Patent ID: 7667347

Claim:
A method of controlling a desired total system output power from a vehicle comprising a plurality of power sources, the plurality of power sources outputting DC electrical power to a common DC bus, and said vehicle also comprising a variable power control having a plurality of power settings, said method comprising the steps of: a) selecting a number of power sources to be used according to a schedule to provide power to the DC common bus; b) activating the power sources according to said schedule; c) setting a desired range of a parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; d) measuring a signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; e) for each of the plurality of power sources, measuring a signal indicative of a power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources; f) determining an output power for each of the plurality of power sources, based on the measurement of the signal indicative of the power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources and the signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; and g) if the output power of one of the plurality of power sources is different from a target output power, adjusting a power source control parameter of said one of the plurality of power sources to correct the difference.