Patent ID: 8307934

Claim:
An engine-powered land vehicle comprising: an engine: a first power source for providing power to the engine and power to selected vehicle electrical loads; a starter motor for starting the engine by drawing current from the first power source; a first contactor coupled between the first power source and the starter motor, and between the first power source and the selected vehicle electrical loads; a second power source, different from the first power source, for providing power to the selected vehicle electrical loads when the engine is operational; a second contactor coupled between the second power source and the selected vehicle electrical loads; and a fire prevention and detection control unit electrically coupled to the first power source, the first contactor, the starter motor, the second power source, the second contactor, and the selected electrical loads, and configured to: determine an automatic disconnection condition for the land vehicle; and control both the first contactor and the second contactor to disconnect the starter motor and the selected vehicle electrical loads from the first power source, and to disconnect the selected vehicle electrical loads from the second power source.