Operator interface for an electric power generation system

An apparatus, comprising:

• a mobile electric power generation system including a variable speed generator, an engine to drive the generator, a DC bus coupled to the generator, an inverter coupled between the DC bus and an electrical power bus in the vehicle, an electrical energy storage device coupled to the DC bus, an operator interface including a display and several operator input devices, and operating logic executed by a processor;
• a first one of the operator input devices being selected by an operator to initiate an automatic mode of operation of the system, the operating logic being structured to activate both the generator and the inverter during the automatic mode of operation;
• and
• a second one of the operator input devices being selected by the operator to initiate a manual mode of operation of the system, the operating logic being responsive to a first type of input during the manual mode of operation to change activation of the generator and to a second type of input during the manual mode of operation to change activation of the inverter.

A method, comprising:

• carrying a mobile electric power generation system with a vehicle, the system includes an operator interface with a display device and two or more operator input devices, control logic to control system operation, and several system power components, the system power components including a variable speed genset, an electrochemical battery, and an inverter coupled to the genset and the battery through a DC bus;
• selecting between an automatic mode and a manual mode of system operation with at least one of the operator input devices, the automatic mode providing for control of the system components in accordance with an automatic operating protocol defined by the control logic, and the manual mode providing for operator activation and deactivation of one of the components separate from other of the components;
• and
• with the display device, displaying one or more menus including a number of operator status display options and a number of operator setup options each selectable with one or more other of the input devices.

A method, comprising:

• carrying a mobile electric power generation system with a vehicle, the system including an internal power source, a power interface to selectively couple to an external power source, and control logic to control system operation, the control logic defining an automatic mode to operate the system in accordance with an automatic operating protocol and a manual mode to provide for operator activation and deactivation of different components of the system;
• receiving electric power through the power interface from the external power source;
• during the automatic mode, the control logic:
• determining failure of the electric power from the external power source to satisfy one or more criteria corresponding to power quality;
• and
• in response to the failure, switching from the external power source to the internal power source to provide the electric power to the vehicle.