Battery power management system

1. A vehicle electrical system, comprising:

a battery having first and second terminals;

a power distribution bus connected to the first terminal of the battery;

a voltage sensor connected with respect to the first terminal of the battery to measure voltage on the first terminal;

a current sensor located with respect to the power distribution bus to measure current out of the first terminal into the power distribution bus;

a first set of loads drawing current from the power distribution bus;

a second set of loads drawing current from the power distribution bus;

a first latching relay connected into the power distribution bus between the first terminal and the first and second sets of loads which may be opened to cut off the first and second set of loads from power;

a second latching relay connected into the power distribution bus between the first latching relay and the second set of loads which may be opened to cut off the second set of loads from power;

means responsive to measured voltage and changes in measured current for opening either of the first and second latching relays;

a source of electrical power connected to the first terminal;

a vehicle prime mover coupled to drive the source of electrical power;

a starter motor including a starter motor solenoid for a vehicle prime mover connected to the first terminal for energization;

a keyswitch having a plurality of positions connected to the starter motor solenoid for engaging the starter motor for cranking the vehicle prime mover; and

the means for opening further comprising:

a body controller connected to receive the measured voltage signal, the measured current signal and a keyswitch position signal;

an engine control module for generating an engine on signal for the vehicle prime mover; and

a datalink connecting the engine control module and the body controller over which the engine on signal is transmitted.

2. The vehicle electrical system of claim 1 wherein the communication link and the body controller operates as a controller area network.

3. The vehicle electrical system of claim 2 wherein the vehicle prime mover is an internal combustion engine.

4. A motor vehicle electrical power management system, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an alternator having an output terminal coupled to the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power;

a chassis battery having an output terminal, the output terminal of the battery being connected to the output terminal of the alternator;

a power distribution bus connected to the output terminal of the chassis battery;

a voltage sensor for measuring voltage on the output terminal of the chassis battery;

a current sensor for measuring current on the power distribution bus out of the output terminal of the chassis battery;

a first latching relay and a second latching relay connected in series on the power distribution bus;

a set of vehicle mandatory loads connected to an output side of the first latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay;

a set of vehicle optional loads connected to an output side of the second latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay or the second latching relay; and

a body controller responsive the measured voltage and the measured current for selectively opening at least one of the first latching relay and the second latching relay

wherein the body controller is responsive to measured voltage exceeding a voltage high threshold for opening the first latching relay, is further responsive to the measured voltage falling below a low voltage threshold for opening the second latching relay while leaving the first latching relay closed and is still further responsive to positive current transients exceeding a minimum threshold for opening the first latching relay.

5. The motor vehicle electrical power management system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a starter motor for the internal combustion engine; and

the body controller being responsive to cranking of the internal combustion engine using the starter motor for opening the first latching relay.

6. The motor vehicle electrical power management system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a serial datalink;

an engine control module connected to the serial datalink for broadcasting condition signals thereon, the engine control module providing an engine on signal over the serial datalink; and

the body controller being connected to the serial datalink and being further responsive to the engine on signal for monitoring for changes in measured voltage and measured current.

7. A motor vehicle electrical power management system as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising:

a keyswitch having a plurality of positions including on and off, the positions being communicated to the body controller; and

the body controller being further responsive to the engine being off while the keyswitch is on for monitoring measured voltage for opening the second latching relay.

8. A motor vehicle electrical power management system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the serial datalink is part of a controller area network.