The disclosure describes a method for detecting an arc in a direct-current (DC) circuit comprising a DC load, a DC source supplying the DC load, and a circuit arrangement arranged between the DC source and the DC load. A power flow P between an input and an output of the circuit arrangement is suppressed by means of a switching circuit through cyclical interruption such that the power flow P is enabled in an active time window with the first period Δt.sub.1 and the power flow P is suppressed in an inactive time window with the second period Δt.sub.2. Via detection of an input current I.sub.in flowing at the input and/or an input voltage U.sub.in applied to the input and comparison of values of the input current I.sub.in and/or input voltage U.sub.in detected in the inactive time window with a current threshold value I.sub.TH or a voltage threshold value U.sub.TH an arc presence criterion is signaled if the input current I.sub.in detected in the inactive time window falls below the current threshold value I.sub.TH and/or the input voltage U.sub.in detected in the inactive time window does not exceed the voltage threshold value U.sub.TH. The application also describes a circuit arrangement for detecting an arc and a photovoltaic (PV) inverter including such a circuit arrangement.

A solar power system may comprise a back sheet that comprises an interconnect circuit coupling a plurality of cell tiles. A tiled solar cell, comprising a solar cell and encapsulating and glass layers, is inserted into the cell tiles of the back sheet. Each solar cell is individually addressable through the use of the interconnect circuit. Moreover, the interconnect circuit of the back sheet is programmable and allows for dynamic interconnect routing between solar cells.

A solar power system may comprise a back sheet that comprises an interconnect circuit coupling a plurality of cell tiles. A tiled solar cell, comprising a solar cell and encapsulating and glass layers, is inserted into the cell tiles of the back sheet. Each solar cell is individually addressable through the use of the interconnect circuit. Moreover, the interconnect circuit of the back sheet is programmable and allows for dynamic interconnect routing between solar cells.

A photovoltaic system with an inverter, at least one solar panel for providing electrical power, and electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter. Also included is a transmitter for transmitting a messaging protocol along the electrical wiring, where the protocol includes a multibit wireline signal. Also included is circuitry for selectively connecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol.

A photovoltaic system with an inverter, at least one solar panel for providing electrical power, and electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter. Also included is a transmitter for transmitting a messaging protocol along the electrical wiring, where the protocol includes a multibit wireline signal. Also included is circuitry for selectively connecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol.

One example includes a method for generating a solar farm design. Geographic map data defines geographic features and boundaries of a geographic region. A solar panel block library that stores virtual solar panel block types is accessed. Each of the virtual solar panel block types corresponds to a design of a respective solar panel block that includes solar panels, an inverter, and an access road, and each virtual solar panel block type includes predetermined dimensions and a predefined output power rating. An array of a virtual solar panel block type to fit within the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map is generated based on the dimensions of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array. The array is iteratively modified to optimize a criterion of the solar farm design, and the design is stored in a memory for subsequent solar farm installation.

One example includes a method for generating a solar farm design. Geographic map data defines geographic features and boundaries of a geographic region. A solar panel block library that stores virtual solar panel block types is accessed. Each of the virtual solar panel block types corresponds to a design of a respective solar panel block that includes solar panels, an inverter, and an access road, and each virtual solar panel block type includes predetermined dimensions and a predefined output power rating. An array of a virtual solar panel block type to fit within the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map is generated based on the dimensions of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array. The array is iteratively modified to optimize a criterion of the solar farm design, and the design is stored in a memory for subsequent solar farm installation.

A power conditioner includes a PV converter that generates an output voltage, which is obtained by boosting a direct-current voltage input from a solar panel, an inverter that converts the output voltage of the PV converter into an alternating-current voltage, and a first relay connected between the inverter and a commercial power system. A controller includes a control circuit that controls the entire power conditioner, a control circuit that controls the PV converter, and a control circuit that controls the inverter. In a start process, the control circuit controls activation and deactivation of a DC-DC converter and causes the impedance of a DC-DC converter to change. The control circuit detects an input voltage and an input current of the PV converter and determines whether or not the first relay is to be in a close state according to those values.

A power conditioner includes a PV converter that generates an output voltage, which is obtained by boosting a direct-current voltage input from a solar panel, an inverter that converts the output voltage of the PV converter into an alternating-current voltage, and a first relay connected between the inverter and a commercial power system. A controller includes a control circuit that controls the entire power conditioner, a control circuit that controls the PV converter, and a control circuit that controls the inverter. In a start process, the control circuit controls activation and deactivation of a DC-DC converter and causes the impedance of a DC-DC converter to change. The control circuit detects an input voltage and an input current of the PV converter and determines whether or not the first relay is to be in a close state according to those values.

A photovoltaic power generation system includes a plurality of photovoltaic cell arrays, a plurality of power conditioners connected respectively with the plurality of photovoltaic cell arrays, and a high order device connected to the plurality of power conditioners. The high order device is configured to execute: a first output control to adjust output power of a designated power conditioner to a predetermined output power amount being set in advance; and a second output control to adjust output power from a remaining power conditioner which is other than the designated power conditioner among the plurality of power conditioners. The high order device is configured to execute characteristic-data acquisition to acquire an input/output electrical characteristic of the designated power conditioner during execution of the first output control.