NOVELTY - Battery and photovoltaic based power system (200), comprises: power bus (202) containing supply side and return side; battery (206) coupled to the return side; battery switch circuit (228) coupling the battery to supply side; first photovoltaic array circuit coupled to return side; first photovoltaic array diode connected in series with first photovoltaic array circuit; and switch control module (232) coupled to battery, battery switch, and first photovoltaic array switch, where the switch control module is configured to monitor at least one battery parameter and control the battery switch.    USE - The battery and photovoltaic based power system is useful in a battery and photovoltaic powered vehicle including spacecraft, a satellite, a solar-powered vehicle, automobile, boat or aircraft (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The battery and photovoltaic based power system uses less circuitry to provide dead-bus recovery, and over-discharge protection to battery.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Battery and photovoltaic based power system (200), comprises: a power bus (202) containing a supply side and a return side; a battery (206) coupled to the return side; a battery switch circuit (228) coupling the battery to the supply side, where the battery switch circuit comprises a battery switch and a battery diode in parallel with the battery switch, a cathode of the battery diode is coupled to the battery and an anode of the battery diode is coupled to the supply side; a first photovoltaic array circuit coupled to the return side, where the first photovoltaic array circuit comprises a first photovoltaic array and a first photovoltaic array switch or a field effect transistor in parallel with the first photovoltaic array, and the first photovoltaic array switch or field effect transistor is configured to open if the supply side is depleted of power; a first photovoltaic array diode connected in series with the first photovoltaic array circuit, where a cathode of the first photovoltaic array diode is coupled to the supply side and an anode of the first photovoltaic array diode is coupled to the first photovoltaic array circuit; and a switch control module (232) coupled to the battery, the battery switch, and the first photovoltaic array switch, where the switch control module is configured to monitor at least one battery parameter and control the battery switch based on the battery parameters. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a battery and photovoltaic powered vehicle, comprising: a load; the power bus coupled to the load, where the power bus is configured to supply power to the load; the battery; the battery switch circuit; the first photovoltaic array circuit; the first photovoltaic array diode; and the switch control module.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure illustrates a battery and photovoltaic based power system.    Power system (200)    Power bus (202)    Battery (206)    Battery switch circuit (228)    Switch control module (232)