Integrated photovoltaic panel circuitry

A method comprising:

• connecting a casing of each photovoltaic panel of a plurality of photovoltaic panels to a ground connection, wherein each photovoltaic panel of a plurality of photovoltaic panels comprises a photovoltaic output having a first photovoltaic terminal and a second photovoltaic terminal, and wherein each photovoltaic panel of the plurality of photovoltaic panels has a maximum voltage rating between the casing and the photovoltaic output;
• for each converter circuit, of a plurality of converter circuits, comprising a converter input having a first converter input terminal and a second converter input terminal, and a converter output having a first converter output terminal and a second converter output terminal:
• connecting the first converter input terminal to the first photovoltaic output terminal of a corresponding photovoltaic panel of the plurality of photovoltaic panels;
• and
• connecting the second converter input terminal to the second photovoltaic terminal and the casing of the corresponding photovoltaic panel, wherein the converter output is galvanically isolated from the converter input, and wherein the converter circuit is configured to convert a first direct current (DC) power at the converter input to a second DC power at the converter output;
• and
• connecting converter outputs of the plurality of converter circuits are connected in series to form a series string,
• wherein the converter output of each converter circuit of the plurality of circuits is configured to operate at a voltage that is, with respect to the ground connection, at least the maximum voltage rating, of one of the plurality of photovoltaic panels, times a quantity of the plurality of converter circuits in the series string.

A photovoltaic apparatus comprising:

• a photovoltaic panel comprising a photovoltaic output having a first photovoltaic terminal and a second photovoltaic terminal, and a casing having a ground connection, wherein the photovoltaic panel has a maximum voltage rating between the photovoltaic output and the casing;
• and
• a converter circuit comprising:
• a converter input having a first converter input terminal and a second converter input terminal, wherein the first converter input terminal is connected to the first photovoltaic terminal, and wherein the second converter input terminal is connected to the second photovoltaic terminal and the casing;
• and
• a converter output having a first converter output terminal and a second converter output terminal, wherein the converter output is galvanically isolated from the converter input, and wherein the converter circuit is configured to convert a first direct current (DC) power at the converter input to a second DC power at the converter output,
• wherein the converter output is configured to operate at a voltage that is, with respect to the ground connection, at least double the maximum voltage rating of the photovoltaic panel.

A method comprising:

• connecting a casing of a photovoltaic panel to a ground connection, wherein the photovoltaic panel comprises a photovoltaic output having a first photovoltaic terminal and a second photovoltaic terminal, and wherein the photovoltaic panel has a maximum voltage rating between the photovoltaic output and the casing;
• and
• for a converter circuit comprising a converter input having a first converter input terminal and a second converter input terminal, and a converter output having a first converter output terminal and a second converter output terminal:
• connecting the first converter input terminal to the first photovoltaic terminal;
• and
• connecting the second converter input terminal to the second photovoltaic output terminal and the casing,
• wherein the converter output is galvanically isolated from the converter input, and
• wherein the converter output is configured to operate at a voltage that is, with respect to the ground connection, at least double the maximum voltage rating.