Patent ID: 7868621

Claim:
A power distribution system comprising: at least one generator; at least one AC bus bar receiving power from the generator; at least one switch electrically connecting the AC bus bar to an AC load; an electric power control unit communicating with a main data bus; and at least two power line communication (PLC) tap points, each of the at least two PLC tap points communicating with the electric power control unit; wherein a signal sent between the at least two PLC tap points in the power distribution system is used to determine a wire integrity between the at least two PLC tap points; wherein the switch comprises: a control power supply; a digital signal processor-based power controller and a PLC modem receiving power from the control power supply; a power line coupler for delivering a power line signal from the PLC modem to a power input of the switch; and signal processing circuitry for sending a spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) signal into the power distribution system; wherein the switch interrupts power being sent over a portion of the power distribution system when the electric power control unit determines the wire integrity as being faulty.