Patent ID: 8836169

Claim:
A solar array for a power distribution system comprising: a plurality of series-connected solar cells connected in parallel, each of the plurality of series-connected solar cells connected between a positive terminal and a negative terminal for generating a voltage differential between the positive terminal and the negative terminal; and a center-tapped terminal electrically connected to ground and to each of the series-connected solar cells at a midpoint between the positive and negative terminals, the positive terminal having a positive voltage relative to ground greater than the center-tapped terminal and the negative terminal having a negative voltage relative to ground less than the center-tapped terminal; a first series boost converter that boosts the voltage at the positive terminal to generate a positive boost voltage; and a second series boost converter that boosts the voltage at the negative terminal to generate a negative boost voltage, wherein a voltage differential between the positive boost voltage and the negative boost voltage is greater than the voltage differential between the positive terminal and the negative terminal.