Patent ID: 8781637

Claim:
A power distribution system for regulating transfer of energy from a source on a source side and including source terminals to a load on a load side and including load terminals, the system comprising: a) a source controller on the source side of the power distribution system responsive to a source sensor that provides feedback to the source controller that includes at least a signal indicative of a voltage across the source terminals; b) a source disconnect device responsive to a control signal from the source controller for electrically connecting or disconnecting the source from the source terminals, wherein the source controller is configured to periodically interrupt the supply of power to the load by opening the source disconnect device, allowing at least the source terminal voltage to be measured during the-interrupted interval; c) a load disconnect device for electrically decoupling the load from the load terminals; and d) a logic device implemented in at least the source controller configured to open the source disconnect device and then to perform at least one source terminal voltage measurement when the disconnect device is opened, wherein the voltage measurement is representative of impedance between the source terminals and a corresponding discharge rate of capacitance between the source terminals and to determine whether a predetermined set of conditions that includes at least whether the voltage measurement falls outside of predetermined high and low limits, wherein a voltage measurement outside of the predetermined high and low limits indicates that there is a foreign object or individual making contact with the source or load terminals or a failure in the power distribution system, and to only close the source disconnect device if the voltage measurement falls within the predetermined high and low limits.