Patent ID: 8432143

Claim:
An arrangement comprising: at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module in a string, wherein: said first photovoltaic module and second photovoltaic module are electrically connected in parallel and arranged to provide a DC voltage to a DC voltage bus; said first photovoltaic module is connected to the DC voltage bus through a first connecting device and said second photovoltaic module is connected to the DC voltage bus through a second connecting device, each connecting device comprising a first contact and a second contact configured for parallel electrical connection of the respective photovoltaic module to the DC voltage bus; said first connecting device and said second connecting device each comprises a third contact to a control network; said first connecting device and said second connecting device each comprises a switch for the first contact and a power supply unit connected to the control network via the second contact and the third contact; each of the first power supply unit and the second power supply unit is configured to power the respective connecting device if a pre-determined voltage is supplied across the second contact and the third contact, otherwise the switch is open and no DC voltage is supplied to the DC voltage bus from the respective connecting device.