Patent ID: 8854849

Claim:
A system comprising: a converter configured to convert electrical energy having an input voltage received from an external electrical energy source into electrical energy having an output voltage different than the input voltage, the converter including a control assembly responsive to a control signal in a first state that enables operation of the converter, and the control assembly responsive to the control signal in a second state that disables operation of the converter; a first electrical connector component configured to connect with a second electrical connector component to conduct energy from the converter to an associated external electrical device; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the first electrical connector component and also operatively coupled to a converter circuit ground of the converter through an electrical coupling included in the second electrical connector component when the second electrical connector component is connected to the first electrical connector component, the control circuit being configured to set the control signal in the first state when the first electrical connector component is connected to the second electrical connector component, and to set the control signal in the second state when the first electrical connector component is not connected to the second electrical connector component.