| abstract |
A selectively protected electrical system includes or operated with a power source(1514) , a load (1512), a power driver circuit (1506) for controllably transferring power from the power source (1514) to the load (1512), the power driver circuit(1506) being encapsulated in a potting material, and a controller(1518) for enabling and disabling the power driver circuit (1506), the controller (1518) being un-encapsulated by the potting material. If a contaminant induced electrical fault occurs in the selectively protected electrical system, the electrical fault is more likely to occur in the un-encapsulated controller, such that the selectively protected electrical system is disabled. The contaminant is inhibited from contacting and inducing an electrical fault in the power driver circuit, thus providing for a controlled failure of the selectively protected electrical system. |