Rapid shutdown device and photovoltaic system

A rapid shutdown device for a photovoltaic system, the photovoltaic system comprising an inverter and multiple serially-connected photovoltaic elements, each of the photovoltaic elements comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the rapid shutdown device comprising:

• a switching circuit comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein a first terminal of the first switch is electrically connected with the positive terminal of a first photovoltaic element of the multiple photovoltaic elements, a second terminal of the first switch is electrically connected with the negative terminal of a second photovoltaic element of the multiple photovoltaic elements, and a first terminal of the second switch is electrically connected with the negative terminal of the first photovoltaic element;
• a control circuit electrically connected with the first switch and the second switch, controlling the first switch and the second switch to turn on or turn off according to a command signal;
• a communication circuit electrically connected with the control circuit and in communication with the inverter, receiving the command signal from the inverter, and transmitting the command signal to the control circuit;
• and
• an auxiliary power circuit providing required electric energy to power the rapid shutdown device.