Modular Equipment Center Distributed Independent Protections

A method for providing distributed protection and control architecture for electrical systems of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• spatially distributing a plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs) throughout the vehicle;
• distributing primary power from a power source to each of the MECs;
• distributing secondary power from each MEC to equipment loads nearest each MEC;
• providing a plurality of integrated protection chipsets (IPCs) where each IPC provides electronic protective functions;
• performing high power level protections where primary power is received at each MEC from the power source;
• and
• independently performing low power level protections where secondary power is distributed from each MEC to the equipment loads associated with each MEC.

A system for providing distributed protection of electrical systems in a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs) spatially distributed throughout the vehicle;
• one or more power sources providing primary power to the MECs;
• one or more equipment loads serviced by each of the MECs;
• and
• a plurality of integrated protection chipsets (IPCs) for monitoring and controlling electrical systems within the vehicle, each IPC configured to implement a plurality of protective functions, and one or more IPCs of the plurality of IPCs configured to make independent fault assessments.