Solar PV quote

JKenH

Well I hope claiming on an inverter warranty is more straightforward than on a solar panel warranty. 

I have approached the manufacturers of my panels who have requested a lot of information such as serial numbers of the panels and voltage readings for individual panels to identify which are defective. As the panels are on a 2 storey roof not easily accessible with scaffolding because the ground floor projects forward of the first floor it would be quite an exercise to get this information/data. The manufacturers (not UK based) have said they will probably want more information once the electricians are on the roof. 

We have therefore reached a stalemate as getting scaffolding up and an electrician in is not something I am prepared to do at the moment even if it were possible given solar specialists are busy with new installs. Even if the manufacturers are satisfied with the information and data if it could be practically obtained a further visit to install the replacement panels would be needed and more scaffold. As my output on one of the 4 strings is down 25% and on another around 10%, the total shortfall in generation is less than 10% it just isn’t worth the effort. 

With an inverter it should be a lot easier to access and get the data needed and there is no scaffold needed but I can still imagine an electricians time for a couple of visits satisfying the manufacturers would eat into any savings from a warranty.

Having said all that I am aware from other posts that people have had inverters replaced under warranty and you might be interested in their experience. (I should add that the original 2 inverters installed at my house were replaced without quibble by my installer after 3 months but unfortunately his company is no longer trading). 

One last point, under the terms of an extended warranty do you get back the full replacement cost and installation or only a proportion based on the unexpired life?

paul991

i have  a 8 year old system Canadian solar panels  and a samil inverter .in hindsight the best thing I done was not to take out extended warranty as both the installer and samil UK don't seem to exist no more .though touch wood we have had no trouble from the system.

arty688

Like insurance ,warranties  are complete waste of money if you if nothing happens.

JKenH

arty688 said:

Like insurance ,warranties  are complete waste of money if you if nothing happens.

Insurance is about spreading risk so that major losses which we could not possibly bear ourselves (eg house burning down or seriously injuring someone by our driving) are shared by the many. You can pay around £200 per year and receive £500,000 if your house burns down, or pay £200 and your motor insurer may have to deal with a claim in the millions for serious injury.) Warranties usually command a high premium relative to the amount at risk and frequently are sold as a means of the supplier transferring his contractual or statutory liabilities to a third party with the customer picking up the tab. Usually the commission rates on warranties are high (hence they are actively sold) compared to, say, household insurance which is usually bought (although some mortgagees steer you to their own products). Warranties frequently require the buyer to shoulder a significant part off the loss. They are rarely good value (unless of course you make a claim).

Clive_Woody

arty688 said:

Like insurance ,warranties  are complete waste of money if you if nothing happens.

Indeed, and conversely they are fantastic value if something does happen and the warranty pays out!

JKenH

It’s amazing how much we are prepared for peace of mine. How many of us have paid £10 collision damage waiver when taking a loan car from the garage. That works out at £3650 pa to avoid paying £1k excess on the loan car.

Clive_Woody

JKenH said:

It’s amazing how much we are prepared for peace of mine. How many of us have paid £10 collision damage waiver when taking a loan car from the garage. That works out at £3650 pa to avoid paying £1k excess on the loan car.

Then by comparison the warranty on an inverter at £59/yr seems an absolute bargain.

I guess it's a matter of figuring out where you draw the line. Do you bother with travel insurance, buildings insurance, contents insurance, critical illness insurance, mobile phone insurance, etc...

My FIL was a CEO of a reinsurance company headquartered in London, his take was go for the minimal cover possible, taking into consideration what you could afford to lose or replace yourself....but then his financial situation was somewhat different to your average person.

paul991

buildings and contents especially if that  where you live as somebody who made a 14 k claim on a 16  k terrace  house subsidence

JKenH

The Givenergy warranty includes a table indicating the amount payable based on the age/cycles of the inverter. After 5 years you get 40%, after 9 years you get 10%if I have read it correctly. 

The refund scheme factors in a fair usage determinant and a corresponding reduction in compensation based on the age of the battery and the number of actual cycles the battery has endured. 

The table  of compensation wouldn’t format correctly so have a look at this link

 https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/pdfs/givenergy-residential-battery-warranty-2020v1.pdf

Edit: or here https://kb.givenergy.cloud/article.php?id=55

gefnew

Try this it may help.