Bi-stable relay

1. A control system for a battery module having one or more battery cells and having a first voltage, the control system comprising:

a bi-stable relay configured to electrically connect the battery module to a bus when a state of the bi-stable relay is in a first state, electrically disconnect the battery module from the bus when the state of the bi-stable relay is in a second state, and to remain in the first or second state until instructed to switch the state by a control signal; and

a controller coupled to the battery module, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive power from a primary source having a second voltage different from the first voltage;

be operatively coupled to the bi-stable relay and configured to send the control signal;

receive power from the battery module while the bi-stable relay is in the second state, wherein the battery module is disconnected from the bus; and

control operation of the bi-stable relay using power from the battery module in an event where the primary source does not provide power to the controller.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to: to control operation of the bi-stable relay using power from the primary source.

3. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to detect whether the primary source is providing power.

4. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to control the state of the bi-stable relay using power from the battery module during the event and to otherwise control the bi-stable relay via power from the primary source to reduce imbalance caused by drawing power from the battery module.

5. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to draw power from the battery module to open the bi-stable relay and to shut down operation of the battery module.

6. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the primary source comprises a low voltage source and the battery module provide power at a higher voltage than the low voltage source.

7. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the event comprises a fault on a high voltage side having the battery module, the low voltage side having the primary source, or any combination thereof.

8. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to send a pre-charge signal to close the pre-charge circuit to allow the bi-stable relay to close.

9. The control system of claim 1 , comprising a second bi-stable relay electrically connected between the bus and a second end of the battery module, wherein the controller is configured to send an at least one other control signal indicative of instructions to control a state of the second bi-stable relay.

10. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive power from a stationary source at a voltage lower than the battery module.

11. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller receives a signal indicative of a fault condition from an at least one other controller.

12. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to store an indication of the state in memory of the controller and to update the indication of the state upon switching the state of the bi-stable relay.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions configured to be executed by a controller operatively coupled to a bi-stable relay on a string between a first side and a second side of a bus, the instructions comprising instructions to:

receive, via the controller, power from a primary source having a first voltage;

receive, via the controller, power from a battery module on the string, the battery module having a second voltage different from the first voltage;

control, via the controller, operation of the bi-stable relay using power from the primary source to electrically connect or electrically disconnect the one or more battery cells; and

control, via the controller, operation of the bi-stable relay using power from the battery module in an event where the primary source does not provide power by:

electronically disconnecting, via the controller, the one or more battery cells from the bus in the event where the one or more battery cells provides power to the controller; and

receiving power, at the controller, from the battery module while the battery module is electronically disconnected from the bus.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to receive a first signal indicative of a fault condition and disconnecting the battery module in the event of the fault condition using power from the battery module.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to update an indication of a state of the bi-stable relay stored in memory of the controller.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to disconnect the bi-stable relay during the event where the primary source does not provide power.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to receive, via a sensor, a second signal indicative of the state of the bi-stable relay.

18. A power system comprising:

a first control system of a string including a battery module having a first voltage, the first control system comprising a first bi-stable relay and a first controller, wherein the first controller is configured to:

control a first state of the first bi-stable relay using power from the battery module during an event where a primary source, having a second voltage different from the first voltage, does not provide power to the first controller by:

disconnecting the string, including the battery module, from a bus in the event where the battery module provides power to the first controller; and

receiving power from the battery module while the battery module is electronically disconnected from the bus; and

otherwise control the first bi-stable relay using power from the primary source to minimize imbalance caused by drawing power from the battery module.

19. The power system of claim 18 , wherein the first bi-stable relay is positioned between the bus and the battery module on a first side of the string.