Abstract: A method to control operation of electrical converter units in an electrical system of a vehicle comprising a first and a second electrical network, the first and the second electrical network being coupled respectively to a positive terminals of a first battery and a second battery, each converter of a plurality of converters having an active state in which the converter output supplies current to the second electrical network, and a rest state in which the converter output does not supply current to the second electrical network, each converter of the plurality of converters exhibiting a respective cumulative operation time in each of a plurality of different current ranges, wherein a single converter is active in a vehicle rest mode, and a balance of converters is carried out upon cumulative respective usage of each converter.

Abstract: An electrical fuse maintenance system includes sensor adapted to measure the current flowing through a fuse element, the voltage on the fuse element, the temperature of the fuse element, and/or the temperature of an environment surrounding the fuse element, a controller configured to monitor the current, the voltage, the temperatures over a period of time while the fuse element is connected to an energized electrical power unit. Based on the monitored current, voltage and temperatures, the controller is adapted to estimate a service life remaining of the fuse element.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the connection of the terminals of a battery which is suitable to be connected and provide auxiliary electrical power to an onboard electrical distribution system of a motor vehicle includes an electronic control unit; a sensor to be connected to at least one of the terminals of the battery and to provide in input to the electronic control unit signals indicative of the electric power currently generated by the battery. The electronic control unit is configured, based on the signals received in input: to monitor and compare an electrical parameter of the electric power currently generated by the battery with a predefined reference condition which is indicative of a correct connection of the terminals; to output an alert signal indicative of an incorrect connection of at least one of the terminals of the battery to the onboard electrical distribution system when the electrical parameter monitored exceeds the predetermined reference condition.

Abstract: A method to determine a state of health of an electrical control component of a vehicle, the electrical control component comprising at least two electrical contacts, the at least two electrical contacts being configured to be in a closed status when the electrical control component is activated, or in an open status when the electrical control component is not activated. The electrical component further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine if the status of at least two contacts is open or closed, the method being implemented by an electronic control unit determining, via the at least one sensor, that the status of one of at least two contacts is closed and that another one of at least two contacts is open; incrementing a value of a first counter; determining a first state of health of the electrical control component based on the value of the first counter.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrical system including an electrical power source configured to supply a first DC voltage at a first voltage level and a DC/DC converter coupled to the electrical power source and configured to supply a second DC voltage is provided. The method includes monitoring a level of current supplied by the DC/DC converter, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the current, that the DC/DC converter is saturated, and in response to determining that the DC/DC converter is saturated, regulating a level of voltage outputby the DC/DC converter. Related DC/DC converters and vehicle electrical systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the overall power consumption of a parked vehicle, whereby said vehicle comprises a DC power network including two batteries connected in series and an equalizer circuit, whereby the equalizer circuit includes a DC/DC converter for converting an input voltage corresponding to the sum of the voltages of the two batteries into an output voltage to be applied to a first battery of the two batteries. The method consists in i) activating the DC/DC converter only when the State of Charge (SoC) of the first battery reaches a first level below the State of Charge (SoC) of the second battery; and u) keeping the DC/DC converter active until the State of Charge (SoC) of the first battery reaches a second level above the State of Charge (SoC) of the second battery.

Abstract: An electrical fuse maintenance system comprises sensor means adapted to measure the current flowing through a fuse element, the voltage on the fuse element, the temperature of the fuse element, and/or the temperature of an environment surrounding the fuse element, a controller configured to monitor said current, said voltage, said temperatures over a period of time while the fuse element is connected to an energized electrical power unit, Based on the monitored current, voltage and temperatures, the controller is adapted to estimate a service life remaining of the fuse element.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply system (100), comprising: —a vehicle battery (111) with a charging voltage, —a DC-to-DC converter (130) comprising two first connection terminals (110) connected to the vehicle battery (111) and two second connection terminals (120) for connecting an external charger to recharge the vehicle battery (111) or for connecting an external battery to be recharged, wherein, in a first mode in which an external charger is connected to the two second connection terminals (120), the voltage V2 between the two second connection terminals (120) is an input voltage of the converter and the voltage V1 between the two first connection terminals (110) is an output voltage of the converter, wherein, in a second mode in which an external battery to be recharged is connected to the two second connection terminals (120), the voltage V1 between the two first connection terminals (110) is an input voltage of the converter and the voltage V2 between the two second connection terminals (120) is an output volta

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the overall power consumption of a parked vehicle, whereby said vehicle comprises a DC power network including two batteries connected in series and an equalizer circuit, whereby the equalizer circuit includes a DC/DC converter for converting an input voltage corresponding to the sum of the voltages of the two batteries into an output voltage to be applied to a first battery of the two batteries. The method consists in i) activating the DC/DC converter only when the State of Charge (SoC) of the first battery reaches a first level below the State of Charge (SoC) of the second battery; and u) keeping the DC/DC converter active until the State of Charge (SoC) of the first battery reaches a second level above the State of Charge (SoC) of the second battery.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrical system including an electrical power source configured to supply a first DC voltage at a first voltage level and a DC/DC converter coupled to the electrical power source and configured to supply a second DC voltage is provided. The method includes monitoring a level of current supplied by the DC/DC converter, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the current, that the DC/DC converter is saturated, and in response to determining that the DC/DC converter is saturated, regulating a level of voltage output by the DC/DC converter. Related DC/DC converters and vehicle electrical systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a battery management system (2) including an electronical control unit (3), a battery system (6) and an electronic battery controller (4). The battery controller (4) includes an acquisition device (43) for acquiring values of at least one electrical parameter of the battery system (6) and a memory (42) storing a battery profile (44) representative of properties of the battery system (6). The electronical control unit (3) includes: —a storage space (34) including a plurality of additional battery profiles (35), —a selection interface (33) for selecting a replacement battery profile among the plurality of additional battery profiles (35). and is programmed to replace the battery profile (44) stored in the memory (42) with the replacement battery profile selected by the selection interface (33).