Solar and Battery Warranties Explained: What You're Actually Covered For

How many warranties come with a system?

Usually several:

• Panel product warranty. Covers defects in the panels themselves.
• Panel performance warranty. Guarantees the panels keep producing a minimum share of their rated output over the years.
• Inverter warranty. Covers the inverter. Inverters often have shorter warranties than panels.
• Battery warranty. Covers the battery, often with conditions on years and the energy cycled through it.
• Workmanship warranty. The installer's promise about the quality of the installation: mounting, wiring and connections.

What conditions should I check?

• Years and throughput. Battery warranties can end at a time limit or an energy limit, whichever comes first.
• Capacity retention. Some battery warranties promise the battery keeps a minimum share of its capacity.
• Installation requirements. Warranties can depend on approved installers, correct placement and registration of the product.
• Monitoring and connection. Some battery warranties require the battery to stay connected to the internet for monitoring.

Who honours the warranty?

Manufacturers honour product warranties, but in practice your installer handles the claim: they diagnose the problem, contact the manufacturer and do the swap. If your installer has disappeared, claims get harder. Ask how long a company has been operating and how it handles service.

Does Australian Consumer Law add anything?

Yes. Consumer guarantees apply on top of written warranties, so products must be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose. The written warranty does not replace those rights.

A real example

We installed a 33 kWh GoodWe battery in Toukley on the Central Coast. Like every install, the owners received the product warranty details and our workmanship warranty, and they deal with us if anything ever needs attention.

What to do now

Keep your warranty documents and installer details with your home papers. If you are comparing quotes, ask each installer to list every warranty, its length and who to call.