Systems and methods for remote or local shut-off of a photovoltaic system
AssigneeTigo Energy, Inc.
InventorsMaxym Makhota, Daniel Eizips, Dan Kikinis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.
Claims20
A solar module, comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel having an output;
- a local management unit connected to the photovoltaic panel to receive the output as input, the local management unit having:
- a communication module to receive communications from a remote unit, the communications configured to cause the solar module to change from a first mode of outputting power to a second mode of being shut down from outputting power;
- a controller;
- a switch configured to connect the output of the photovoltaic panel for providing an operating voltage to the controller;
- a first circuit path to provide power from the output of the photovoltaic panel to the controller in the first mode;
- and
- a second circuit path to provide power from the output of the photovoltaic panel to the controller in the second mode;
- wherein in the first mode, the switch is open;
- wherein in the second mode, the controller causes the local management unit to shut down outputting power from the solar module, and causes the switch to close.
A method implemented in a solar module, the method comprising:
- generating, by a photovoltaic panel, an output;
- receiving, in a local management unit connected to the photovoltaic panel, the output as input, the local management unit having a controller and a communication module to receive communications from a remote unit, the communications configured to cause the solar module to change from a first mode of outputting power to a second mode of being shut down from outputting power;
- providing power using a first circuit path from the output of the photovoltaic panel to the controller in the first mode;
- providing power using a second circuit path from the output of the photovoltaic panel to the controller in the second mode, wherein a switch connects the output of the photovoltaic panel to provide an operating voltage to the controller;
- and
- causing, by the controller in the second mode, the local management unit to shut down outputting power from the solar module, and to close the switch.
A system, comprising:
- a remote unit;
- and
- a solar module comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel having an output;
- a local management unit connected to the photovoltaic panel to receive the output as input, the local management unit having:
- a communication module to receive communications from the remote unit, the communications configured to cause the solar module to change from a first mode of outputting power to a second mode of being shut down from outputting power;
- a controller;
- a switch configured to connect the output of the photovoltaic panel for providing an operating voltage to the controller;
- a first circuit path to provide power from the output of the photovoltaic panel to the controller in the first mode;
- and
- a second circuit path to provide power from the output of the photovoltaic panel to the controller in the second mode;
- wherein in the first mode, the switch is open;
- wherein in the second mode, the controller causes the local management unit to shut down outputting power from the solar module, and causes the switch to close.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.