A distributed DC bus system, comprising: a first input configured to receive an AC input voltage; a rectifier section operative to convert the AC input voltage to a DC bus voltage having a first amplitude; a DC bus (26, 28; 50A) electrically connected to the rectifier section and operative to receive the DC bus voltage; a control power supply configured to output a DC control voltage, wherein the DC control voltage is less than the DC bus voltage; a pair of diodes (140, 142) operatively connected between the output of the control power supply and the DC bus, wherein: the pair of diodes are operatively connected to be forward biased when the DC control voltage is present in the distributed DC bus system and the DC bus voltage is not present on the DC bus to provide the DC control voltage to the DC bus, and the pair of diodes are operatively connected to be reverse biased when the DC control voltage is present in the distributed DC bus system and the DC bus voltage is present on the DC bus to prevent the DC control voltage from being provided to the DC bus; and at least one motor drive operatively connected to the DC bus, wherein each motor drive includes: an inverter section electrically connected to the DC bus to receive the DC bus voltage as an input and to provide an AC voltage as an output; and a power supply electrically connected to the DC bus, wherein the power supply is operative to output a motor drive control voltage from either the DC bus voltage or the DC control voltage present on the DC bus. a first input configured to receive an AC input voltage; a rectifier section operative to convert the AC input voltage to a DC bus voltage having a first amplitude; a DC bus (26, 28; 50A) electrically connected to the rectifier section and operative to receive the DC bus voltage; a control power supply configured to output a DC control voltage, wherein the DC control voltage is less than the DC bus voltage; a pair of diodes (140, 142) operatively connected between the output of the control power supply and the DC bus, wherein: the pair of diodes are operatively connected to be forward biased when the DC control voltage is present in the distributed DC bus system and the DC bus voltage is not present on the DC bus to provide the DC control voltage to the DC bus, and the pair of diodes are operatively connected to be reverse biased when the DC control voltage is present in the distributed DC bus system and the DC bus voltage is present on the DC bus to prevent the DC control voltage from being provided to the DC bus; and the pair of diodes are operatively connected to be forward biased when the DC control voltage is present in the distributed DC bus system and the DC bus voltage is not present on the DC bus to provide the DC control voltage to the DC bus, and the pair of diodes are operatively connected to be reverse biased when the DC control voltage is present in the distributed DC bus system and the DC bus voltage is present on the DC bus to prevent the DC control voltage from being provided to the DC bus; and at least one motor drive operatively connected to the DC bus, wherein each motor drive includes: an inverter section electrically connected to the DC bus to receive the DC bus voltage as an input and to provide an AC voltage as an output; and a power supply electrically connected to the DC bus, wherein the power supply is operative to output a motor drive control voltage from either the DC bus voltage or the DC control voltage present on the DC bus. an inverter section electrically connected to the DC bus to receive the DC bus voltage as an input and to provide an AC voltage as an output; and a power supply electrically connected to the DC bus, wherein the power supply is operative to output a motor drive control voltage from either the DC bus voltage or the DC control voltage present on the DC bus.