Power control system

A power control system having a plurality of components, the system comprising:

• a system control component generating a switch control signal;
• a limit control component receiving a sensed limit operating characteristic and generating a limit control signal as a function of the sensed limit operating characteristic;
• a communication link providing communication between the system control component and the limit control component;
• and
• a power control unit including a plurality of power control components and a unit integration coupling mechanism for mechanical and electrical coupling of the components of the power control unit, the power control unit including:
• a power supply interface for receiving power from a power supply, a power load interface for providing, at least a portion of, the received supply power to a power load,
• a power switch component selectively providing electrical energy to a load responsive to the switch control signal, the power switch component including a power switch communication interface configured to communicate with the communication link, wherein the power switch component is a solid state device, and
• a limit component selectively providing the electrical energy to the load responsive to the limit control signal, the limit component being in electrical series with the power switch component such that the electrical energy is provided to the load through both the power switch component and the limit component, wherein the limit component is a contactor or mechanical relay.