Abstract: An example of an apparatus includes an intelligent node having a monitoring module for controlling electrical connections to other intelligent nodes in a photovoltaic array, redundant means of communication for exchanging data and commands with other intelligent nodes, a serial-parallel selector for combining output power from a photovoltaic panel connected to the monitoring module with output power from photovoltaic panels connected to monitoring modules in other intelligent nodes, and a bypass selector for excluding power from a photovoltaic panel from the output of a photovoltaic array.