A protection circuit for a parallel power system having at least two
parallel coupled voltage regulators is disclosed. The protection circuit
includes at least two isolation control circuits, each control circuit
being coupled to a respective voltage regulator. Each isolation control
circuit includes a current sense circuit for sensing current polarity at
an output of the respective voltage regulator, and a controller for
automatically isolating the respective voltage regulator when an
over-voltage condition exists at an output of the parallel power system
and a positive current polarity is sensed at the output of the respective
voltage regulator. The at least two isolation control circuits isolate
only a voltage regulator having positive current outflow during the
over-voltage condition. In one embodiment, each isolation control circuit
further includes an over-voltage detection circuit for detecting when the
over-voltage condition exists at the output of the parallel power system.