Secondary power system

A secondary power system for providing auxiliary power to a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a battery, and a first alternator, the first alternator configured to recharge the battery, the secondary power system comprising:

• a plurality of electro-chemical storage devices that are each configured for storing a charge, wherein each of the electro-chemical storage devices comprise a plurality of electro- chemical storage packs;
• a case within which the electro-chemical storage devices are contained;
• a second alternator, the second alternator configured to be coupled to the engine and to be selectively operated to charge the electro-chemical storage devices;
• an electronic power device operable as a power inverter coupled to the electro-chemical storage devices and configured to receive a DC voltage from the electro-chemical storage devices and convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage and to provide the AC voltage to AC loads at the vehicle;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the electro-chemical storage devices, the controller configured to monitor the charge levels of the electro-chemical storage devices and based upon the monitoring is further configured to determine when the electro-chemical storage devices require charging and to direct operation of the second alternator for charging of the electro-chemical storage devices based on the controller determining that the electro-chemical storage devices require charging, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the power inverter, and wherein the controller enables operation of the electro-chemical storage devices to provide a DC voltage to the power inverter;
• wherein the controller is configured to transmit output signals to the power inverter to enable or disable the power inverter from drawing power from the storage devices, and wherein the controller is at the case.

A method for providing auxiliary power with a secondary power system to a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a battery, and a first alternator that is configured to recharge the battery, where the secondary power system comprises:

• a plurality of electro-chemical storage devices that are each configured for storing a charge, wherein each of the electro-chemical storage devices comprise a plurality of electro-chemical storage packs;
• a case within which the electro-chemical storage devices are contained;
• a second alternator, the second alternator configured to be coupled to the engine and to be selectively operated to charge the electro-chemical storage devices;
• and
• an electronic power device operable as a power inverter coupled to the electro-chemical storage devices and configured to receive a DC voltage from the electro-chemical storage devices and convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage and to provide the AC voltage to AC loads at the vehicle;
• said method comprising:
• monitoring the charge levels of the electro-chemical storage devices with a controller communicatively coupled to the electro-chemical storage devices;
• determining with the controller when the electro-chemical storage devices require charging based upon said monitoring;
• and
• directing by the controller operation of the second alternator for charging of the electro-chemical storage devices based on the controller determining that the electro-chemical storage devices require charging;
• wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the power inverter, and wherein the method further comprises enabling the electro-chemical storage devices via the controller to provide a DC voltage to the power inverter.