A power control system for a battery system of a vehicle includes a first contactor, a second contactor, N fuses and N vehicle loads. An active sacrificial protection device includes a third contactor and a first fuse. The active sacrificial protection device is connected to a positive or negative terminal of the battery system. A current sensor is configured to sense a measured load current flowing through one of the first contactor and the second contactor. A battery management module is configured to selectively close the third contactor to reduce current flowing through one of the first contactor or the second contactor and selectively open the one of the first contactor or the second contactor after closing the third contactor.