Patent ID: 7558651

Claim:
A dynamically configurable electrical distribution system for selectively connecting an electrical power source to load devices, comprising: an electrical distribution panel; a plurality of switching devices mounted in the panel each electrically connected between an electrical power source and an associated load device for selectively delivering electrical power to the associated load device; a control system mounted to the panel for controlling operation of the switching devices, the control system comprising a programmed controller for commanding operation of the switching devices, a memory storing configuration information relating to operation of the switching devices, and a user interface device, the programmed controller programmed to implement a configuration routine enabling a user to define operation of the switching devices using the user interface, the configuration routine requesting basic system information to be entered by the user, the basic system information comprising actual locations and types of switching devices in the panel, and responsive to basic system information entered by the user automatically requesting only detailed operation information required based on the entered basic system information, the detailed operation information comprising identifying zones of operation for a select plurality of the actual locations of the switching devices and selecting operating schedules for only the identified zones and/or individual actual locations of the switching devices.