Virtual Circuit Breaker

An electrical system for an aircraft, comprising

• a source of limited power;
• a load, drawing an amount of power flow from said source of limited power;
• an electrical relay effective to control said amount of power flow;
• a control circuit, having a Load and Wire Protection (“OC”) detection unit, a microprocessor and a driver;
• said driver effective to cause said relay to stop said power flow upon receipt by the driver of a deactivation command;
• said OC detection unit configured to monitor said power flow;
• said OC detection unit effective to cause said driver to receive a deactivation command if said OC detection unit senses that a short circuit condition or an overload condition exists;
• and
• said microprocessor configured to be capable of receiving input from said OC detection unit and sending output to said driver.

A method of protecting an electronic circuit, comprising the steps of:

• providing a power flow;
• providing an electrical relay effective to control said amount of power flow;
• providing a control circuit, having a Load and Wire Protection (“OC”) detection unit, a microprocessor and a driver, wherein said driver is effective to cause said relay to stop said power flow upon receipt by the driver of a deactivation command, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to be capable of receiving input from said OC detection unit and sending output to said driver;
• monitoring said power flow utilizing said OC detection unit;
• and
• causing said driver to receive a deactivation command when one of a short circuit condition or an overload condition is sensed.