The 2.5 Ampere DC Power Controller presented in this paper is a device which combines the properties of both relays and circuit breakers solely by means of solid state circuitry to perform the power functions that (1) provide DC power to electrical loads by means of power transistor switching, and (2) provide electrical protection by generating trip out characteristics similar to those of thermal circuit breakers. Furthermore, the control of this device is completely computer compatible, i.e., it is commandable from digital logic levels.
The text of this report discusses the requirements, specifications, and design of this power controller. In addition, performance results obtained from the breadboard prototype when controlling resistive, capacitive, inductive, lamp, and motor loads at various temperatures and bus voltage levels are illustrated. These results are then reviewed, providing insight to the special problems associated with remote DC power switching and control of each of these loads --Abstract, page iii
