Abstract: A photovoltaic module has at least one solar cell and a socket outlet with voltage outputs of the photovoltaic module. An evaluation and control unit, which detects a voltage and/or a current of the photovoltaic module, is disposed in or on the socket outlet as an assembly. At least one switching element is associated with the photovoltaic module, the switching element being actuable by the evaluation and control unit. The photovoltaic module can be disconnected by the switching element. The evaluation and control unit is configured to detect, based on the detected voltage and/or the detected current, a fault state. The switching element, based on the detected fault state, can be actuated by the evaluation and control unit in order to disconnect or short-circuit at least one of the voltage outputs of the photovoltaic module or the assembly.