Patent ID: 8630077

Claim:
A photovoltaic string comprising: a plurality of serially connected solar cells; a positive lead and a negative lead on opposite ends of the photovoltaic string, one end of the plurality of serially connected solar cells being connected to the positive lead and an opposite end of the plurality of serially connected solar cells being connected to the negative lead; an open circuit voltage limiter across the plurality of serially connected solar cells, the open circuit voltage limiter having a positive terminal connected to the negative lead and a negative terminal connected to the positive lead, the open circuit voltage limiter having a limiter voltage less than an open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string for current flowing through the open circuit voltage limiter in one direction and allows current flow through the open circuit voltage limiter in another direction; a first diode having a cathode connected to the positive terminal of the open circuit voltage limiter and an anode connected to the negative terminal of the open circuit voltage limiter; and a second diode having a cathode connected to the negative terminal of the open circuit voltage limiter and an anode connected to the positive terminal of the open circuit voltage limiter.