System and method for enhanced watch dog in solar panel installations

A photovoltaic panel, comprising:

• at least one photovoltaic cell;
• a local unit configured on the photovoltaic panel, the local unit having:
• a voltage regulator coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell to receive electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell;
• and
• a controller coupled to the voltage regulator;
• wherein the voltage regulator provides a power output of the photovoltaic panel using the electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell;
• wherein the controller communicates with a remote unit, disposed at a location remote from the local unit, to control operations of the voltage regulator;
• wherein the controller detects an anomaly in heartbeat signals from the remote unit;
• and
• wherein in response to the anomaly, the controller causes the voltage regulator to reduce the power output of the photovoltaic panel.

A method comprising:

• generating, by photovoltaic cells of a photovoltaic panel, electric power;
• and
• regulating, by a voltage converter of the photovoltaic panel, the electric power generated by the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic panel to provide a power output of the photovoltaic panel;
• communicating with, by a controller of the photovoltaic panel, a remote unit disposed at a location remote from the photovoltaic panel, including receiving heartbeat signals from the remote unit;
• detecting an anomaly in the heartbeat signals from the remote unit;
• and
• in response to the anomaly, causing, by the controller, the voltage regulator to reduce the power output of the photovoltaic panel.