Method for interfacing to a powered bus

A method for interfacing a circuit card to a powered electrical bus, comprising the steps of:

• applying a current to the circuit card using a first power conductor and a first return conductor that interface between a power source and a first electrical interface on the circuit card,
• the first return conductor being electrically interfaced to a first return contact of the first electrical interface before electrically interfacing the first power conductor to a first power contact of the first electrical interface;
• surge filtering the current provided to the circuit card;
• disabling a driver circuit that electrically interfaces to the powered electrical bus, the driver circuit being located on the circuit card;
• interfacing the circuit card to the powered electrical bus, comprising a second power conductor and a second return conductor, by mating a second electrical interface on the circuit card to the powered electrical bus;
• and
• enabling the driver circuit after the second electrical interface is mated to the powered electrical bus, and after the first power conductor and the first return conductor are removed from the circuit card.

An apparatus for interfacing a circuit card to a powered electrical bus, comprising

• a first power conductor,
• a first return conductor,
• a power source,
• wherein the first power conductor and the first return conductor provide an interface between the power source and a first electrical interface on the circuit card;
• a second power conductor and a second return conductor, wherein the second power conductor and the second return conductor, being on the powered electrical bus, provide an interface between the powered electrical bus and a second electrical interface on the circuit card;
• wherein the circuit card is disabled upon connection of the first power conductor and the first return conductor, to the circuit card;
• and
• wherein the circuit card is enabled after the second electrical interface is mated to the powered electrical bus, and the first power conductor and the first return conductor are removed from the circuit card.