Patent ID: 8129974

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving, by a controller of a line card connected to a network device, a signal to completely turn off power supplied to a power system of the line card, where the power system includes the controller, a first switch that is used to supply power to the power system, a second switch that is used to control the first switch, and a capacitor; detecting, based on receiving the signal, a voltage condition associated with the power system; opening, in response to detecting the voltage condition, the first switch to completely turn off the power supplied to the power system, where when the first switch is opened a voltage across the capacitor comprises an initial voltage; discharging the capacitor, where the capacitor discharges in response to opening the switch; closing, in response to discharging the capacitor, the second switch of the power system, where the closing of the second switch prevents the first switch from closing; detecting, during the discharging of the capacitor, that the voltage across the capacitor comprises a threshold voltage, where the threshold voltage is less than the initial voltage; and opening, in response to detecting that the voltage across the capacitor comprises the threshold voltage, the second switch to close the first switch, where closing the first switch causes power to be supplied to the power system.