Manufacturer warranties
An introduction to solar equipment warranties.
Most solar inverter manufacturers provide a limited defect warranty of 10 years.
The term 'limited' means that there are conditions to that warranty.
Solar storage batteries typically come with a 10 year limited defect warranty.
Over time, the ability to store and release power from batteries reduces.
This reduction is affected by the battery cell chemistry, the battery management system, installation environment and more.
It is typical to see manufacturers guaranteeing that their batteries will still be at least 70% effective after 10 years.
There are usually other peripheral items in a solar inverter and battery installation that have a warranty with them.
Consumption meters and Backup boxes/Gateways for example often have a 2 year manufacturer warranty.
Solar panels usually come with a 25 year limited defect warranty.
There is also a 'performance warranty' which frankly isn't work the ink used to describe it.
It was only a few years ago that a typical warranty for a solar panel was only 10 years.
I cannot explain why these warranties have increased so significantly, and so rapidly.
Is labour and transportation included in these warranties?
Most inverter and battery manufacturers pay $165 towards labour and include transportation.
Most solar panel manufacturers pay nothing at all to cover labour costs.
That $165 has not changed in the 13 years we have been installing solar, whereas labour costs certainly have.
The true labour cost to replace a panel or inverter under warranty is typically closer to $500.
The manufacturer will require an on-site inspection of the faulty equipment first.
There's about $250 initial labour cost, ignoring admin costs for submitting a claim.
Then when the replacement arrives, another visit to site is required to install it. Another $250 cost.
Therefore, if your solar company won't cover the gap, or has gone out of business, it is likely
that YOU will have to pay the difference of approximately $335 each time there's a failure.
For the record, our policy is to absorb the cost so you pay nothing during the manufacturer warranty period.
That's why we avoid installing panel, inverter and battery brands that have a poor reliability reputation.
These usually cheaper products may have a 10 year warranty, but might fail multiple times during that ten years.
That leaves us picking up the labour tab many times over and ultimately making a loss on the whole contract.
It is common knowledge that a multitude of Australia solar companies have gone out of business, and continue to do so.
The cost of servicing warranties on unreliable equipment has been a major factor behind this.
Regrettably, many of these solar companies immediately re-surface under a new name, and start over.
Solar manufacturer warranty resources.
Inverter and battery manufacturers
Sungrow
Sigenergy
Fronius
iStore
Growatt
Goodwe
BYD
Solar panel manufacturers
JinKo
Trina
Aiko
Risen
LonGi (I could not locate the actual resource)
Eging
or email
This was written by Andrew MacKeith, Solar4Ever service manager since 2011.
Solar4Ever is located in Morley (Perth), WA 6062
Most solar inverter manufacturers provide a limited defect warranty of 10 years.
The term 'limited' means that there are conditions to that warranty.
Solar storage batteries typically come with a 10 year limited defect warranty.
Over time, the ability to store and release power from batteries reduces.
This reduction is affected by the battery cell chemistry, the battery management system, installation environment and more.
It is typical to see manufacturers guaranteeing that their batteries will still be at least 70% effective after 10 years.
There are usually other peripheral items in a solar inverter and battery installation that have a warranty with them.
Consumption meters and Backup boxes/Gateways for example often have a 2 year manufacturer warranty.
Solar panels usually come with a 25 year limited defect warranty.
There is also a 'performance warranty' which frankly isn't work the ink used to describe it.
It was only a few years ago that a typical warranty for a solar panel was only 10 years.
I cannot explain why these warranties have increased so significantly, and so rapidly.
Is labour and transportation included in these warranties?
Most inverter and battery manufacturers pay $165 towards labour and include transportation.
Most solar panel manufacturers pay nothing at all to cover labour costs.
That $165 has not changed in the 13 years we have been installing solar, whereas labour costs certainly have.
The true labour cost to replace a panel or inverter under warranty is typically closer to $500.
The manufacturer will require an on-site inspection of the faulty equipment first.
There's about $250 initial labour cost, ignoring admin costs for submitting a claim.
Then when the replacement arrives, another visit to site is required to install it. Another $250 cost.
Therefore, if your solar company won't cover the gap, or has gone out of business, it is likely
that YOU will have to pay the difference of approximately $335 each time there's a failure.
For the record, our policy is to absorb the cost so you pay nothing during the manufacturer warranty period.
That's why we avoid installing panel, inverter and battery brands that have a poor reliability reputation.
These usually cheaper products may have a 10 year warranty, but might fail multiple times during that ten years.
That leaves us picking up the labour tab many times over and ultimately making a loss on the whole contract.
It is common knowledge that a multitude of Australia solar companies have gone out of business, and continue to do so.
The cost of servicing warranties on unreliable equipment has been a major factor behind this.
Regrettably, many of these solar companies immediately re-surface under a new name, and start over.
Solar manufacturer warranty resources.
Inverter and battery manufacturers
Sungrow
Sigenergy
Fronius
iStore
Growatt
Goodwe
BYD
Solar panel manufacturers
JinKo
Trina
Aiko
Risen
LonGi (I could not locate the actual resource)
Eging
or email
This was written by Andrew MacKeith, Solar4Ever service manager since 2011.
Solar4Ever is located in Morley (Perth), WA 6062