Patent ID: 8395919

Claim:
A power inverter system, comprising: a DC power source; a DC to AC inverter configured to convert DC voltage from the DC power source to AC voltage; a DC link coupling the DC power source and the inverter, the DC link having a DC link voltage; an inverter pre-charger configured to pre-charge the inverter until the DC link voltage reaches a first DC link voltage prior to connecting the power inverter system to an AC power grid and the DC power source; and a phased lock loop configured to synchronize the pre-charged inverter to the AC power grid prior to connecting the power inverter system to the AC power grid, wherein the pre-charged inverter is further configured to decrease the DC link voltage to a second DC link voltage prior to connecting the DC power source to the power inverter system and subsequent to connecting the power inverter system to the AC power grid, wherein the second DC link voltage is a minimum voltage level required to control AC grid currents generated via the inverter and is less than a predetermined DC power source open circuit voltage, and further wherein the inverter is further configured to operate in a maximum power point tracking control mode subsequent to a first voltage transient caused by connecting the DC power source to the power inverter system.