Patent ID: 6841979

Claim:
Power distribution apparatus, for controlling supply of a current from an electrical power source to at least one load, the apparatus comprising: a current limiter, which is coupled to controllably reduce a magnitude of the current supplied to the at least one load; a current sensor, which is coupled to provide an indication of a magnitude of the current flowing to the at least one load; and a controller, adapted to: a) set said current limiter to operate at first and second settings, said second setting being different from said first setting, and to determine, using said current sensor, first and second magnitudes of the current at said first and second settings, respectively; b) determine an estimated current limiting characteristic based on said first and second magnitudes; c) set said current limiter to a third setting; and d) receive said indication from the current sensor of a third magnitude of the current at said third setting, said controller being adapted, responsive to said indication, to determine whether said third magnitude of the current at said third setting exceeds a predetermined maximum and if so, to select a target setting of said current limiter responsive to said estimated current limiting characteristic, so as to reduce the magnitude of the current to less than said predetermined maximum.