Abstract: A direct current (DC) power combiner operable to interconnect multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings is disclosed. The DC power combiner may include a device adapted for disconnecting at least one photovoltaic string from the multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string connectible by a first and second DC power line. The device may include a differential current sensor adapted to measure differential current by comparing respective currents in the first and second DC power lines. A first switch is connected in series with the first DC power line. A control module is operatively attached to the differential current sensor and the first switch. The control module may be operable to open the first switch when the differential current sensor measures the differential current to be greater than a maximum allowed current differential, thereby disconnecting the photovoltaic string from the interconnected photovoltaic strings.

Abstract: A system includes a central controller for determining at least one parameter for a load connector of a load. The system also includes a central transceiver for transmitting a signal relating to the least one parameter of the load connector. The load connector comprises input terminals for connecting to power lines of a power distribution network, output terminals for connecting to the load, a switch for connecting/disconnecting the input terminals to/from the output terminals, a connector transceiver for receiving the signal, a voltage sensor for measuring a voltage across the input terminals, and a connector controller. The connector controller may determine a voltage disconnect threshold for the load connector based on the at least one parameter. The connector controller may control the switch to connect the output terminals to the input terminals based on a voltage measurement and the voltage disconnect threshold.

Abstract: A method and a system sense at least one phase difference between at least two phases of a group of parallel connected three phase AC output terminals (e.g., a first phase AC output terminal, a second phase AC output terminal, or a third phase AC output terminal). The parallel connected AC output terminals may be three parallel connected DC to AC three phase inverters. Features of the parallel connected three phase AC output terminals enable wiring of conductors to one phase of an AC output terminal to be swapped with wiring of conductors of one phase of another phase AC output terminal. A sign of at least one phase difference is verified different from signs of other phase differences thereby the system determining the lateral position of the at least one three phase inverters relative to at least one other of the three phase inverters.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for electrical switching. In some examples. electrical switching is performed by a plurality of switching arrangements. The plurality of switching arrangements may be connected in parallel to one another.

Abstract: A system includes a central controller for determining at least one parameter for a load connector of a load. The system also includes a central transceiver for transmitting a signal relating to the least one parameter of the load connector. The load connector comprises input terminals for connecting to power lines of a power distribution network, output terminals for connecting to the load, a switch for connecting/disconnecting the input terminals to/from the output terminals, a connector transceiver for receiving the signal, a voltage sensor for measuring a voltage across the input terminals, and a connector controller. The connector controller may determine a voltage disconnect threshold for the load connector based on the at least one parameter. The connector controller may control the switch to connect the output terminals to the input terminals based on a voltage measurement and the voltage disconnect threshold.

Abstract: A method and a system sense at least one phase difference between at least two phases of a group of parallel connected three phase AC output terminals (e.g., a first phase AC output terminal, a second phase AC output terminal, or a third phase AC output terminal). The parallel connected AC output terminals may be three parallel connected DC to AC three phase inverters. Features of the parallel connected three phase AC output terminals enable wiring of conductors to one phase of an AC output terminal to be swapped with wiring of conductors of one phase of another phase AC output terminal. A sign of at least one phase difference is verified different from signs of other phase differences thereby the system determining the lateral position of the at least one three phase inverters relative to at least one other of the three phase inverters.

Abstract: Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for electrical switching. In some examples, electrical switching is performed by a plurality of switching arrangements. The plurality of switching arrangements may be connected in parallel to one another.

Abstract: Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module including a photovoltaic panel and an electrical circuit connected thereto. The photovoltaic panel may include multiple bus bars connected to an input of the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may include at least one input bypass circuit connected across the bus bars at the input of the electrical circuit. Circuitry may include a switch connected between the input and the output of the electrical circuit. The circuitry may function to disconnect the photovoltaic panel from the output of the electrical circuit. An output bypass circuit is connected to the output of the electrical circuit. The output of the electrical circuit is connectible to a second like electrical circuit of a second like photovoltaic module. The output bypass circuit may be an active bypass circuit which draws power from the output of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) power combiner operable to interconnect multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings is disclosed. The DC power combiner may include a device adapted for disconnecting at least one photovoltaic string from the multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string connectible by a first and second DC power line. The device may include a differential current sensor adapted to measure differential current by comparing respective currents in the first and second DC power lines. A first switch is connected in series with the first DC power line. A control module is operatively attached to the differential current sensor and the first switch. The control module may be operable to open the first switch when the differential current sensor measures the differential current to be greater than a maximum allowed current differential, thereby disconnecting the photovoltaic string from the interconnected photovoltaic strings.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module including a photovoltaic panel and an electrical circuit connected thereto. The photovoltaic panel may include multiple bus bars connected to an input of the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may include at least one input bypass circuit connected across the bus bars at the input of the electrical circuit. Circuitry may include a switch connected between the input and the output of the electrical circuit. The circuitry may function to disconnect the photovoltaic panel from the output of the electrical circuit. An output bypass circuit is connected to the output of the electrical circuit. The output of the electrical circuit is connectible to a second like electrical circuit of a second like photovoltaic module. The output bypass circuit may be an active bypass circuit which draws power from the output of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

Abstract: A system includes a central controller for determining at least one parameter for a load connector of a load. The system also includes a central transceiver for transmitting a signal relating to the least one parameter of the load connector. The load connector comprises input terminals for connecting to power lines of a power distribution network, output terminals for connecting to the load, a switch for connecting/disconnecting the input terminals to/from the output terminals, a connector transceiver for receiving the signal, a voltage sensor for measuring a voltage across the input terminals, and a connector controller. The connector controller may determine a voltage disconnect threshold for the load connector based on the at least one parameter. The connector controller may control the switch to connect the output terminals to the input terminals based on a voltage measurement and the voltage disconnect threshold.

Abstract: Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

Abstract: A method and a system sense at least one phase difference between at least two phases of a group of parallel connected three phase AC output terminals (e.g., a first phase AC output terminal, a second phase AC output terminal, or a third phase AC output terminal). The parallel connected AC output terminals may be three parallel connected DC to AC three phase inverters. Features of the parallel connected three phase AC output terminals enable wiring of conductors to one phase of an AC output terminal to be swapped with wiring of conductors of one phase of another phase AC output terminal. A sign of at least one phase difference is verified different from signs of other phase differences thereby the system determining the lateral position of the at least one three phase inverters relative to at least one other of the three phase inverters.

Abstract: A method and a system sense at least one phase difference between at least two phases of a group of parallel connected three phase AC output terminals (e.g., a first phase AC output terminal, a second phase AC output terminal, or a third phase AC output terminal). The parallel connected AC output terminals may be three parallel connected DC to AC three phase inverters. Features of the parallel connected three phase AC output terminals enable wiring of conductors to one phase of an AC output terminal to be swapped with wiring of conductors of one phase of another phase AC output terminal. A sign of at least one phase difference is verified different from signs of other phase differences thereby the system determining the lateral position of the at least one three phase inverters relative to at least one other of the three phase inverters.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for electrical switching. In some examples, electrical switching is performed by a plurality of switching arrangements. The plurality of switching arrangements may be connected in parallel to one another.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) power combiner operable to interconnect multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings is disclosed. The DC power combiner may include a device adapted for disconnecting at least one photovoltaic string from the multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string connectible by a first and second DC power line. The device may include a differential current sensor adapted to measure differential current by comparing respective currents in the first and second DC power lines. A first switch is connected in series with the first DC power line. A control module is operatively attached to the differential current sensor and the first switch. The control module may be operable to open the first switch when the differential current sensor measures the differential current to be greater than a maximum allowed current differential, thereby disconnecting the photovoltaic string from the interconnected photovoltaic strings.

Abstract: Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.