A distributed power system for delivering DC power to a plurality of loads. A plurality of power converter modules having associated therewith a DC/DC power conversion operation are provided, each disposed proximate an associated one of the loads, each of said converter modules having associated therewith a switching pulse generator for generating switching pulses. A distributed power line distributes input power to each of the modules. A data communication line distributes command data between the modules. Each of the modules includes a power regulation section for receiving the input power to generate a DC output by controlling the operation of the switching pulse generator. It also includes a processing section for interfacing with the data communication line for interfacing with the commands, the processing function operating in at least a slave mode to receive commands from the data communication bus. At least one of the modules operates in both a slave mode and a master mode. In the master mode, the processing section generates commands for transmission over the data communication line to an addressed one of the other of the modules and internally for use in the local slave mode of operation. The processing section in the slave mode of operation is operable to configure and monitor the operation of the power regulation section.