Device, system, and method for sectioning and coupling multiple photovoltaic strings

摘要

A photovoltaic system has a power converter connected by power rails to a plurality of photovoltaic strings, each string has serially connected photovoltaic panels and switches. The switches divide each string into sections, and the strings are distributed in electrical parallel paths over a plurality of arrays with one section per string in each array. A first set of strings to be brought online with the power converter is initialized. A drive signal is sent to switches in the initial set of strings to couple the sections in each string of the initial set so that the set of strings come online with the power converter providing voltage and current to the power converter.