the amount of direct current (DC) that is remotely delivered by the power source  122  over the communications links  114  to less than the amount needed to power the RAUs  106 ( 1 )- 106 (N) during peak power consumption periods for safety reasons, such as in the event that a human contacts the wire. One solution to remote power distribution limitations is to employ multiple conductors and split current from the power source  122  over the multiple conductors, such that the current on any one electrical conductor is below the regulated limit. Another solution includes delivering remote power at a higher voltage so that a lower current can be distributed at the same power level. The power source  122  may be equipped with an overcurrent protection circuit to shut down the power source  122  when current demand exceeds a given threshold current. For example, assume that the power source  122  is configured to shut down when delivered current Ito the RAU  106  in  FIG. 1B  reaches 3 Amperes (A). When the power source  122  starts to provide power to the RAU  106  having an internal capacitance C as shown in  FIG. 1B , the initially discharged capacitance C draws a higher current to charge from 0 V until the capacitance C is charged. If the power demand by the RAU  106  is 300 Watts and the voltage of the power source  122  is 60 Volts (V), the drawn current I from the power source  122  over the communications links  114  will be 5 Amperes (A) (i.e., 300 W/60 V). In this regard, being that the 3 A current threshold is exceeded in this example, the power source  122  will discontinue delivery of power as a safety precaution, and then may be configured to power-up again at a certain time. However, the cycle of current draw and charging of the capacitance C of the RAU  106  may then repeat again and again with repeated power shut downs. To address this issue, the power source  122  could be selected to have a higher supply voltage V to reduce current I. For example, if power source  122  had a higher supply voltage V of 400 V, the current I flowing through the wires of the communications links  114  for a 300 W power delivery would be 0.75 A (i.e., 300 W/400 V). However, delivering high voltage through electrical conductors may be further regulated to prevent an undesired current from flowing through a human in the event that a human contacts the electrical conductor. Thus, these safety measures may require other protections, such as the use of protection conduits, which may make installations more difficult and add cost. 
     No admission is made that any reference cited herein constitutes prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of any cited documents. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the disclosure relate to distributing higher (e.g., in-rush) currents demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for a power source in a power distribution system. Related methods are also disclosed. As a non-limiting example, such a power distribution system may be provided for distributed communications systems (DCS). For example, the DCS may be a wireless DCS, such as a distributed antenna system (DAS) that is configured to distribute communications signals, including wireless communications signals, from a central unit to a plurality of remote units over physical communications media, to then be distributed from the remote units wirelessly to client devices in wireless communication range of a remote unit. The remote units in the DCS are power consuming devices that require power to operate and can be powered by the power distribution circuit. 
     In exemplary aspects disclosed herein, the power distribution system includes a power distribution circuit that is configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over electrical conductors (“power conductors”) to one or more remote power consuming loads (e.g., remote units) for powering their operations. To limit the current supplied by the power source to power consuming loads to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit, such as for safety or other design or regulatory limitations, the power distribution circuit includes a source power management circuit (PMC) coupled to the power source. The source PMC is configured to detect and limit current demand on the power source to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit. However, the remote power consuming load(s) may have, from time to time, a higher current demand (e.g., an in-rush current demand) than the source current threshold limit of the source power management circuit. For example, the remote power consuming load(s) may demand a higher current on the power source during an initial connection to the power source or a power-up phase. Instead of having to increase the source current threshold limit in the source power management circuit to not risk discontinuing power distribution to the remote power consuming load(s), which may be undesired or not possible due to design or regulatory limitations, an energy storage circuit (e.g., a capacitor circuit) and a remote PMC(s) are also included in the power distribution circuit. The energy storage circuit is coupled to a source power output of the source PMC that carries current from the power source. The remote PMC(s) is coupled between the energy storage circuit and the remote power consuming load(s). The remote PMC(s) is configured to decouple the remote power consuming load(s) from the source PMC so that the current distributed by the source PMC from the power source charges the energy storage circuit and is not distributed to the remote PMC(s) to be distributed to the remote power consuming load(s). In response to a power-up phase of the remote power consuming load(s), the remote PMC(s) is configured to couple the remote PMC(s) to the remote power consuming load(s) so that current supplied by the power source and distributed by the source PMC is distributed by the remote PMC(s) to the power consuming load(s). However, current demanded by the power consuming load(s) that exceeds source current threshold limit of the power source can be supplied by the stored charge in the energy storage circuit. In this manner, the source current threshold limit of the power source may not be exceeded, causing the source PMC to discontinue distribution of current from the power source, even though an instantaneous current demand of the remote power consuming load(s) exceeds the source current threshold limit of the power source. Thus, both desires of limiting the current of the power source while also being capable of supplying higher currents (e.g., short term in-rush currents) demanded by power consuming load(s) exceeding the source current limits of the power source can be accomplished. 
     In other exemplary aspects, the remote PMC(s) may also include a current limiting circuit that is configured to limit the current distributed to the power consuming load(s) to a remote current threshold limit to protect the power consuming load(s). However, the remote current threshold limit can be greater than the source current threshold limit limiting the current demand on the power source without risking discontinuation of power, because as discussed above, the energy storage circuit is configured to provide an additional current to the remote PMC to satisfy current demands by the power consuming load(s) that exceed the source current threshold limit. In yet other exemplary aspects, the remote PMC(s) may also include a bypass circuit that is configured to be activated to bypass the current limiting circuit in the remote PMC(s) to reduce energy loss. The remote PMC(s) can be configured to monitor the current level of power distributed to the power consuming load(s) and to deactivate the bypass circuit to limit the current distributed to the power consuming load(s). 
     In yet other exemplary aspects, the power distribution circuit may include a current detection circuit configured to disconnect the power source from the source PMC in response to detected load on the power conductors in excess of a current threshold level for safety reasons. For example, a human touching the power conductors is an unsafe condition that may be detected by a higher current detected on the power conductors. For example, the current detection circuit may be included in the source PMC and/or the remote PMC(s). The current detection circuit can be configured to wait a period of time and/or until a manual reset instruction is received, before reconnecting the power source to the power conductors to once again allow current to flow from the power source to the power consuming load(s) serviced by the power distribution circuit. 
     In this regard, in one exemplary aspect, a power distribution circuit is provided. The power distribution circuit comprises a source PMC. The source PMC comprises a source power input, and a source current limiter circuit coupled to the source power input and a source power output. The source PMC is configured to receive source current of a source power on a source power input from a power source. The source current limiter circuit is configured to limit the source current to a source current threshold limit to generate a limited source current. The source PMC is further configured to distribute the limited source current on the source power output. The power distribution circuit also comprises one or more remote PMCs. The one or more remote PMCs each comprise a remote power output coupled to a remote unit among one or more remote units. The one or more remote PMCs also are each configured to receive a remote current on a remote power input coupled to the source power output based on the limited source current, and distribute the remote current to the remote unit coupled to the remote power output. The power distribution circuit also comprises an energy storage circuit coupled to source power output. The energy storage circuit is configured to store energy from the limited source current on the source power output in response to a current demand by the one or more remote PMCs being less than the source current threshold limit. 
     An additional aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of distributing power to one or more remote units in a power distribution system. The method comprises receiving a source current of a source power from a power source. The method also comprises limiting the source current to a source current threshold limit to generate a limited source current. The method also comprises distributing the limited source current to at least one remote PMC among one or more remote PMCs. The method also comprises receiving a remote current at each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC based on the limited source current. The method also comprises distributing the remote current to a remote unit coupled to the remote PMC in response to a current demand by the at least one remote PMC among the one or more remote PMCs. The method also comprises storing energy from the limited source current in an energy storage circuit coupled to the at least one remote PMC in response to the current demand by the at least one remote PMC among the one or more remote PMCs being less than the source current threshold limit. The method also comprises discharging stored energy in the energy storage circuit in response to the current demand of the at least one remote PMC being greater than the source current threshold limit. 
     An additional aspect of the disclosure relates to a DCS. The DCS comprises a central unit configured to distribute one or more downlink communications signals over one or more of downlink communications links to a plurality of remote units, and distribute received one or more uplink communications signals from the plurality of remote units from one or more uplink communications links to one or more source communications outputs. The DCS comprises the plurality of remote units, wherein each remote unit among the plurality of remote units is configured to distribute at least one received downlink communications signal among the one or more downlink communications signals from the one or more downlink communications links, to one or more client devices, and distribute the one or more uplink communications signals from the one or more client devices to the one or more uplink communications links. The DCS also includes a power distribution circuit. The power distribution circuit comprises a source PMC comprising a source power input, and a source current limiter circuit coupled to the source power input and a source power output. The source PMC is configured to receive source current of a source power on a source power input from a power source. The source current limiter circuit is configured to limit the source current to a source current threshold limit to generate a limited source current. The source PMC is further configured to distribute the limited source current on the source power output. The power distribution circuit also comprises a plurality of remote PMCs each comprising a remote power output coupled to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units. Each of the plurality of remote PMCs is configured to receive a remote current on a remote power input coupled to the source power output based on the limited source current, and distribute the remote current to the remote unit coupled to the remote power output. The power distribution circuit also comprises an energy storage circuit coupled to source power output. The energy storage circuit is configured to store energy from the limited source current on the source power output in response to a current demand by the plurality of remote PMCs being less than the source current threshold limit. 
     Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows and, in part, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understand the nature and character of the claims. 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed communications system (DCS) in the form of a distributed antenna system (DAS); 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the DCS in  FIG. 1A  illustrating a remote power source delivering power to a remote antenna unit (RAU); 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary power distribution system that includes a power distribution circuit configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over power conductors to one or more remote power consuming loads for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution circuit is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of the power distribution circuit in the power distribution system in  FIG. 2  distributing higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of another exemplary power distribution system that includes a power distribution circuit configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over power conductors to one or more remote power consuming loads for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution circuit is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical-fiber based DCS in the form of a DAS that includes a power distribution circuit configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over power conductors to one or more remote power consuming loads for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution circuit is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary building infrastructure with a deployed DCS and a power distribution system configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over power conductors to one or more remote power consuming loads for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution circuit is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system, including but not limited to the power distribution systems in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of another DCS in the form of an exemplary small cell radio access network (RAN) that includes small cell radio access nodes communicatively connected to an evolved packet core (EPC) and Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) arranged under Long Term Evolution (LTE) for a mobile telecommunications environment, and a power distribution system configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over power conductors to one or more remote power consuming loads for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution circuit is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system, including but not limited to the power distribution systems in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a generalized representation of an exemplary computer system that can be included in any component in a power distribution system configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system, including but not limited to the power distribution systems in  FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 7 , wherein an exemplary computer system is adapted to execute instructions from an exemplary computer readable link. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosure relate to distributing higher (e.g., in-rush) currents demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for a power source in a power distribution system. Related methods are also disclosed. As a non-limiting example, such a power distribution system may be provided for distributed communications systems (DCS). For example, the DCS may be a wireless DCS, such as a distributed antenna system (DAS) that is configured to distribute communications signals, including wireless communications signals, from a central unit to a plurality of remote units over physical communications media, to then be distributed from the remote units wirelessly to client devices in wireless communication range of a remote unit. The remote units in the DCS are power consuming devices that require power to operate and can be powered by the power distribution circuit. 
     In exemplary aspects disclosed herein, the power distribution system includes a power distribution circuit that is configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over electrical conductors (“power conductors”) to one or more remote power consuming loads (e.g., remote units) for powering their operations. To limit the current supplied by the power source to power consuming loads to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit, such as for safety or other design or regulatory limitations, the power distribution circuit includes a source power management circuit (PMC) coupled to the power source. The source PMC is configured to detect and limit current demand on the power source to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit. However, the remote power consuming load(s) may have, from time to time, a higher current demand (e.g., an in-rush current demand) than the source current threshold limit of the source power management circuit. For example, the remote power consuming load(s) may demand a higher current on the power source during an initial connection to the power source or a power-up phase. Instead of having to increase the source current threshold limit in the source power management circuit to not risk discontinuing power distribution to the remote power consuming load(s), which may be undesired or not possible due to design or regulatory limitations, an energy storage circuit (e.g., a capacitor circuit) and a remote PMC(s) are also included in the power distribution circuit. The energy storage circuit is coupled to a source power output of the source PMC that carries current from the power source. The remote PMC(s) is coupled between the energy storage circuit and the remote power consuming load(s). The remote PMC(s) is configured to decouple the remote power consuming load(s) from the source PMC so that the current distributed by the source PMC from the power source charges the energy storage circuit and is not distributed to the remote PMC(s) to be distributed to the remote power consuming load(s). In response to a power-up phase of the remote power consuming load(s), the remote PMC(s) is configured to couple the remote PMC(s) to the remote power consuming load(s) so that current supplied by the power source and distributed by the source PMC is distributed by the remote PMC(s) to the power consuming load(s). However, current demanded by the power consuming load(s) that exceeds source current threshold limit of the power source can be supplied by the stored charge in the energy storage circuit. In this manner, the source current threshold limit of the power source may not be exceeded, causing the source PMC to discontinue distribution of current from the power source, even though an instantaneous current demand of the remote power consuming load(s) exceeds the source current threshold limit of the power source. Thus, both desires of limiting the current of the power source while also being capable of supplying higher currents (e.g., short term in-rush currents) demanded by power consuming load(s) exceeding the source current limits of the power source can be accomplished. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary power distribution system  200  that includes a power distribution circuit  202  configured to receive power from a power source  204  of a source voltage V S  and distribute the received power over power conductors  206 (+),  206 (−) to one or more remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N), which are power consuming loads and have capacitance loads C R(1) -C R(N) . The remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) use the received distributed power over the power conductors  206 (+),  206 (−) for powering operations of electronic circuits in the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). As a non-limiting example, the power distribution system  200  may be within a DCS, such as a DAS or small cell radio access network (RAN), where the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) are communications devices that are configured to distribute received communications signals to client devices. As will be discussed in more detail below, the power distribution circuit  202  includes a source PMC  210  that is configured to receive a source current I S  from the power source  204  that results in remote current I 2  being distributed to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) for powering their operations. To limit the source current I S  supplied by the power source  204  to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit, such as for safety or other design or regulatory limitations, the source PMC  210  includes a source current limiter circuit  212  to limit source current I S  demand by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) on the power source  204  to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit. The source current limiter circuit  212  limits the source current I S  to a limited source current I 1 , which is the source of a remote current I 2  being distributed to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) for powering their operations. For example, the source current limiter circuit  212  may be a hot-swap circuit that includes its own current sensor and shut off circuit/switch. Hot-swap circuits are commonly used in some power supplies may also be employed in the power source  204  itself. The remote current I 2  is supplied to one or more remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) that are part of the power distribution circuit  202 , wherein each remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is associated with and coupled to a remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). The remote current I 2  demanded by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) through the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is split between the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) according to their respective proportional impedances as a voltage divider in this example. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , note that remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) may have, from time to time, a higher current demand than the limited source current I 1  that can be demanded of the power source  204  and distributed by the source PMC  210  to the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). For example, the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) may demand a higher current during an initial connection to the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) of the power distribution circuit  202  or a power-up phase that creates an in-rush current demand on the source PMC  210  and the power source  204 . However, increasing the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212  to meet these higher current demands of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to not risk interruption of power distribution to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) may be undesired or not possible due to design or regulatory limitations. 
     In this regard, as shown in the power distribution system  200  in  FIG. 2 , the power distribution circuit  202  also includes an energy storage circuit  216  that is coupled in parallel to the power conductors  206 (+),  206 (−) between the source PMC  210  and the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). In this example, the energy storage circuit  216  is a capacitor circuit  219 , which is capacitor Cs in this example. The energy storage circuit  216  is configured to store energy from the limited source current I 1  when the remote current I 2  representing the current demand by remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is less than the limited source current I 1  in a charging phase (i.e., I 2 &lt;I 1 ). For example, as discussed in more detail below, the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) may be configured to keep the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) electrically disconnected from the power distribution circuit  202  during the charging phase to prevent a current demand of the remote current I 2  higher than the source current threshold limit of the limited source current I 1  until the energy storage circuit  216  is sufficient charged. Then later, if the current demand for the remote current I 2  by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is higher than the source current threshold limit of the limited source current I 1  that can be distributed by the source PMC  210  (e.g., an in-rush current demand), the higher demanded remote current I 2  can be satisfied by the limited source current I 1  distributed by the source PMC  210  and a current I CS  that is generated by the energy storage circuit  216  in a discharge phase based on a stored charge from the limited source current I 1  in the charge phase (e.g., remote current I 2 =limited source current I 1 +current I CS ). The energy storage circuit  216  acts as a second power source to supplement the power supplied by the source PMC  210 . In this manner, the source current threshold limit of the power source  204  enforced by the source current limiter circuit  212  of the source PMC  210  is not exceeded, which may otherwise cause an interruption or discontinuation of power from the power source  204 . For example, the power source  204  may be designed to automatically shut off when the current demand on the power source  204  exceeds its internal current demand limits. 
     Thus, in the power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2 , limiting the source current I S  of the power source  204  while also being capable of supplying higher currents (e.g., short term in-rush currents) demanded by remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) exceeding the source current limits of the power source  204  and the source current limiter circuit  212  in the source PMC  210  can be accomplished. The power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2  is configured to supply a higher remote current I 2  demanded by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) than the source current threshold limit of the limited source current I 1  without risking the shutting off (tripping) the power source and/or without having to choose a power source  204  that can supply a higher current for peak operations, when a lower current power source would be sufficient for nominal operations. Also, it may not be possible to choose a power source  204  for the power distribution system  200  that has increased current demand capability due to regulatory or other safety considerations. 
     More exemplary detail of the power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2  will now be described. The source PMC  210  in the power distribution circuit  202  includes a source power input  218  configured to be coupled to the power source  204 . The source power input  218  has two terminals, a positive terminal  220 (+) and a negative terminal  220 (−). The source PMC  210  is configured to receive the source current I S  of a source power Ps of the power source  204  on the source power input  218 . The source current limiter circuit  212  of the source PMC  210  is coupled to the source power input  218  and a source power output  222 . The source current limiter circuit  212  is configured to limit the source current I S  to a source current threshold limit to generate the limited source current I 1 . The source current limiter circuit  212  is configured to distribute the limited source current I 1  on the source power output  222  to be distributed to the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). The remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) each include a respective remote power output  224 ( 1 )- 224 (N) coupled to a respective remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) as power-consuming loads. The remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) are each configured to receive a respective remote current I 2(1) -I 2(N)  split from the remote current I 2  on a respective remote power input  226 ( 1 )- 226 (N) in the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) coupled to the source power output  222 . The remote current I 2  is based on the limited source current I 1  as a source of current. The remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) are configured to distribute the respective remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  to the respective remote power outputs  224 ( 1 )- 224 (N) to be distributed to coupled remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the energy storage circuit  216  is also coupled to the source power output  222 . The energy storage circuit  216  is configured to store energy from the limited source current I 1  on the source power output  222  in response to the current demands by the one or more remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) being less than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . This situation can occur when the current demand by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is less than the limited source current I 1  from the source current limiter circuit  212 . For example, this situation can occur when a remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) is physically or electrically disconnected from a remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). Likewise, the energy storage circuit  216  is configured to not store energy from the limited source current I 1  on the source power output  222  when the current demand by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is equal to or greater than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . This situation can occur when the current demands by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is equal to or greater than the limited source I 1  from the source current limiter circuit  212 . For example, this situation can occur when one or more of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) are electrically connected to a remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). For example, when a remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) is initially connected to a remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) and/or powered-up, the remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) may have an in-rush current situation wherein the total of the demanded remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  is greater than the source current threshold limit imposed by the source current limiter circuit  212  on the source current I S  resulting in the limited source current I 1 i. Thus, in the power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2 , when the total of the demanded remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  is greater than limited source current I 1  such that the demand for the remote current I 2  is greater than the limited source current I 1 , the energy storage circuit  216  is configured to discharged stored energy in the form of current I CS  on the source power output  222  to be added to the limited source current I 1  to provide the remote current I 2 . If the energy storage circuit  216  is a capacitor circuit  219 , the capacitor circuit  219  may be sufficiently sized to store enough energy to supplement the limited source current I 1  to meet the demand for the remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  by all of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). Alternatively, the energy storage circuit  216  could be provided by individual energy storage circuits provided in each remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) that are coupled between the respective remote power inputs  226 ( 1 )- 226 (N) and the remote power outputs  224 ( 1 )- 224 (N). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , it may also be desired to limit the remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  as limited remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  that are distributed by the respective remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) to their electrically connected remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). This may be desired for safety reasons for example. In this regard, the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) include optional remote current limiter circuits  228 ( 1 )- 228 (N) that are coupled to the respective remote power inputs  226 ( 1 )- 226 (N). The remote current limiter circuits  228 ( 1 )- 228 (N) are coupled to and between the respective remote power inputs  226 ( 1 )- 226 (N) and the remote power outputs  224 ( 1 )- 224 (N) of the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). The remote current limiter circuits  228 ( 1 )- 228 (N) are each configured to limit the received remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  to limited remote currents I 2L(1) -I 2L(N)  according to a designed remote current threshold limit to be distributed to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). For example, the source current limiter circuit  212  may be a hot-swap circuit that includes its own current sensor and shut off circuit/switch. Hot-swap circuits are commonly used in some power supplies. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the source PMC  210  may also include a touch safe circuit  230  that is configured to instruct the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically disconnect from their respective remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) in the event a current measured on the power conductors  206 (+),  206 (−) is greater than expected. This may occur for example in an event that causes a short circuit between the positive and negative terminals  220 (+),  220 (−) or the power conductors  206 (+),  206 (−) such as human touch on conductors coupled to positive and negative terminals  220 (+),  220 (−) or power conductors  206 (+),  206 (−) that causes an increased and unexpected current demand on the power source  204 . In this regard, the touch safe circuit  230  can include a current measurement circuit  232  that is coupled to the source power input  218  and configured to measure the source current I S  at the source power input  218 . The current measurement circuit  232  generates a current measurement on a current measurement output  234  based on the measured source current I S  at the source power input  218 . The touch safe circuit  230  also includes a safety control circuit  236  configured to receive the measured current measurement output  234 . The safety control circuit  236  is configured to determine if the measured source current I S  exceeds a predefined current threshold level. In response to the measured source current I S  exceeding the predefined current threshold level, the safety control circuit  236  is configured to generate a distribution power connection control signal  238  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to cause the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically decouple from the respective remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). The remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) can be instructed periodically to connect back to the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) so that there is a current demand on the power source  204  for the current measurement circuit  232  measure the source current I S  at the source power input  218 . If the source current I S  again exceeds the predefined current threshold level, the safety control circuit  236  can generate the distribution power connection control signal  238  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to cause the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically decouple from the respective remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N). Examples of touch safety circuits that can be included as the touch safety circuit  230  in the power distribution circuit  202  are disclosed in PCT Patent Application Publication No. PCT/IL18/050368 entitled “SAFETY POWER DISCONNECTION FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION OVER POWER CONDUCTORS TO POWER CONSUMING DEVICES,” filed on Mar. 29, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process  300  of the power distribution circuit  202  in the power distribution system  200  in  FIG. 2  distributing higher current demanded by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) exceeding overcurrent limits of the source current limiter circuit  212  in the source PMC  210 . The exemplary process  300  in  FIG. 3  will be described with reference to the power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2 . In this regard, a first exemplary step is that the source PMC  210  receives the source current I S  of the source power Ps from the power source  204  on the source power input  218  (block  302  in  FIG. 3 ). A next exemplary step is that the source current limiter circuit  212  limits the source current I S  to the source current threshold limit to generate the limited source current I 1  (block  304  in  FIG. 3 ). A next exemplary step is for the source PMC  210  to distribute the limited source current I 1  to at least one remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) among remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) (block  306  in  FIG. 3 ). A next exemplary step is that the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) receive remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  at each remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) among the at least one remote PMC  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) based on a splitting of the limited source current I 1  (block  308  in  FIG. 3 ). A next exemplary step is for the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) to distribute the remote currents I 2(1) -I 2(N)  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) coupled to the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) in response to a current demand by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) (block  310  in  FIG. 3 ). A next exemplary step is to store energy from the limited source current I 1  in the energy storage circuit  216  coupled to remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) in response to the current demand by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) being less than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212  (block  312  in  FIG. 3 ). A next exemplary step is to discharge stored energy in the energy storage circuit  216  to remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) in response to the current demand by the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) being greater than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212  (block  314  in  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of another exemplary power distribution system  400  that includes a power distribution circuit  402  configured to receive power from the power source  204  of a source voltage V S  and distribute the received power over power conductors  406 (+),  406 (−) to one or more remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N), which are power consuming loads. Common components between the power distribution system  400  in  FIG. 4  and the power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2  are shown with common element numbers between  FIGS. 2 and 4  and will not be re-described. Like the power distribution system  200  in  FIG. 2 , the power distribution system  200  may be within a DCS, such as a DAS, or small cell RAN, where the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) are communications devices that are configured to distribute received communications signals to client devices. As will be discussed in more detail below, the power distribution circuit  402  includes a source PMC  410  that is configured to receive a source current I S  from the power source  204  that results in remote current I 4  being distributed to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) for powering their operations. To limit the source current I S  supplied by the power source  204  to not exceed the designed source current threshold limit, such as for safety or other design or regulatory limitations, the source PMC  410  includes the source current limiter circuit  212  to limit source current I S  demand by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) on the power source  204  to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit. The remote current I 4  is supplied to one or more remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) that are part of the power distribution circuit  402 , wherein each remote PMC  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) is associated with and coupled to a remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). The remote current I 4  demanded by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) through the remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) is split between the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) according to their respective proportional impedances as a voltage divider in this example. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , as shown in the power distribution system  400  in  FIG. 4 , the power distribution circuit  402  includes the energy storage circuit  216  that is coupled in parallel to the power conductors  406 (+),  406 (−) between the source PMC  410  and the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). Like the power distribution circuit  202  in  FIG. 2 , the energy storage circuit  216  in the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4  is configured to store energy from a limited source current I 3  when the remote current I 4  representing the current demand by remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) is less than the limited source current I 3  in a charging phase (i.e., I 4 &lt;I 3 ). For example, as discussed in more detail below, the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) may be configured to keep the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) electrically disconnected from the power distribution circuit  402  during the charging phase to prevent a current demand of the remote current I 4  higher than the source current threshold limit of the limited source current I 3  until the energy storage circuit  216  is sufficient charged. Then later, if the current demand for the remote current I 4  by the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) is higher than the source current threshold limit of the limited source current I 3  that can be distributed by the source PMC  410  (e.g., an in-rush current demand), the higher demanded remote current I 4  can be satisfied by the limited source current I 3  distributed by the source PMC  410  and a current I CS  that is generated by the energy storage circuit  216  in a discharge phase based on a stored charge from the limited source current I 3  in the charge phase (e.g., remote current I 4 =limited source current I 3 +current I CS ). The energy storage circuit  216  acts as a second power source to supplement the power supplied by the source PMC  410 . In this manner, the source current threshold limit of the power source  204  enforced by the source current limiter circuit  212  of the source PMC  410  is not exceeded, which may otherwise cause an interruption or discontinuation of power from the power source  204 . For example, the power source  204  may be designed to automatically shut off when the current demand on the power source  204  exceeds its internal current demand limits. 
     Thus, in the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4 , limiting the source current Is of the power source  204  while also being capable of supplying higher currents (e.g., short term in-rush currents) demanded by remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) exceeding the source current limits of the power source  204  and the source current limiter circuit  212  in the source PMC  410  can be accomplished. The power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4  is configured to supply a higher remote current I 4  demanded by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) than the source current threshold limit of the limited source current I 3  without risking the shutting off (tripping) the power source and/or without having to choose a power source  204  that can supply a higher current for peak operations, when a lower current power source would be sufficient for nominal operations. Also, it may not be possible to choose a power source  204  for the power distribution system  200  that has increased current demand capability due to regulatory or other safety considerations. 
     More exemplary detail of the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4  will now be described. The source PMC  410  in the power distribution circuit  402  includes a source power input  418  configured to be coupled to the power source  204 . The source power input  418  has two terminals, a positive terminal  420 (+) and a negative terminal  420 (−). The source PMC  410  is configured to receive the source current I S  of a source power Ps of the power source  204  on the source power input  418 . The source current limiter circuit  212  of the source PMC  410  is coupled to the source power input  418  and a source power output  422 . The source current limiter circuit  212  is configured to limit the source current I S  to a source current threshold limit to generate the limited source current I 3 . The source current limiter circuit  212  is configured to distribute the limited source current I 3  on the source power output  422  to be distributed to the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). The remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) each include a respective remote power output  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) coupled to a respective remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) as power-consuming loads. The remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) are each configured to receive a respective remote current I 4(1) -I 4(N)  split from the remote current I 4  on a respective remote power input  426 ( 1 )- 426 (N) in the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) coupled to the source power output  422 . The remote current I 4  is based on the limited source current  13  as a source of current. The remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) are configured to distribute the respective remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the respective remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) to be distributed to coupled remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , the energy storage circuit  216  is also coupled to the source power output  422 . The energy storage circuit  216  is configured to store energy from the limited source current I 3  on the source power output  422  in response to the current demands by the one or more remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) being less than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . This situation occurs when the current demand by the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) is less than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . For example, this situation can occur when a remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) is physically or electrically disconnected from a remote PMC  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). Likewise, the energy storage circuit  216  is configured to not store energy from the limited source current I 3  on the source power output  422  when the current demand by the one or more remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) is equal to or greater than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . This situation occurs when the current demands by the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) is equal to or greater than the source current threshold limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . For example, this situation can occur when one or more of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) is electrically connected to a remote PMC  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). For example, when a remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) is initially connected to a remote PMC  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) and/or powered-up, the remote unit  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) may have an in-rush current situation wherein the total of the demanded remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  is greater than the source current threshold limit imposed by the source current limiter circuit  212  on the source current I S  resulting in the limited source current I 3 . Thus, in the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4 , when the total of the demanded remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  is greater than limited source current I 3  such that the demand for the remote current I 4  is greater than the limited source current I 3 , the energy storage circuit  216  is configured to discharge stored energy in the form of current I CS  on the source power output  422  to be added to the limited source current I 3  to provide the remote current I 4 . If the energy storage circuit  216  is a capacitor circuit  219  which is shown as capacitor Cs, the capacitor Cs may be sufficiently sized to store enough energy to supplement the limited source current  13  to meet the demand for the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  by all of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). Alternatively, the energy storage circuit  216  could be provided by individual energy storage circuits provided in each remote PMC  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) that are coupled between the respective remote power inputs  426 ( 1 )- 426 (N) and the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , the source PMC  410  may also include the touch safe circuit  230  that is configured to instruct the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically disconnect from their respective remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) in the event a current measured on the power conductors  406 (+),  406 (−) is greater than expected. This may occur for example an event that causes a short circuit between the positive and negative terminals  420 (+),  420 (−) or the power conductors  406 (+),  406 (−) such as human touch on conductors coupled to positive and negative terminals  420 (+),  420 (−) or power conductors  406 (+),  406 (−) that causes and increased and unexpected current demand on the power source  204 . In this regard, the touch safe circuit  230  can include the current measurement circuit  232  that is coupled to the source power input  418  and configured to measure the source current I S  at the source power input  418 . The current measurement circuit  232  generate a current measurement on a current measurement output  234  based on the measured current at the source power input  418 . The touch safe circuit  230  also includes the safety control circuit  236  configured to receive the measured current measurement output  234 . The safety control circuit  236  is configured to determine if the measured source current I S  exceeds a predefined current threshold level. In response to the measured source current I S  exceeding the predefined current threshold level, the safety control circuit  236  is configured to generate the distribution power connection control signal  238  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to cause the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically decouple from the respective remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). The remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) can be instructed periodically to connected back to the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) so that there is a current demand on the power source  204  for the current measurement circuit  232  measure the source current I S  at the source power input  418 . If the source current I S  again exceeds the predefined current threshold level, the safety control circuit  236  can generate the distribution power connection control signal  238  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to cause the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically decouple from the respective remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). Examples of touch safety circuits that can be included as the touch safety circuit  230  in the power distribution circuit  402  are disclosed in PCT Patent Application Publication No. PCT/IL18/050368 entitled “SAFETY POWER DISCONNECTION FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION OVER POWER CONDUCTORS TO POWER CONSUMING DEVICES,” filed on Mar. 29, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     As discussed above, the energy storage circuit  216  in the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4  is configured to store energy from the limited source current I 3  on the source power output  422  in response to the current demands by the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) being less than the source threshold current limit of the source current limiter circuit  212 . In this regard, in a charge phase, it may be desired to provide for the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to be electrically disconnected from remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) so that there is no current demand by the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) on the source PMC  410  and the power source  204  so that the energy storage circuit  216  is charged by the limited source current I 3 . Then, when the energy storage circuit  216  is charged, the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) can electrically connect their respective remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) so that their peak demand remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  can be satisfied, such as from in-rush current demands. However, a mechanism is needed to determine when remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) should electrically disconnect from and connect to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). In this regard, in the power distribution circuit  402 , the source PMC  410  includes a source voltage sensing circuit  440  to the source power output  422 . The source voltage sensing circuit  440  coupled is configured to sense the source voltage V S  on the source power output  422  and generate a source voltage state signal  442  on a source voltage state output  444  based on the sensed source voltage V S . Before the energy storage circuit  216  is fully charged, the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  is increasing as charging occurs from limited source current I 3 . The source voltage sensing circuit  440  generates the source voltage state signal  442  indicating a charging state, meaning the energy storage circuit  216  is charging. When fully charged after time of capacitance C S *the source voltage V S  divided by the limited source current I 3  (i.e., C 3 *V S /I 3 ), the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  is approximately the source voltage V S , and the source voltage sensing circuit  440  generates the source voltage state signal  442  indicating a charged state, meaning the energy storage circuit  216  is charged. 
     The source voltage state signal  442  is communicated to a respective remote voltage state input  446 ( 1 )- 446 (N) of remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) in the respective remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are configured to cause a remote switch  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) coupled to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) and located between the remote power inputs  426 ( 1 )- 426 (N) and the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) to be opened and closed based on the state of the source voltage state signal  442 . The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are configured to generate switch signals  452 ( 1 )- 452 (N) to cause the respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be opened to decouple the distribution of the remote current I 4(1) -I 4(N)  from the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) in response to the source voltage state signal  442  indicating a charging state, meaning voltage level of the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  is less than a source voltage V S . However, in response to the source voltage state signal  442  indicating a charged state, meaning voltage level of the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  is approximately equal to the source voltage V S , the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are configured to generate the switch signals  452 ( 1 )- 452 (N) cause the respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be closed to couple the distribution of the remote current I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) to place loads on the source PMC  410  and power source  204 . Thus, if the total current demand by the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) is greater than the limited source current I 3 , the energy storage circuit  216  can discharge stored energy to cause a current I CS  to flow to the source power output  422  to supplement and be additive to limited source current I 3 . For example, the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) may be implemented as transistors, or alternatively SCRs of TRIACs. 
     It may also be desired to provide for the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) to be able to open their respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to protect the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) from a current overload situation like the functionality of the source current limiter circuit  212  provided in the source PMC  410 . This may be desired for safety reasons for example. In this regard, the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) in  FIG. 4  also include respective remote current sensor circuits  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N). The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) along with their respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) and respective remote current sensor circuits  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N) form remote current limiter circuits  428 ( 1 )- 428 (N) in the respective remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). For example, the remote current limiter circuits  428 ( 1 )- 428 (N) may be considered hot-swap circuits. 
     In this regard, as shown in the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4 , the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) each include a respective remote current sensor circuit  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N) coupled to their remote power inputs  426 ( 1 )- 426 (N). The remote current sensor circuits  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N) are configured to generate a respective remote current signal  456 ( 1 )- 456 (N) on a respective remote current state output  459 ( 1 )- 459 (N) coupled to the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N). The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are configured to cause the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be opened to decouple the distribution of the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) in response to the remote current signals  456 ( 1 )- 456 (N) indicating a current level greater than a designed or programmed remote current threshold as a overcurrent state. Likewise, the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are also configured to cause the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be closed to couple the distribution of the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) in response to the remote current signals  456 ( 1 )- 456 (N) indicating a current level less than or equal to the remote current threshold as a non-overcurrent state. In this regard, if the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) have determined an overcurrent state, the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) can periodically cause the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be closed to allow the remote current sensor circuits  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N) to measure the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to determine if the overcurrent state still exists. If the overcurrent state still exists, the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) can cause the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be opened again to decouple the distribution of the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N). 
     It may also be desired to provide for the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) to be able to limit the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) like the source current limiter circuit  212  in the source PMC  410  when the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) are closed to protect the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). This can also protect an overcurrent demand on the source PMC  410 . For example, when the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) are initially closed, the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) may have high initial current demands for the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  that could damage the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) if not limited. In this regard, the remote current limiter circuits  428 ( 1 )- 428 (N) also include current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) in this example. The current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) are configured to limit the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  distributed to the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) coupled to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). Note that the total current of the limited remote currents I 4L(1) -I 4L(N)  may still be greater than the limited source current  13 , which can be accommodated by the energy storage circuit  216  as discussed above. The source PMC  410  can also be configured to progressively communicate the distribution power connection control signal  238  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to cause the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) to electrically couple to their respective remote PMCs  214 ( 1 )- 214 (N) progressively to minimize initial currents demands. 
     Energy loss occurs in the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) through heat dissipation. To reduce this energy loss, the remote current limiter circuits  428 ( 1 )- 428 (N) may also include remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) that are coupled to remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) between the remote power outputs  424 ( 1 )- 424 (N) and the remote current sensor circuits  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N). The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are configured to cause the remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) to be opened to cause the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) to limit the received respective remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to the limited remote currents I 4L(1) -I 4L(N) , in response to the source voltage state signal  442  indicating a voltage level of the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  and the remote current signals  456 ( 1 )- 456 (N) indicating a non-overcurrent state. However, after a defined period of time has passed according to the design of the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) of the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N), the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) can cause the remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) to be closed to bypass and short circuit the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) to reduce energy loss. As an example, the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) may be negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistors. The use of NTC resistors can provide an additional current limiting mechanism on in-rush currents caused by current demand of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). The initial resistance of the NTC resistors is high and therefore the initial limited remote currents I 4L(1) -I 4L(N)  may is reduced. But after a short period of time, the NTC resistors warm up and their resistances decrease allowing the limited remote currents I 4L(1) -I 4L(N)  to ramp up gradually. When remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) are closed, the power consumption by the NTC resistors is reduced almost to zero, allowing the NTC resistors to cool down and get ready for the next operation. The use of NTC resistors for the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) in combination with the remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) can avoid the need for more costly higher current limiting transistors. For example, the remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) may be implemented as transistors, or alternatively SCRs of TRIACs. 
     Thus in summary, in one exemplary operation of the power distribution circuit  402  in  FIG. 4 , the remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) and the remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) are initially caused to be opened by the respective remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) in the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N). This decouples the loads of the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N) from the remote PMCs  414 ( 1 )- 414 (N) to cause the limited source current I 3  to charge the energy storage circuit  216 . The source current limiter circuit  212  in the source PMC  410  limits the source current I S  to the limited source current I 3 . Once the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  reaches the source voltage V S , the source voltage sensing circuit  440  in the source PMC  410  voltage generates the source voltage state signal  442  to the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) indicating a voltage level of the voltage V CS  across the energy storage circuit  216  reaches the source voltage V S . In response, the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) cause their respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be closed to allow the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to flow to the remote current limiter circuits  428 ( 1 )- 428 (N) to provide the limited remote currents I 4L(1) -I 4L(N)  to the remote units  208 ( 1 )- 208 (N). The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) cause their respective remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) to be opened or are left open to allow the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  to flow to the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) to generate the limited remote currents I L4(1) -I L4(N) . After a defined period of time, remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) cause their respective remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) to be closed to bypass the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N) to avoid heat loss through the current limiting resistor circuits  458 ( 1 )- 458 (N). The remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) are configured to determine from the remote current sensor circuits  454 ( 1 )- 454 (N) if the remote currents I 4(1) -I 4(N)  are in a current overload condition. If so, the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) can cause the respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) and remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) to be opened, and then cause remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) to be closed to check the current overload condition. If the current overload condition still exists, the remote control circuits  448 ( 1 )- 448 (N) can again can cause the respective remote switches  450 ( 1 )- 450 (N) and remote current limiter bypass switches  460 ( 1 )- 460 (N) to be opened, and the process repeated. 
     Power distribution systems that include a power distribution circuit configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power over power conductors to one or more remote power consuming loads for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution circuit is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system, can be provided is a distributed communications system. For example,  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a distributed communications system  500  in the form of a DAS  502  that includes a power distribution system  504 . The power distribution system  504  can include, for example, the power distribution systems  200 ,  400  in  FIGS. 2 and 4  as examples. A DAS, including DAS  502  in  FIG. 5 , is a system that is configured to distribute communications signals, including wireless communications signals, from a central unit  506  to a plurality of remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) over physical communications media, to then be distributed from the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) wirelessly to client devices in wireless communication range of a remote unit  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X). The power distribution system  504  includes a power distribution circuit  510  that includes a source PMC  512  and a remote PMC  514 . The source PMC  512  is configured to receive power from a power source  516  and distribute the received power over power conductors to the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) for powering their operations. The power distribution circuit  510  is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source  516  in the power distribution system  504 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the DAS  502  in this example is an optical fiber-based DAS that is comprised of three ( 3 ) main components. One or more radio interface circuits provided in the form of radio interface modules (RIMS)  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T) are provided in the central unit  506  to receive and process downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) prior to optical conversion into downlink optical communications signals. The downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) may be received from a base transceiver station (BTS) or baseband unit (BBU) as examples. The downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) may be analog signals or digital signals that can be sampled and processed as digital information. The RIMS  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T) provide both downlink and uplink interfaces for signal processing. The notations “ 1 -S” and “ 1 -T” indicate that any number of the referenced component,  1 -S and  1 -T, respectively, may be provided. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5 , the central unit  506  is configured to accept the plurality of RIMS  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T) as modular components that can easily be installed and removed or replaced in a chassis. In one embodiment, the central unit  506  is configured to support up to twelve ( 12 ) RIMS  518 ( 1 )- 518 ( 12 ). Each IM  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T) can be designed to support a particular type of radio source or range of radio sources (i.e., frequencies) to provide flexibility in configuring the central unit  506  and the DAS  502  to support the desired radio sources. For example, one RIM  518  may be configured to support the Personal Communication Services (PCS) radio band. Another RIM  518  may be configured to support the  700  MHz radio band. In this example, by inclusion of these RIMS  518 , the central unit  506  could be configured to support and distribute communications signals, including those for the communications services and communications bands described above as examples. 
     The RIMs  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T) may be provided in the central unit  506  that support any frequencies desired, including but not limited to licensed US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (824-849 MHz on uplink and 869-894 MHz on downlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1850-1915 MHz on uplink and 1930-1995 MHz on downlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1710-1755 MHz on uplink and 2110-2155 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (698-716 MHz and 776-787 MHz on uplink and 728-746 MHz on downlink), EU R &amp; TTE frequencies (880-915 MHz on uplink and 925-960 MHz on downlink), EU R &amp; TTE frequencies (1710-1785 MHz on uplink and 1805-1880 MHz on downlink), EU R &amp; TTE frequencies (1920-1980 MHz on uplink and 2110-2170 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (806-824 MHz on uplink and 851-869 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (896-901 MHz on uplink and 929-941 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (793-805 MHz on uplink and 763-775 MHz on downlink), and US FCC frequencies (2495-2690 MHz on uplink and downlink). 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5 , the received downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) are provided to a plurality of optical interfaces provided in the form of optical interface modules (OIMs)  522 ( 1 )- 522 (W) in this embodiment to convert the downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) into downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S). The notation “ 1 -W” indicates that any number of the referenced component  1 -W may be provided. The OIMs  522 ( 1 )- 552 (W) may include one or more optical interface components (OICs) that contain electrical-to-optical (E-O) converters  526 ( 1 )- 526 (W) to convert the received downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) into the downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S). The OIMs  522 ( 1 )- 552 (W) support the radio bands that can be provided by the RIMs  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T), including the examples previously described above. The downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S) are communicated over a downlink communications link  528 D to the plurality of remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) provided in the form of remote antenna units in this example. The notation “ 1 -X” indicates that any number of the referenced component  1 -X may be provided. One or more of the downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S) can be distributed to each remote unit  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X). Thus, the distribution of the downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S) from the central unit  506  to the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) is in a point-to-multipoint configuration in this example. The power distribution system  504  may also be configured to provide power signals  529 ( 1 )- 529 (X) based on power received from the power source  516  over electrical conductors over the downlink communications link  528 D. For example, the downlink communications link  528 D may be a hybrid cable that includes electrical conductors and optical fibers. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5 , the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) include optical-to-electrical (O-E) converters  530 ( 1 )- 530 (X) configured to convert the one or more received downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S) back into the downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S) to be wirelessly radiated through antennas  532 ( 1 )- 532 (X) in the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) to user equipment (not shown) in the reception range of the antennas  532 ( 1 )- 532 (X). The remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) may also include power interfaces  533 ( 1 )- 533 (X) to receive the power signals  529 ( 1 )- 529 (X) distributed by the central unit  506  to provide power for operations. For example, the downlink communications link  528 D may be a hybrid cable that includes electrical conductors and optical fibers. The OIMs  522 ( 1 )- 522 (W) may also include O-E converters  534 ( 1 )- 534 (W) to convert received uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) from the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) into uplink electrical communications signals  536 U( 1 )- 536 U(S) as will be described in more detail below. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5 , the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) are also configured to receive uplink electrical communications signals  538 U( 1 )- 538 U(X) received by the respective antennas  532 ( 1 )- 532 (X) from client devices in wireless communication range of the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X). The uplink electrical communications signals  538 U( 1 )- 538 U(X) may be analog signals or digital signals that can be sampled and processed as digital information. The remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) include E-O converters  540 ( 1 )- 540 (X) to convert the received uplink electrical communications signals  538 U( 1 )- 538 U(X) into the uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X). The remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) distribute the uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) over an uplink optical fiber communication link  528 U to the OIMs  522 ( 1 )- 522 (W) in the central unit  506 . The O-E converters  534 ( 1 )- 534 (W) convert the received uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) into uplink electrical communications signals  542 U( 1 )- 542 U(X), which are processed by the RIMs  518 ( 1 )- 518 (T) and provided as the uplink electrical communications signals  542 U( 1 )- 542 U(X) to a source transceiver such as a base transceiver station (BTS) or baseband unit (BBU). 
     Note that the downlink communications link  528 D and the uplink optical fiber communications link  528 U coupled between the central unit  506  and the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) may be a common optical fiber communications link, wherein for example, wave division multiplexing (WDM) may be employed to carry the downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S) and the uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) on the same optical fiber communications link. Alternatively, the downlink communications link  528 D and the uplink optical fiber communications link  528 U coupled between the central unit  506  and the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) may be single, separate optical fiber communications link, wherein for example, wave division multiplexing (WDM) may be employed to carry the downlink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S) on one common downlink optical fiber and the uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) carried on a separate, only uplink optical fiber. Alternatively, the downlink communications link  528 D and the uplink optical fiber communications link  528 U coupled between the central unit  506  and the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) may be separate optical fibers dedicated to and providing a separate communications link between the central unit  506  and each remote unit  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X). 
     The DCS  500  in  FIG. 5  can be provided in an indoor environment as illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of a building infrastructure  600  employing the DCS  500 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the building infrastructure  600  in this embodiment includes a first (ground) floor  602 ( 1 ), a second floor  602 ( 2 ), and a Fth floor  602 (F), where ‘F’ can represent any number of floors. The floors  602 ( 1 )- 602 (F) are serviced by the central unit  506  to provide antenna coverage areas  604  in the building infrastructure  600 . The central unit  506  is communicatively coupled to a signal source  606 , such as a BTS or BBU, to receive the downlink electrical communications signals  520 D( 1 )- 520 D(S). The central unit  506  is communicatively coupled to the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) to receive the uplink optical communications signals  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) from the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) as previously described in  FIG. 5 . The downlink and uplink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S),  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) are distributed between the central unit  506  and the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) over a riser cable  608  in this example. The riser cable  608  may be routed through interconnect units (ICUs)  610 ( 1 )- 610 (F) dedicated to each floor  602 ( 1 )- 602 (F) for routing the downlink and uplink optical communications signals  524 D( 1 )- 524 D(S),  524 U( 1 )- 524 U(X) and power signals  529 ( 1 )- 529 (X) to the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X). The ICUs  610 ( 1 )- 610 (F) may alternative include power distribution circuits  612 ( 1 )- 612 (F) like the power distribution system  504  in  FIG. 5  that include power sources and are configured to distribute power remotely to their respective remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X) to provide power for operations. For example, array cables  614 ( 1 )- 614 (F) may be provided and coupled between the ICUs  610 ( 1 )- 610 (F) that contain both optical fibers to provide respective downlink and uplink optical fiber communications links  528 D( 1 )- 528 D(F),  528 U( 1 )- 528 U(F) and power conductors  616 ( 1 )- 616 (F) (e.g., electrical wire) to carry current from the respective power distribution circuits  612 ( 1 )- 612 (F) to the remote units  508 ( 1 )- 508 (X). 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of another DCS  700  in the form of a small cell radio access network (RAN)  702  that includes small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) communicatively connected to an evolved packet core (EPC)  706  and Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)  708  arranged under Long Term Evolution (LTE) for a mobile telecommunications environment. The small cell RAN  702  includes a services node  710  that can include a power distribution system  712  configured to receive power from a power source  714  and distribute the received power over power conductors  716  to one or more small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution system  712  is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system  712 . The power distribution system  712  may be, without limitation, the power distribution systems  200 ,  400 ,  504  in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the small cell RAN  702  forms an access network (i.e., an E-UTRAN under 3GPP. There is no centralized controller in the E-UTRAN  708 , hence an LTE network architecture is commonly said to be “flat.” Macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) are typically interconnected using an X2 interface  720 . The macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) are also typically connected to the EPC network  702  by means of an S1 interface  722 . More particularly, the macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) are connected to a Mobility Management Entity (MME)  724  in the EPC network  706  using an S1-MME interface  726 , and to a Serving Gateway (SGW)  728  using an S1-U interface  730 . An S 5  interface  732  couples the SGW  728  to a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW)  734  in the EPC network  706  to provide user mobile communications devices  736  with connectivity to the Internet  738 . A user mobile communications device  736  can connect to the small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) in the small cell RAN  702  over an LTE-Uu interface  739 . 
     The macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) and the small cell RAN  702  are connected to the MME  724  and SGW  728  in the EPC network  706  using the appropriate S1 interface connections  722 . Accordingly, as each of the small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) in the small cell RAN  702  is operatively coupled to the services node  710  over a LAN connection  740 , the communications connections from the small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) are aggregated to the EPC network  706 . Such aggregation preserves the flat characteristics of the LTE network while reducing the number of S 1  interface connections  722  that would otherwise be presented to the EPC network  706 . Thus, the small cell RAN  702  essentially appears as a single Evolved Node B (eNB)  742  to the EPC network  706 , as shown. 
     A user mobile communications device  736  will actively or passively monitor a cell in a macrocell  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) in the E-UTRAN  708  in the communications range of the user mobile communications device  736  as the user mobile communications device  736  moves throughout the small cell RAN  702 . Such a cell is termed the “serving cell.” For example, if user mobile communications device  736  is in communication through an established communications session with a particular small cell radio access node  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) in the small cell RAN  702 , the particular small cell radio access node  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) will be the serving cell to the user mobile communications device  736 , and the small cell RAN  702  will be the serving RAN. The user mobile communications device  736  will continually evaluate the quality of a serving cell as compared with that of a neighboring cell in the small cell RAN  702 . A neighboring cell is a cell among the small cell RAN  702  and the macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) that is not in control of the active communications session for a given user mobile communications device  736 , but is located in proximity to a serving cell to a user mobile communications device  736  such that the user mobile communications device  736  could be in communications range of both its serving cell and the neighboring cell. Both small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) and the macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) can identify themselves to a user mobile communications device  736  using a respective unique Physical Cell Identity (PCI) and a public land mobile network (PLMN) identification (ID) (PLMN ID) that are transmitted over a downlink to the user mobile communications device  736 . Each of the small cell radio access nodes  704 ( 1 )- 704 (C) and the macrocells  718 ( 1 )- 718 (M) can assign a physical channel identity (PCI) that allows user mobile communications device  736  to distinguish adjacent cells. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram representation of additional detail illustrating a computer system  1200  that could be employed in any component of a power distribution system configured to receive power from a power source and distribute the received power to one or more remote units for powering their operations, wherein the power distribution system is further configured to distribute higher current demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for the power source in the power distribution system. The power distribution system may be, without limitation, the power distribution systems  200 ,  400 ,  504 ,  712  in  FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 7 . In this regard, the computer system  1200  is adapted to execute instructions from an exemplary computer-readable medium to perform these and/or any of the functions or processing described herein. 
     The computer system  800  in  FIG. 8  may include a set of instructions that may be executed to program and configure programmable digital signal processing circuits in a DCS for supporting scaling of supported communications services. The computer system  800  may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. While only a single device is illustrated, the term “device” shall also be taken to include any collection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The computer system  800  may be a circuit or circuits included in an electronic board card, such as, a printed circuit board (PCB), a server, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computing pad, a mobile device, or any other device, and may represent, for example, a server or a user&#39;s computer. 
     The exemplary computer system  800  in this embodiment includes a processing device or processor  802 , a main memory  804  (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory  806  (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicate with each other via a data bus  808 . Alternatively, the processor  802  may be connected to the main memory  804  and/or static memory  806  directly or via some other connectivity means. The processor  802  may be a controller, and the main memory  804  or static memory  806  may be any type of memory. 
     The processor  802  represents one or more general-purpose processing devices, such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processor  802  may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing other instruction sets, or other processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. The processor  802  is configured to execute processing logic in instructions for performing the operations and steps discussed herein. 
     The computer system  800  may further include a network interface device  810 . The computer system  800  also may or may not include an input  812 , configured to receive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system  800  when executing instructions. The computer system  800  also may or may not include an output  814 , including but not limited to a display, a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), and/or a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse). 
     The computer system  800  may or may not include a data storage device that includes instructions  816  stored in a computer-readable medium  818 . The instructions  816  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  804  and/or within the processor  802  during execution thereof by the computer system  800 , the main memory  804  and the processor  802  also constituting computer-readable medium. The instructions  816  may further be transmitted or received over a network  820  via the network interface device  810 . 
     While the computer-readable medium  818  is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the processing device and that cause the processing device to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the embodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical medium, and magnetic medium. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps. The steps of the embodiments disclosed herein may be formed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware and software. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer program product, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (or computer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes: a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., ROM, random access memory (“RAM”), a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium, flash memory devices, etc.); and the like. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise and as apparent from the previous discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “determining,” “displaying,” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data and memories represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers. 
     The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatuses to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description above. In addition, the embodiments described herein are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the embodiments as described herein. 
     Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, instructions stored in memory or in another computer-readable medium and executed by a processor or other processing device, or combinations of both. The components of the distributed antenna systems described herein may be employed in any circuit, hardware component, integrated circuit (IC), or IC chip, as examples. Memory disclosed herein may be any type and size of memory and may be configured to store any type of information desired. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. How such functionality is implemented depends on the particular application, design choices, and/or design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present embodiments. 
     The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Furthermore, a controller may be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration). 
     The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and in instructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example, in RAM, flash memory, ROM, Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a remote station. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a remote station, base station, or server. 
     It is also noted that the operational steps described in any of the exemplary embodiments herein are described to provide examples and discussion. The operations described may be performed in numerous different sequences other than the illustrated sequences. Furthermore, operations described in a single operational step may actually be performed in a number of different steps. Additionally, one or more operational steps discussed in the exemplary embodiments may be combined. Those of skill in the art will also understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips, that may be references throughout the above description, may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. 
     Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps, or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be inferred. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.