Integrated photovoltaic system

A photovoltaic system for providing a source of AC power, the photovoltaic system comprising:

• a plurality of individual photovoltaic modules for converting solar energy into DC power;
• an enclosed busway coupled to each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules to combine the DC power from each photovoltaic module to provide a DC power output, the busway including electrical wiring interconnecting the photovoltaic modules and providing an environmentally protected connection between the electrical wiring and each of the photovoltaic modules;
• and
• a power inverter coupled to the busway for converting the DC power output from the plurality of photovoltaic modules to AC power for output from the photovoltaic system, the power inverter including a sealed plug that is received in a mating sealed receptacle formed in the busway, such that the power inverter is removably coupled to the busway and the connection between the power inverter and the busway is environmentally sealed by the interaction between the sealed plug and the sealed receptacle.

A photovoltaic system for converting solar energy into a source of AC power, the system comprising:

• a plurality of individual photovoltaic modules for converting solar energy into DC power, each photovoltaic module including a sealed plug member;
• an environmentally sealed busway having a plurality of sealed receptacles, each sealed receptacle receiving the sealed plug member of one of the photovoltaic modules to couple the plurality of photovoltaic modules to the busway such that the busway combines the DC power from each module and provides a DC power output;
• and
• a power inverter directly coupled to the busway for converting the DC power output to AC power for output from the photovoltaic system, wherein the couplings between the busway and the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the coupling between the busway and the power inverter are each environmentally sealed.