Solaredge Technologies Ltd.

Solaredge Ltd.

Meir Adest

Yoav Galin

Guy Sella

Lior Handelsman

Amir Fishelov

Meir Gazit

Yaron Binder

Ilan Yoscovich

Tzachi Glovinsky

David Braginsky

Israel Gershman

Vadim Shmukler

Liron Har-Shai

Alon Zohar

Tzachi Glovinski

Ariel Cohen

Yakir Loewenstern

Elad Sity

Ehud Kirmayer

Leon Kupershmidt

Nadav Berkovitch

Ron Neuman

Gad Michaeli

Gil Matzliach

Peter Mathews

Nikolay Radimov

Reuven Savitzky

Avi Rubinshtein

Ilan Yoskovitch

Naseem Jamal

Aryeh Zafranski

Natan Schecter

Vladimir Volovik

Ofir Digmi

A distributed power system including multiple (DC) batteries each DC battery with positive and negative poles. Multiple power converters are coupled respectively to the DC batteries. Each power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is adapted for coupling to the positive pole. The second terminal is adapted for coupling to the negative pole. The power converter includes: (i) a control loop adapted for setting the voltage between or current through the first and second terminals, and (ii) a power conversion portion adapted to selectively either: convert power from said first and second terminals to said third and fourth terminals to discharge the battery connected thereto, or to convert power from the third and fourth terminals to the first and second terminals to charge the battery connected thereto. Each of the power converters is adapted for serial connection to at least one other power converter by connecting respectively the third and fourth terminals, thereby forming a serial string. A power controller is adapted for coupling to the serial string. The power controller includes a control part adapted to maintain current through or voltage across the serial string at a predetermined value.

Distributed power system using direct current power sources

Methods for arc detection in a system including one or more photovoltaic generators, one or more photovoltaic power devices and a system power device and/or a load connectible to the photovoltaic generators and/or the photovoltaic power devices. The methods may measure voltage, current, and/or power delivered to the load or system power device, and the methods may measure voltage noise or current noise within the photovoltaic system. The methods may periodically, and/or in response to detecting noise, reduce an electrical parameter such as current or voltage in order to extinguish an arc. The methods may compare one or more measurements to one or more thresholds to detect arcing, and upon a comparison indicating that arcing is or was present, an alarm condition may be set.

Arc detection and prevention in a power generation system

A distributed power system including multiple DC power sources and multiple power modules. The power modules include inputs coupled respectively to the DC power sources and outputs coupled in series to form a serial string. An inverter is coupled to the serial string. The inverter converts power input from the serial string to output power. A signaling mechanism between the inverter and the power module is adapted for controlling operation of the power modules. Also, for a protection method in the distributed power system, when the inverter stops production of the output power, each of the power modules is shut down and thereby the power input to the inverter is ceased.

Safety mechanisms, wake up and shutdown methods in distributed power installations

Mounting an agent on a cover of on an enclosure of an electronic device such that changing a physical location of the cover changes a location of the agent. In response to a change in the physical location of the cover, detecting a change in location of the agent with a sensor. Reading a transmitted signal from the sensor by a controller and changing a status of the electronic device according to instructions from the controller, the instructions being configured according to the transmitted signal of the sensor.

Switching devices for a power converter

Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments disclosed herein include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities, or an integrated cable or connector combining electrical conduction with a thermal fuse.

Conductor temperature detector

A system for providing power from a direct current (DC) source and/or alternative current (AC) source to a battery is described. The system may include DC power source terminals configured to connect to a DC power source, AC power source terminals configured to connect to an AC power source, a DC-DC converter configured to charge a battery from the DC power source terminals, an AC-DC converter configured to charge the battery from the AC power source terminals, a first switch connected between the AC power source terminals and the AC-D C converter, a second switch connected between the DC power source terminals and the DC-DC converter, and a controller configured to connect the battery to the DC power source terminals based on an absence of the AC power source, and connect the battery to the AC power source terminals based on an availability of the AC power source.

Dual use photovoltaic system

A method of signaling between a photovoltaic module and an inverter module. The inverter module is connected to the photovoltaic module. In an initial mode of operation an initial code is modulated thereby producing an initial signal. The initial signal is transmitted from the inverter module to the photovoltaic module. The initial signal is received by the photovoltaic module. The operating mode is then changed to a normal mode of power conversion, and during the normal mode of operation a control signal is transmitted from the inverter to the photovoltaic module. A control code is demodulated and received from the control signal. The control code is compared with the initial code producing a comparison. The control command of the control signal is validated as a valid control command from the inverter module with the control command only acted upon when the comparison is a positive comparison.

Pairing of components in a direct current distributed power generation system

Controlling a power converter circuit for a direct current (DC) power source is disclosed. The power converter may be operative to convert input power received from the DC power source to an output power and to perform maximum power point tracking of the power source. The power converter is adapted to provide the output power to a load that also performs maximum power point tracking.

Circuit for interconnected direct current power sources

A system for generation of electrical power including an inverter connected to a photovoltaic source including a theft prevention and detection feature. A first memory is permanently attached to the photovoltaic source. The first memory is configured to store a first code. A second memory is attached to the inverter. The second memory configured to store a second code. During manufacture or installation of the system, the first code is stored in the first memory attached to the photovoltaic source. The second code based on the first code is stored in the second memory. Prior to operation of the inverter, the first code is compared to the second code and based on the comparison; the generation of the electrical power is enabled or disabled.

Theft detection and prevention in a power generation system

A direct current (DC) power combiner operable to interconnect multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings is disclosed. The DC power combiner may include a device adapted for disconnecting at least one photovoltaic string from the multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string connectible by a first and second DC power line. The device may include a differential current sensor adapted to measure differential current by comparing respective currents in the first and second DC power lines. A first switch is connected in series with the first DC power line. A control module is operatively attached to the differential current sensor and the first switch. The control module may be operable to open the first switch when the differential current sensor measures the differential current to be greater than a maximum allowed current differential, thereby disconnecting the photovoltaic string from the interconnected photovoltaic strings.

Disconnection of a string carrying direct current power

A system includes a central analysis station and a display. The central analysis station may be configured to receive a unique identifier and performance data from each of a plurality of solar panels. The central analysis station may detect a problem in at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the performance data. A display may be configured to display a status of the at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the detected problem.

Monitoring of distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

A method for maintaining reliability of a distributed power system including a power converter having input terminals and output terminals. Input power is received at the input terminals. The input power is converted to an output power at the output terminals. A temperature is measured in or in the environment of the power converter. The power conversion of the input power to the output power may be controlled to maximize the input power by setting at the input terminals the input voltage or the input current according to predetermined criteria. One of the predetermined criteria is configured to reduce the input power based on the temperature signal responsive to the temperature. The adjustment of input power reduces the input voltage and/or input current thereby lowering the temperature of the power converter.

Distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

An power system for a power system. The power system includes multiple electrical power sources and an enclosure operatively connected to the power sources at multiple input terminals. Multiple loads operatively connect to the enclosure at multiple output terminals by multiple cables. The enclosure includes the input terminals and the output terminals and a controller unit. Multiple selection units operatively connect to the controller unit, multiple power converters are connected to multiple connection paths. The selection units connect to at least one of multiple switches connected in the connection paths. Multiple sensor units are operatively attached to the controller unit which is configured to sense multiple parameters in the connection paths. Responsive to the parameters sensed by the sensor units, the selection units select the connection paths between the electrical power sources and the loads.

Electric-vehicle charging apparatus

A photovoltaic module is presented, which may include a photovoltaic panel and a converter circuit having a primary input connected to the photovoltaic panel and a secondary output galvanically isolated from the primary input. The primary input may be connectible to multiple input terminals within a junction box and at least one of the input terminals may be electrically connected to a ground. The photovoltaic module may include multiple interconnected photovoltaic cells connected electrically to multiple connectors (for example bus-bars). The photovoltaic module may include input terminals operable for connecting to the connectors and an isolated converter circuit. The isolated converter circuit may include a primary input connected to the input terminals and a secondary output galvanically isolated from the primary input.

Growing community of inventors

Raanana, Israel

Meir Adest