PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEM INVERTER DETECTION
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a photovoltaic (PV) panel disconnect switch to switchably couple one or more Direct Current (DC) PV panels to a PV power system;
continuity testing circuitry, operatively coupled to the PV panel disconnect switch and to the PV power system, to enable testing of electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and an inverter in the PV power system;
a controller, operatively coupled to the PV panel disconnect switch and to the connectivity testing circuitry, to control the PV panel disconnect switch to open responsive to occurrence of a disconnect condition, to control the continuity testing circuitry to test electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter with the PV panel disconnect switch open, to maintain the PV panel disconnect switch open on determining no electrical continuity, and to control the PV panel disconnect switch to close on determining that there is electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Photovoltaic power system inverter detection apparatus and methods are disclosed. Electrical continuity between an inverter in a PV power system and a PV panel disconnect switch, which switchably couples one or more DC PV panels to the PV power system, is tested while the PV panel disconnect switch is open. A state of the electrical continuity is determined based on measurements of an electrical parameter after the test signal is applied. The PV panel disconnect switch is maintained open on determining no electrical continuity, and closed on determining that there is electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter. A shutdown device that implements inverter detection may be located and/or adapted to meet safety conditions, by being located less than 10 feet from the PV panel array and/or adapted to limit a test signal to a maximum of 30V and 240VA.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a photovoltaic (PV) panel disconnect switch to switchably couple one or more Direct Current (DC) PV panels to a PV power system; continuity testing circuitry, operatively coupled to the PV panel disconnect switch and to the PV power system, to enable testing of electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and an inverter in the PV power system; a controller, operatively coupled to the PV panel disconnect switch and to the connectivity testing circuitry, to control the PV panel disconnect switch to open responsive to occurrence of a disconnect condition, to control the continuity testing circuitry to test electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter with the PV panel disconnect switch open, to maintain the PV panel disconnect switch open on determining no electrical continuity, and to control the PV panel disconnect switch to close on determining that there is electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus comprising:
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a photovoltaic (PV) panel disconnect switch to switchably couple one or more Direct Current (DC) PV panels to a PV power system; continuity testing circuitry, operatively coupled to the PV panel disconnect switch and to the PV power system, to enable testing of electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and an inverter in the PV power system, the continuity testing circuitry comprising a test signal source; a controller, operatively coupled to the PV panel disconnect switch and to the connectivity testing circuitry, to control the continuity testing circuitry to apply a test signal from the test signal source to the PV power system with the PV panel disconnect switch open, and to determine a state of electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter based on measurements of an electrical parameter in the continuity testing circuitry after the test signal is applied. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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applying a test signal from a test signal source to test electrical continuity between a PV panel disconnect switch that is open and disconnects one or more Direct Current (DC) PV panels from a PV power system, and an inverter in the PV power system; obtaining measurements of an electrical parameter, at a shutdown device that comprises the PV panel disconnect switch, after the test signal is applied; determining a state of electrical continuity between the PV panel disconnect switch and the inverter based on the measurements. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification