POWER DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS COMPRISING RELAY DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING CURRENT FLOW ALONG POWER PATHS OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS

A power distribution apparatus which utilizes relay devices to control the flow of power along power paths from an input terminal to one or more output terminals electrically coupled to the power paths. For each power path provided in the power distribution apparatus, the power distribution apparatus comprises one relay device and one or more output terminals associated with each power path. In operation, the relay device associated with each power path controls the flow of current from the input terminal to the output terminals electrically coupled to the power path. A switching assembly is electrically coupled to the power distribution apparatus for controlling the relay devices. When the switching assembly is activated, the relay devices are switched on and current is allowed to flow from the input terminal to the output terminals. When the switching assembly is deactivated, the relay devices are switched off and current is prevented from flowing from the input terminal to the output terminals. Preferably, the power distribution apparatus comprises a controller which controls the operation of the power distribution apparatus. When the switching assembly is activated and deactivated, the controller causes the relay devices to be closed and opened, respectively. Preferably, the controller switches the relay devices on and off in accordance with a predetermined timing sequence such that a time delay occurs from the time that one relay device is turned on or off before another relay device is switched on or off in the power distribution apparatus.