It should be noted that one skilled in the art would realize that although in system 80, converters 805 are shown to have feedback loop 221, as in controller 205 of system 20, embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in system 70 using switch mechanism 703 and/or in system 80 using line communications, to the serial string may be applied to and find benefit in other distributed power systems using converters without feedback loops 221 as applied to prior art system 10. Similarly, conventional inverters 104 may be used instead of inverter 804 with communications transmitter 803 added to inverter 104 either by the inverter manufacturer or as a retrofit. For example, FIG. 8B illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention applied as a retrofit to a prior art system, such as the system of FIG. 1. In this example, detection mechanism 701 and switch mechanism 703 are installed between the grid and the conventional inverter 104. Of course, detection mechanism 701 and switch mechanism 703 may be incorporated into the inverter, e.g., for original installation, rather than a retrofit. Also, other implementations described herein may be used instead of detection mechanism 701 and switch mechanism 703. Advantages of incorporation of monitoring and detection mechanism 701 and one of switch mechanism 703 or communications transmitter 803 into system 10 is beneficial during installation, maintenance, and firefighting.