Patent ID: 7235898

Claim:
A power distribution node of a vehicle, comprising: a primary power feed supplying power to the node; a secondary power feed supplying power to the node; at least one first relay for selectively distributing power from said primary power feed to at least one first class device of the vehicle; at least one second relay for selectively distributing power from one of said primary power feed and secondary power feed to at least one second class device of the vehicle, said first and second class devices powered by the node; and a first switch selectively connecting said at least one second relay to said at least one first relay, with said at least one first relay and at least one second relay placed in series with one another, with respect to said primary power feed, when said first switch is in a closed state; and a second switch selectively connecting said at least one second relay to said secondary power feed; wherein said first and second switches comprise transistors; and wherein said second switch comprises one transistor, with a gate of said transistor connected to said primary power feed, so that a voltage generated by said primary power feed controls an operating state of said transistor, said voltage applied to said gate.