Monitoring of distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

The invention relates to an apparatus comprising: a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) module configured to control voltage or current to a maximum power point of a corresponding solar panel coupled to a power line; a monitoring module configured to gather performance data of the corresponding solar panel while being controlled by the MPPT module; and a transmitter configured to transmit the performance data, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the performance data at a randomized time relative to transmission of other performance data from a plurality of other solar panels coupled to the power line.