A string of solar cells comprising: a first silicon solar cell having a front surface to be illuminated by light, a back surface, and an electrically conducting front surface metallization pattern disposed on the front surface; and a second silicon solar cell having a front surface to be illuminated by light, a back surface, and an electrically conductive back surface metallization pattern disposed on the back surface; wherein the first and second silicon solar cells are positioned with an the edge of the back surface of the second silicon solar cell overlapping with an edge of the front surface of the first silicon solar cell; wherein the front surface metallization pattern of the first silicon solar cell comprises a bus bar or a plurality of contact pads positioned adjacent to and running parallel to the overlapped edge of the front surface of the first silicon solar cell for substantially the length of that edge, a plurality of fingers oriented perpendicularly to the overlapped edge of the front surface of the first solar cell and electrically connected to the bus bar or contact pads ; and wherein a portion of the front surface metallization pattern of the first silicon solar cell comprising the bus bar or contact pads is hidden by the second silicon solar cell and bonded to a portion of the back surface metallization pattern of the second silicon solar cell to electrically connect the first and second silicon solar cells in series, characterised by a bypass conductor having a width perpendicular to its long axis narrower than the width of the bus bar or contact pads and interconnecting two or more fingers to provide multiple current paths from each of the two or more interconnected fingers to the bus bar or contact pads , and an end conductor that interconnects fingers at their far ends opposite from the bus bar or contact pads ; wherein the bypass conductor interconnects fingers to electrically bypass cracks that may form between the bypass conductor and the bus bar or contact pads ; and wherein the end conductor interconnects fingers to electrically bypass cracks that may form between the bypass conductor and the end conductor . a first silicon solar cell having a front surface to be illuminated by light, a back surface, and an electrically conducting front surface metallization pattern disposed on the front surface; and a second silicon solar cell having a front surface to be illuminated by light, a back surface, and an electrically conductive back surface metallization pattern disposed on the back surface; wherein the first and second silicon solar cells are positioned with an the edge of the back surface of the second silicon solar cell overlapping with an edge of the front surface of the first silicon solar cell; wherein the front surface metallization pattern of the first silicon solar cell comprises a bus bar or a plurality of contact pads positioned adjacent to and running parallel to the overlapped edge of the front surface of the first silicon solar cell for substantially the length of that edge, a plurality of fingers oriented perpendicularly to the overlapped edge of the front surface of the first solar cell and electrically connected to the bus bar or contact pads ; and <EOS>