Control Methods and Apparatus for Parallel Operation of Multiple Portable Power Stations

A method for implementing a portable power station (PPS) unit, comprising:

• providing an AC input port adapted to receive AC power, a connection point for an energy storage device that stores electrical energy as DC power, an AC output port adapted to output AC power;
• and an inverter that converts DC power from the energy storage device to AC power that is output by the AC output port;
• using a controller to receive AC current information of AC power that is received at the AC input port and produce a control signal for the inverter;
• using the controller to control the PPS unit to operate as a voltage source or a current source based on the control signal.

Non-transitory computer readable media for use with a processor, the computer readable media having stored thereon instructions that direct the processor to execute processing steps comprising controlling one or more parameters of each of two or more portable power station (PPS) units connected together;

• wherein the two or more PPS units are connected together one after another such that the AC output power of one PPS unit is connected to the AC input port of a next PPS unit;
• wherein a first PPS unit operates a voltage source;
• wherein a second or more PPS unit operates as a current source;
• wherein a total AC output power of the two or more PPS units is substantially a sum of the AC output power produced by the two or more PPS units.