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A system and method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft may include generating an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to speed of a prime mover, where the speed of the prime mover is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit. The A/C output

A system and method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft may include generating an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to speed of a prime mover, where the speed of the prime mover is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit. The A/C output of the prime mover may be distributed to the variable speed motor such that the speed of the variable speed motor is varied relative to the frequency of the A/C output. The variable speed motor may be electrically disconnected from the A/C power when the speed of the prime mover being used to drive the variable speed motor is equal to or within a predetermined range of the predetermined speed limit. An alternate A/C output may be distributed to the variable speed motor after the A/C power is electrically disconnected from the variable speed motor.

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1. A method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft, comprising: generating an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to speed of a prime mover, the speed of the prime mover being equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit;distributing the A/C outpu

1. A method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft, comprising: generating an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to speed of a prime mover, the speed of the prime mover being equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit;distributing the A/C output of the prime mover to the variable speed motor such that the speed of the variable speed motor is varied relative to the frequency of the A/C output;electrically disconnecting the variable speed motor from the A/C power when the speed of the prime mover being used to drive the variable speed motor is equal to or within a predetermined range of the predetermined speed limit; anddistributing an alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor after the A/C power is electrically disconnected from the variable speed motor. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein distributing the alternate A/C output includes distributing the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor when the speed of the prime mover is less than the predetermined speed limit. 3. The method according to claim 1, further connecting the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor via a different conductive path than a conductive path that delivers the A/C power to the variable speed motor when the speed of the prime mover is less than the predetermined speed limit. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating a single frequency A/C output based on the variable frequency A/C output of the prime mover; anddriving an auxiliary load with the single frequency A/C output. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein distributing the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor includes distributing the alternate A/C output in a parallel manner with respect to the A/C output. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: electrically disconnecting the A/C output from the variable speed motor; anddistributing the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor after the variable speed motor is disconnected from the A/C output. 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising distributing the A/C output and alternate A/C output to a second variable speed motor. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein distributing the A/C output and alternate A/C output to the second variable speed motor includes distributing the A/C output and alternate A/C output to the second variable speed motor in series with the variable speed motor. 9. A method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft, comprising: generating a plurality of A/C outputs having respective variable frequencies corresponding to the speed of the respective prime mover, the speed of each of the prime movers being equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit,selectively varying speed of the variable speed motor relative to the frequency of the combined A/C outputs of the prime movers;electrically disconnecting the variable speed motor when the speed of a prime mover being used to drive the variable speed motor is equal to or within a first predetermined range of the predetermined speed limit; anddistributing an alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor after the variable speed motor is disconnected. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein distributing the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor includes distributing the alternate A/C output in a parallel manner with respect to the A/C output. 11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: electrically disconnecting the A/C output from the variable speed motor; anddistributing the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor after the variable speed motor is electrically disconnected from the A/C output. 12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising distributing the A/C output and alternate A/C output to a second variable speed motor. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein distributing the A/C output and alternate A/C output to the second variable speed motor includes distributing the A/C output and alternate A/C output to the second variable speed motor in series with the variable speed motor. 14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: generating a single frequency A/C output based on the variable frequency A/C output of the prime mover; anddriving an auxiliary load with the single frequency A/C output. 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein distributing the alternate A/C output includes distributing the alternate A/C output to the variable speed motor when the speed of the prime mover is less than the predetermined speed limit. 16. A method of manufacturing a power distribution system for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft, said method comprising: providing a variable speed prime mover adapted to generate an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to the speed of the prime mover;electrically connecting a power switch to the variable speed prime mover;electrically connecting a power distribution bus to the A/C output of the prime mover and, via the power switch, to the variable speed motor;electrically connecting a variable frequency drive to the A/C output of the prime mover via the power distribution bus; andelectrically connecting a transformer to the power distribution bus; andelectrically connecting a second variable frequency drive to the transformer to provide for driving auxiliary loads. 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising connecting a controller to the power switch and to the variable frequency drive, the controller, when operated, is configured to selectably engage and disengage the power switch to apply and remove the A/C output from the variable speed motor. 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: electrically connecting a second power switch between the variable frequency drive and the variable speed motor; andelectrically connecting the controller to the second power switch, wherein the controller is configured to engage and disengage the second power switch in a substantially opposite manner to that of the power switch. 19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising connecting a second variable speed motor to the power distribution bus.