Patent ID: 8212138

Claim:
A method of protecting a photovoltaic array from damage from partial shading, said method comprising the steps of: providing a photovoltaic array comprised of a plurality of modules connected in series for providing an electric current, wherein each of said modules includes a rechargeable battery having at least one rechargeable cell connected in parallel with a photovoltaic battery having at least one photovoltaic cell; utilizing a light source for lighting said array, wherein, during a temporary shading of one or more, but not all, of said modules, the remainder of said modules remain lit by the light source; and each of said batteries included in said one or more shaded modules shunting at least some portion of said electric current during said temporary shading without using a diode for blocking current flow through the corresponding photovoltaic battery, wherein said shunting protects said array from hot-spot damage.