Patent ID: 8086357

Claim:
A method of configuring an electrical distribution system comprising: providing a panel comprising a plurality of switching devices mounted in the panel, each switching device for connection in a branch circuit to a load device for selectively delivering electrical power to the load device, and a panel controller mounted in the panel and operatively connected to each of the switching devices, the panel controller comprising a programmed controller for controlling operation of the switching devices and a panel memory connected to the programmed controller storing configuration data relating to operation of the switching devices; providing a port positioned on the panel for locally and operatively connecting a local external mass storage memory device to the programmed controller; inserting the local external mass storage memory device in the port; detecting the presence of the local external mass storage memory device in the port; identifying the presence of a database file on the local external mass storage memory device; prompting a user to import or export configuration data to or from the local external mass storage memory device; and establishing communications between the programmed controller and the local external mass storage memory device comprising operating a user interface to locally transfer configuration data between the local external mass storage memory device and the panel memory.