A photovoltaic (PV) system, comprising: a plurality of PV modules configured to provide direct current (DC) power to an inverter ; circuitry associated with the plurality of PV modules, wherein the circuitry is configured to: receive an indication of a status of the PV system, and wherein in response to receiving the indication of the status of the PV system, determine whether to switch between a first state in which one or more of the plurality of PV modules is/are enabled and a second state in which one or more of the plurality of PV modules is/are temporarily disabled, wherein the plurality of modules includes a plurality of solar cell strings, wherein each of the plurality of solar cell strings comprises its own associated independently controlled switch, and wherein the circuitry is coupled to the associated switch of each of the plurality of solar cell strings, and the indication is a heartbeat indication, wherein in response to receiving the heartbeat indication, the circuitry is configured to maintain the plurality of PV modules in the first state, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: determine that the heartbeat indication has not been received within a threshold amount of time, and in response to determining that the heartbeat indication has not been received within the threshold amount of time, switch the plurality of PV modules to the second state. a plurality of PV modules configured to provide direct current (DC) power to an inverter ; circuitry associated with the plurality of PV modules, wherein the circuitry is configured to: receive an indication of a status of the PV system, and wherein in response to receiving the indication of the status of the PV system, determine whether to switch between a first state in which one or more of the plurality of PV modules is/are enabled and a second state in which one or more of the plurality of PV modules is/are temporarily disabled, receive an indication of a status of the PV system, and wherein in response to receiving the indication of the status of the PV system, determine whether to switch between a first state in which one or more of the plurality of PV modules is/are enabled and a second state in which one or more of the plurality of PV modules is/are temporarily disabled, wherein the plurality of modules includes a plurality of solar cell strings, wherein each of the plurality of solar cell strings comprises its own associated independently controlled switch, and wherein the circuitry is coupled to the associated switch of each of the plurality of solar cell strings, and the indication is a heartbeat indication, wherein in response to receiving the heartbeat indication, the circuitry is configured to maintain the plurality of PV modules in the first state, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: determine that the heartbeat indication has not been received within a threshold amount of time, and in response to determining that the heartbeat indication has not been received within the threshold amount of time, switch the plurality of PV modules to the second state. determine that the heartbeat indication has not been received within a threshold amount of time, and in response to determining that the heartbeat indication has not been received within the threshold amount of time, switch the plurality of PV modules to the second state. <EOS>