Reconfigurable power distribution panel

A power distribution system, comprising

• a reconfigurable power distribution panel, including;
• a first bus bar having a first plurality of contact points thereon and a plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• a second bus bar located proximate the first bus bar and having a second plurality of contact points thereon, the second plurality of contact points having the same plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• a plurality of output contacts located proximate both the first and second bus bars and having the same plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• first and second coupling devices coupleable to a one of the first or second bus bars, respectively, at a chosen circuit protection location;
• and
• a circuit protection device coupleable to either the first bus bar or the second bus bar and a one of the plurality of output contacts at the chosen circuit protection location by the selection of either the first or second coupling devices;
• and
• a power consuming device electrically coupled to the one of the plurality of output contacts of the reconfigurable power distribution panel.

A method for reconfiguring a power distribution panel, comprising:

• providing a reconfigurable power distribution panel, the reconfigurable power distribution panel including;
• a first bus bar having a first plurality of contact points thereon and a plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• a second bus bar located proximate the first bus bar and having a second plurality of contact points thereon, the second plurality of contact points having the same plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• a plurality of output contacts located proximate both the first and second bus bars and having the same plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• a first coupling device coupled to the first bus bar at a first chosen protection location and a second coupling device coupled to the second bus bar at a second chosen circuit protection location;
• and
• a first circuit protection device coupled to the first bus bar and a first one of the plurality of output contacts at the first chosen circuit protection location and a second circuit protection device coupled to the second bus bar and a second one of the plurality of output contacts at the second chosen circuit protection location;
• removing at least one of the first or second circuit protection devices from the first or second chosen circuit protection locations, respectively;
• exchanging the first or second coupling device from the circuit protection location where the at least one of the first or second circuit protection devices was removed with another second or another first coupling device, respectively;
• replacing the removed at least one of the first or second circuit protection devices into the first or second chosen circuit protection locations, respectively, the exchanging of the first or second coupling devices causing the replaced circuit protection device to be electrically coupled to a different bus bar.

A method for manufacturing a reconfigurable power distribution panel, comprising:

• forming a first bus bar having a first plurality of contact points thereon and a plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• forming a second bus bar proximate the first bus bar and having a second plurality of contact points thereon, the second plurality of contact points having the same plurality of circuit protection locations associated therewith;
• providing first and second coupling devices coupleable to a one of the first or second bus bars, respectively, at a chosen circuit protection location;
• and
• providing a circuit protection device coupleable to either the first bus bar or the second bus bar at the chosen circuit protection location by the selection of either the first or second coupling devices.