Patent ID: 8642879

Claim:
A photovoltaic energy conversion system comprising: a first photovoltaic array configured to generate a direct current (DC) power, wherein the first photovoltaic array is disposed above ground potential and includes a positive rail and a first neutral line; a second photovoltaic array configured to generate a direct current (DC) power, wherein the second photovoltaic array is disposed below ground potential and includes a negative rail and a second neutral line; a power conversion component remotely coupled to both, the positive rail of the first photovoltaic array and the negative rail of the second photovoltaic array, the power conversion component adapted to convert a voltage between the positive rail of the first photovoltaic array and the negative rail of the second photovoltaic array from one form to another form; and a photovoltaic tie coupled between the first photovoltaic array and the second photovoltaic array, the photovoltaic tie includes a first switch to couple the first neutral line of the first photovoltaic array to the second neutral line of the second photovoltaic array while the first and second photovoltaic arrays are providing power to the power conversion component and the photovoltaic tie includes second and third switches that couple the first neutral line of the first photovoltaic array and the second neutral line of the second photovoltaic array, respectively, to ground when the first neutral line of the first photovoltaic array is not coupled to the second neutral line of the second photovoltaic array.