Solar system warranties / guarantees

frugalfran

We have recently had a PV system installed and are checking up on warranties on the equipment installed.

Everyone going for solar panels needs to understand about warranties / guarantees: not only for the installation work, but also for the individual units within the installation i.e. panels / inverters.

It's a major investment with a long payback - and we'd like to keep the system running long enough to achieve payback! (And more!)

Items within the installation will normally come with a factory warranty / guarantee but this may have strings attached and you should make sure you keep serial numbers and attached documents.

PANELS: In our case, manufacturer's warranty for the panels is 5 years for malfunction. However, there is an additional warranty for our panels (Sharp) which covers performance degradation of more than 90% of stated specification within 10 years. This requires / demands the serial numbers of the individual panels and evidence of installation date. Furthermore, you must have means of establishing that the performance has reduced by more than the stated limit, so you need to be able to contact the manufacturer with the details they require.

INVERTER: The manufacturer warranty for the inverter (SunnyBoy)is also five years, but they offer the option of extending this by 5 / 10 years and more against an up-front payment. In our case the 5 year extension (i.e. 10 yr period from installation) for a one-off payment of €300 and up to 15 years for €600.

Given the payback for the total out-lay can be quite long, extending the warranty is well worth consideration.

There are no threads on this ASAIK, but it is an important subject for discussion and debate I believe. Hope you agree!

frugalfran

Thanks for that - our installers were super efficient and removed all the packaging to the local tip and when we found we needed the serial numbers of the panels themselves we had to 'encourage' the supplier to go through all their paperwork to get the actual numbers for us. It would have all been less stressful if they had made a note in advance, or if we had known not to immediately ditch the cardboard but to peel off the serial numbers etc.

If the supplier cannot give you the numbers, they are on the panels themselves - scaffolding and a lot of difficulties could be the result.
I just wanted to warn people, make sure you get ALL the numbers and paperwork during the installation. I know some installations are done while the owners are not at home, in that case you need to ensure it is clear who is responsible for the provision of panel serial numbers etc.

Casper55

Hello All
Anyone know what the cost of extending the warranty of a Fronius IG 40 Inverer from 5 years to 10. As they are currently offering another 10 years free. Totalling 20yrs. Do you think this is a good deal or is there a catch. Best Regards Casper

Greenfingers3

Casper55 wrote: »

Hello All
Anyone know what the cost of extending the warranty of a Fronius IG 40 Inverer from 5 years to 10. As they are currently offering another 10 years free. Totalling 20yrs. Do you think this is a good deal or is there a catch. Best Regards Casper

For a warranty totalling 20 years, I was quoted £175 by an installer, not sure about this, seems a bit cheap to me.

frugalfran

http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/fronius_international/hs.xsl/83_22620_ENG_HTML.htm

This promotion is valid for new installations from July 1st 2011 and valid until 31 october. It appears genuine as this is the manufacturer's website.

Casper55

frugalfran wrote: »

http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/fronius_international/hs.xsl/83_22620_ENG_HTML.htm

This promotion is valid for new installations from July 1st 2011 and valid until 31 october. It appears genuine as this is the manufacturer's website.

Thanks thats where i got my info from, but could not find any prices.
Regaeds Casper

Cardew

Excellent post by the OP, and a most important subject.

Personally I think the most important aspect is the standard of instalation - fixing panels etc. I say that because I doubt if there will be many of the current firms will be in business in a few years when there will be virtually no PV installations - assuming the Government stop FIT when the finite sum of money available is used(and with the proliferation of Rent a Roof companies that won't take long)

Take this scenario. Mr Average is getting a significantly lower output from his system than previous years. Could it be a duff panel(s)? - the inverter? Those components might be guaranteed, but who will come and diagnose the problem? Who will pay for that diagnostic service? Who will pay for the removal of, say, a faulty panel?

frugalfran

Cardew,
Many thanks - I agree with your point about installation. The other points you raise add additional emphasis to the importance of the original equipment manufacturer of the items in the system installed. Fronius, SMA (SunnyBoy) are substantial German companies and, as you suggest, have more chance of existing than many of the installation companies who have limited warranties (deja vue on double glazing).

For all of the above it is doubly important to have ALL details concerning the information needed for activating warranties.

You are right about Mr Average struggling to master the technical details and this is why this thread is important and I would expect the emergence of new businesses to provide these services - at a cost!

Casper55

Greenfingers3 wrote: »

For a warranty totalling 20 years, I was quoted £175 by an installer, not sure about this, seems a bit cheap to me.

Just got a quote from the installer of £195 for 20 years for Fronius IG 40 Inverter, so this quote is fairly near yours. Regards Casper

Cardew

Casper55 wrote: »

Just got a quote from the installer of £195 for 20 years for Fronius IG 40 Inverter, so this quote is fairly near yours. Regards Casper

Who is the guarantee with, the installer or the manufacturer of the inverter?

Who is responsible for diagnosing a faulty inverter, removing it and fitting a replacement inverter?

I doubt if many installers will be around in a couple of years as there simply wont be enough work and they will move to new pastures.

Casper55

Cardew wrote: »

Who is the guarantee with, the installer or the manufacturer of the inverter?

Who is responsible for diagnosing a faulty inverter, removing it and fitting a replacement inverter?

I doubt if many installers will be around in a couple of years as there simply wont be enough work and they will move to new pastures.

Cardew
Thanks for the reply
A am fairly sure that the garrantee is with Fronius the manufactuer.
Your second question is a good one and I don't know the answer so will make some inquirys.However the installer did say they would replace the inverter if it became faulty as apposed to sending it away for repair. The installer has been going for almost 50 years so hopefully will be still here in another 25 years, but who knows,they might not be installing P.V.then So I suppose in the end, you pays your money and take your chances.
Best Regards Dave. and thanks again for raising those points