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A refrigerated truck has a power management system for optimally distributing power between one or more energy sources, energy sinks, or energy storage components on the refrigerated truck. One such power consuming component includes a refrigeration unit that cools a refrigerated compartment of the

A refrigerated truck has a power management system for optimally distributing power between one or more energy sources, energy sinks, or energy storage components on the refrigerated truck. One such power consuming component includes a refrigeration unit that cools a refrigerated compartment of the refrigerated truck. Particularly with regard to this refrigeration unit, the power management system is operative to direct power from multiple power sources to the refrigeration unit so as to efficiently use available power. To do so, the power management system dynamically determines the availability of certain power sources and selects a preferred power source based on availability and a defined order of power source preference. For example, one defined order of power source preference may include, in order of preference upon availability, a shore power source, a truck engine generator drivingly connected to the refrigerated truck's engine, one or more auxiliary power sources, and a stand alone refrigerator unit engine.

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1. A power management system configured for use on a refrigerated truck, said system comprising: a first AC power bus associated with a first AC voltage level;a plurality of first AC power inputs, each associated with a corresponding AC power source and selectively coupled to the first AC power bus

1. A power management system configured for use on a refrigerated truck, said system comprising: a first AC power bus associated with a first AC voltage level;a plurality of first AC power inputs, each associated with a corresponding AC power source and selectively coupled to the first AC power bus so that the first AC power bus is powered by the corresponding AC power source through a selected one of the first AC power inputs, said first AC power inputs including two or more of: a generator input for receiving three-phase AC power at said first AC voltage level from an engine-driven generator of said refrigerated truck; an inverter input for receiving three-phase AC power at said first AC voltage level from a battery-powered inverter onboard said refrigerated truck; a first shore power input for receiving three-phase AC power at said first AC voltage level from a shore power source; and a second generator input for receiving three-phase power at said first AC voltage level from dedicated generator associated with a refrigeration unit of said refrigerated truck;a step-down transformer having an input coupled to said first AC power bus and an output selectively coupled to a second AC power bus included in said system and configured to provide single-phase AC power to said second AC power bus at a second AC voltage level, based on being configured to step down said first AC voltage level on said first AC power bus, so that said second AC bus is selectively powered from said first AC bus but at said second AC voltage level, for powering one or more loads onboard said refrigerated truck at said second AC voltage level;one or more first AC power outputs coupled to said second AC power bus and configured to provide said single-phase AC power at said second AC voltage level, including at least one of: an accessories output for powering one or more accessory systems onboard said refrigerated truck; an Auxiliary Power Output (APU) output for powering an APU onboard said refrigerated truck; an HVAC output for powering an HVAC system associated with a cab of said refrigerated truck; and an auxiliary power output for powering one or more accessory systems external to said refrigerated truck;a multiplexed power output coupled to said first AC power bus for providing three-phase AC power at said first AC voltage level to the refrigeration unit of the refrigerated truck; anda controller configured to control a switching circuit to dynamically select one of the first AC power inputs for powering the first AC power bus from the corresponding AC power source, based on determining which ones of the corresponding AC power sources are available and selecting one of the available AC power sources according to a programmatic order of preference, and further configured to dynamically modify the programmatic order of preference based on evaluating one or more environmental monitoring signals input to the controller. 2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive, as one of said one or more environmental monitoring signals, an ambient temperature signal indicating an outdoors ambient temperature, and to dynamically change a selection logic used to identify which one of the corresponding AC power sources is considered as the most-preferred source for powering the refrigeration unit as a function of power source availability and the one or more environmental monitoring signals. 3. The power management system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to change which one of the corresponding AC power sources is considered as the most-preferred source for powering the refrigeration unit as a function of the ambient temperature signal, thereby making the controller's selection among available ones of the corresponding AC power sources dependent on the outdoors ambient temperature. 4. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the first AC voltage level nominally is 480 VAC and the first AC power bus comprises a three-phase, 480 VAC bus, and wherein the second AC voltage level nominally is 120 VAC and the second AC power bus comprises a single-phase, 120 VAC bus. 5. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power management system includes one or more power sensing circuits operably associated with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically sense the availability of one or more ones of the corresponding AC power sources associated with the first AC power inputs and to store indications of availability for use in dynamically adapting said programmatic order of preference. 6. The power management system of claim 1, further comprising a closed-loop control circuit configured to sense an output voltage of the engine-driven generator of said refrigerated truck during operation of the engine, which is a prime mover of said refrigerated truck and, responsive to said sensing, to dynamically increase or decrease an output voltage of the engine-drive generator, as needed, to maintain the output voltage within a defined range around said first AC voltage level. 7. The power management system of claim 1, further comprising one or more second AC power inputs that are selectively coupled via switching circuitry to said second AC bus as alternate power sources for said second AC bus, said one or more second AC power inputs including a second shore power input for providing AC power at said second AC voltage level to said second AC bus, wherein said switching circuitry is operably associated with said controller, and wherein said controller is configured to control said switching circuitry to selectively power said second AC bus from said step-down transformer or from said second shore power input at least in dependence on an availability of AC power at said second AC voltage level from said second shore input.