Ok, I just read through the thread and I thought I would give you my 2 cents worth...
You're getting a feed in check for power generation. Why would you rob yourself?
You have a power inverter that's doing the risky power conversation for you already. Just use the usual wall outlet devices for the science experiment stuff. Safer, tested for reliability, etc.
If you feel like you just must play with the hvdc, you absolutely must make a custom device that will run reliably at 10 percent or so higher DC voltage than you'll ever be able to generate. Stepping down from 500 to 12 or 17 vdc brings some sort of buck converter to mind.
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