Sunny boy Warranty Extension

Waywardmike

Hey all,

Just like that I'm coming up to 5 years since install and my installer has contacted me about extending the warranty on my sunny boy 3600TL.

I can also do it via SMA's website which is probably the preferred option as they accept AMEX, whereas my installer doesn't accept cards at all. Prices are the same.

another 5 Years - ~£175
another 10 Years - ~£350
another 15 years - ~£528

Has anyone ever claimed on their SMA warranty? Was it worth it? As it's a one shot I think my preference would be the 10 years extra, as that's well past the pay back period and initially my installer said they're the weak link in the system and in his experience tend to fail around the 12 year mark (?)

Thoughts?

The_Green_Hornet

Waywardmike wrote: »

initially my installer said they're the weak link in the system and in his experience tend to fail around the 12 year mark (?)

As the majority of Solar PV inverters have only been installed in the last 9 years (the Feed-in tariff scheme was introduced on 1 April 2010) I wonder how your installer knows that they tend to fail around the 12 year mark?

legoman62

I took out an extra 5yr warranty on my SB3800. It cost around £200.00 from SMA.

I decided on the 5yr warranty because when my inverter fails I would like to buy one with a battery built in and would prefer to wait until technology/pricing improves.

I took the Comfort option. Last year my installers said they had not had any SMA failures since they began installing in 2011:)

Waywardmike

The_Green_Hornet wrote: »

As the majority of Solar PV inverters have only been installed in the last 9 years (the Feed-in tariff scheme was introduced on 1 April 2010) I wonder how your installer knows that they tend to fail around the 12 year mark?

Yeah, that's why I had the (?) after it..... I couldn't figure out how he would know that.

The two people at work I know with solar have both had their inverters fail though so I tend to believe the 'weak link' part, neither were SMA though and after a couple of years so within the original warranty so as far as I'm aware replaced without hassle.

I like the upgrade aspect. Maybe in 5 years battery inverters will be reasonable enough cost wise to consider. :think: