Chain of Power Devices

Abstract

Methods for deploying connected power devices and systems of connected power devices prior to deployment in a photovoltaic installation are described. For example, a string of power devices pre-coupled by conductors is disclosed, which saves cost, provides convenient storage, reduces electromagnetic interference, and is easy to deploy.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of power devices arranged in a permanent physical order, each power device of the plurality of power devices comprising:   a printed circuit board (PCB),   at least one power input terminal configured to receive electrical power from a different one power generator of a plurality of power generators, and   a unique identifier of a plurality of unique identifiers; and   a plurality of electrical cables, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables comprises a single power conductor,   wherein the PCBs of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by a respective single power conductor of a different one of the plurality of electrical cables, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of power devices is equal to a second quantity of the plurality of power generators thereby providing one of the plurality of power devices for each of the plurality of power generators, and   wherein the plurality of unique identifiers indicate the permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a sequential order of the plurality of unique identifiers indicates the permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the permanent physical order is identified by a look-up table stored in the non-transitory computer-readable memory. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices further comprises a device electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables further comprises a cable EMI shield, and wherein the device EMI shields of each adjacent pair of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by the cable EMI shield of a different one of the plurality of electrical cables. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second power devices arranged in a second permanent physical order;   a plurality of second electrical cables, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of second electrical cables comprises a second single power conductor, and wherein each adjacent pair of the plurality of second power devices along the second permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by a different one of the second single power conductors using solder; and   an end cable comprising a male connector and a female connector mated together, wherein one of the plurality of power devices at an end of the permanent physical order is connected through the end cable to one of the plurality of second power devices at an end of the second permanent physical order.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of power devices arranged in a permanent physical order, each power device of the plurality of power devices comprising:   a printed circuit board (PCB),   at least one power input terminal configured to receive electrical power from a different one power generator of a plurality of power generators, and   a device electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield at least partially encompassing the PCB; and   a plurality of electrical cables, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables comprises a single power conductor and a cable EMI shield,   wherein the PCBs of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by a respective single power conductor of a different one of the plurality of electrical cables,   wherein the device EMI shields of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by a respective cable EMI shield of a different one of the plurality of electrical cables, and   wherein a first quantity of the plurality of power devices is equal to a second quantity of the plurality of power generators thereby providing one of the plurality of power devices for each of the plurality of power generators.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices further comprises a unique identifier of a plurality of unique identifiers, and wherein the plurality of unique identifiers indicate the permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices further comprises a unique identifier of a plurality of unique identifiers, and wherein a sequential order of the plurality of unique identifiers indicates the permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices further comprises a unique identifier of a plurality of unique identifiers, and wherein the permanent physical order is identified by a look-up table stored in the non-transitory computer-readable memory. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second power devices arranged in a second permanent physical order;   a plurality of second electrical cables, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of second electrical cables comprises a second single power conductor, and wherein each adjacent pair of the plurality of second power devices along the second permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by respective second single power conductor of a different one of the plurality of second electrical cables; and   an end cable, comprising a male connector and a female connector mated together, wherein one of the plurality of power devices at an end of the permanent physical order is connected through the end cable to one of the plurality of second power devices at an end of the second permanent physical order.   
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 connecting each power device, of a plurality of power devices, to one of a plurality of power generators, wherein a first quantity of the plurality of power devices is equal to a second quantity of the plurality of power generators thereby providing one of the plurality of power devices for each of the plurality of power generators;   retrieving, by one or more processors and from the plurality of power devices, a plurality of unique identifiers, each unique identifier being retrieved from a respective power device of the plurality of power devices, wherein the plurality of power devices are permanently connected together by interleaving, using solder, a single power conductor between each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices;   determining, by the one or more processors and based on the plurality of unique identifiers, a permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices; and   storing the permanent physical order on a non-transitory computer-readable memory accessible to the one or more processors.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising retrieving a look-up table stored on the non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the determining of the permanent physical order is further based on the look-up table. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining of the permanent physical order is further based on sorting the plurality of unique identifiers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices comprises:
 a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a controller; and   at least one power input terminal, and   wherein the method further comprises providing, by each power device via a respective at least one power input terminal, electrical power to a respective PCB.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices comprises a controller, wherein the plurality of unique identifiers are retrieved from the controllers of the plurality of power devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices comprises at least one power input terminal, and wherein the method further comprises receiving power input from at least one of the plurality of power generators via the at least one power input terminal. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a string of power devices configured to receive electrical power from a plurality of power generators, the string of power devices comprising:
 a plurality of power devices arranged in a permanent physical order, each power device of the plurality of power devices comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB), 
 at least one power input terminal configured to electrically connect to a different one power generator of the plurality of power generators, and 
 a unique identifier of a plurality of unique identifiers; and 
 
 a plurality of electrical cables, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables comprise a single power conductor, 
   wherein the PCBs of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by a respective single power conductor of a different one of the plurality of electrical cables,
 wherein the plurality of unique identifiers indicate the permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices, and 
   wherein a first quantity of the plurality of power devices is equal to a second quantity of the plurality of power generators in the system.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a string of power devices configured to receive electrical power from a plurality of power generators, the string of power devices comprising:
 a plurality of power devices arranged in a permanent physical order, each power device of the plurality of power devices comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB), 
 at least one power input terminal configured to receive electrical power from at least one power generator of the plurality of power generators, and 
 a device electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield at least partially encompassing the PCB; and 
 
 a plurality of electrical cables, wherein each electrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables comprises a single power conductor and a cable EMI shield, 
   wherein the PCBs of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected, using solder, by a respective single power conductor of a different one of the plurality of electrical cables,   wherein a first quantity of the plurality of power devices is equal to a second quantity of the plurality of power generators thereby providing one of the plurality of power devices for each of the plurality of power generators, and   wherein the device EMI shields of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are electrically permanently connected, using solder, by a different one of the cable EMI shields.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of power generators; and   a string of power devices comprising:
 a plurality of power devices arranged in a permanent physical order, each power device of the plurality of power devices comprising an electrical circuit, a unique identifier of a plurality of unique identifiers, and at least one power input terminal configured to receive electrical power from at least one power generator of the plurality of power generators, and 
 a plurality of electrical cables, wherein the electrical circuits of each adjacent pair of the plurality of power devices along the permanent physical order are permanently connected by a different one of the plurality of electrical cables, wherein the plurality of unique identifiers identify the permanent physical order of the plurality of power devices, and wherein a quantity of the plurality of power devices is greater than a quantity of the plurality of power generators thereby providing one or more spare power devices.