Patent ID: 8854193

Claim:
A method, comprising: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each respective local management unit of the local management units (LMUs) coupled with a respective solar module and configured to control an output of the respective solar module, wherein the respective local management unit comprises: a controller; a first switch which, when closed, short circuits outputs of the respective local management unit, a second switch which, when open, disconnects an input from the respective solar module from one of the outputs of the respective local management unit, a third switch, and a diode connected in series with the third switch, wherein a series connection from the third switch to the diode is connected between inputs received from the respective solar module, and when the third switch is closed during shutdown of the respective solar module, the diode is forward biased to provide a voltage to power the controller; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device selected from the group consisting of a hand-held device, a computer, and a wireless switch unit; and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the local management units (LMUs) via the controller of the respective local management unit operating the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch of the respective local management unit.