Patent ID: 8253273

Claim:
A power system ( 110 ; 210 ; 310 ) comprising: a power source ( 14 ) having a DC output ( 20 A, 20 B); a power converter ( 122 ; 222 ) for converting DC at a DC input/terminal ( 120 A, 120 B) thereof to AC at an AC output/terminal ( 124 ) thereof; a supply of AC from an AC power source ( 12 ); an electrical connection ( 124 , 124 A, 32 ) between the AC output/terminal of the converter ( 122 ; 222 ) and at least one general load ( 16 ) to supply AC power to those loads; an AC power source-connect switch ( 30 ) connected ( 124 , 124 A, 28 A, 28 ) between the AC output/terminal ( 124 ) of the converter and the supply of AC from the AC power source configured to selectively connect and disconnect the AC power source ( 12 ) in parallel with the AC output/terminal ( 124 ) of the converter ( 122 ; 222 ); at least one DC auxiliary load ( 134 , 134 A, 134 B; 234 ) to operate the power source ( 14 ) having the DC output; a start-up power supply ( 50 , 60 ; 250 , 60 ; 90 , 180 , 60 ), connectable ( 28 , 128 , 58 , 30 , 124 A, 124 ; 28 , 128 , 258 , 30 124 A, 124 ; 28 , 228 , 92 , 30 , 124 a , 124 ) between the supply of AC from the AC power source ( 12 ) and at least the converter ( 122 ; 222 ) during at least start-up of the power source ( 14 ) having the DC output, and being responsive to a supply ( 28 , 128 , 228 , 30 , 124 A, 124 ) of AC power ( 12 ) to provide a start-up supply of DC power ( 60 ; 60 , 90 ) at least at the DC input ( 120 A, 120 B) of the converter ( 122 ; 222 ); an isolation switch ( 70 ) operatively connected between the output ( 20 A, 20 B) of the power source ( 14 ) having the DC output and the DC input/terminal ( 120 A, 120 B) of the converter ( 122 ; 222 ) and configured to selectively isolate DC at the DC input of the converter from the DC power source during start-up of the source ( 14 ) having the DC output; and an electrical connection ( 120 AB) to supply DC power at the DC input/terminal ( 120 A, 120 B, 60 ) of the converter ( 122 , 222 ) to the at least one DC auxiliary load ( 134 , 134 A, 134 B, 234 ) without further conversion.