Startup fault checking of paralleled devices

A method of operating an electric energy system of a work machine, the method comprising:

• implementing flow of electrical energy in the work machine using multiple energy management devices of the work machine, wherein the energy management devices are modular and each include at least one electrical component of a same type, and the at least one electrical component of each energy management device is independently activated for that energy management device;
• activating the at least one electrical component of all the energy management devices in response to startup of the work machine;
• monitoring for faults in the activated electrical components of all the energy management devices;
• and
• deactivating a portion of the activated electrical components of the energy management devices according to demand of the energy management devices for operating conditions of the work machine.

An electric energy system of a work machine, the system comprising:

• multiple power switching converter circuits, wherein the power switching converter circuits are independently enabled to operate in parallel to provide electrical energy to one or more electric motors of the work machine;
• fault sensors configured to monitor operation of the multiple power switching converter circuits;
• and
• a system controller configured to:
• determine demand for electrical power by the one or more electric motors;
• activate all the power switching converter circuits in response to startup of the one or more electric motors for a predetermined time duration;
• monitor the fault sensors for indications of a fault in any of the multiple power switching converter circuits during the predetermined time duration;
• and
• enable only the power switching converter circuits needed according to the determined demand for electrical power after the predetermined time duration.