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Solar and Battery Warranties Explained: Workmanship, Product and Performance

Checked and updated by our licensed electricians: November 2026

Short answer: A solar and battery system has three layers of warranty: the manufacturer’s product warranty (faults in the panels, inverter or battery), the panel performance warranty (how much output the panels keep over the years) and the installer’s workmanship warranty (the installation itself). The Australian Consumer Law guarantees sit on top of all three. At Sun Connect Solar our installation work carries a 25-year workmanship warranty, and the equipment carries the makers’ warranties: typically 25 years panel performance, 10 years on the inverter and 10 years on the battery.

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AIKO Neostar solar panels along a curved metal roof in Lennox Head with the hinterland behind, Northern Rivers NSW, installed by Sun Connect Solar with a 25-year workmanship warranty
AIKO panels in Lennox Head. The panels carry the maker’s warranties; our installation work carries our own.

1. The product warranty (from the maker)

Covers manufacturing faults in the equipment: a panel, inverter or battery that fails because of how it was made. The length depends on the brand and model, so check the maker’s warranty document for the exact equipment on your quote. As a guide, panels often carry a product warranty of 12 to 25 years, inverters around 10 years and batteries around 10 years.

2. The panel performance warranty

A promise that the panels will still produce a set share of their original output after a number of years (commonly 25 or more). Panels slowly lose a little output each year; this warranty covers them if they lose more than the maker says they should.

3. The battery warranty: years and energy

Battery warranties usually promise a minimum remaining capacity at the end of the term, and many also limit how much energy can pass through the battery in that time. Read both numbers, not just the years. Some makers also ask for the system to stay connected to the internet so they can monitor it, so keep the Wi-Fi working.

4. The installer’s workmanship warranty

Covers the installation work itself: panel mounting and roof penetrations, cabling and connections, inverter and battery mounting and wiring, and the switchboard work done for the install. This is the warranty that comes into play for most problems in the first years, and it is only as good as the business behind it, so check how long it is and who honours it. Ours is 25 years from the install date, because our own team does every install (no subcontractors), and it stays with the property if you sell.

5. The Australian Consumer Law

Goods and services come with guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law that apply on top of any written warranty and cannot be taken away.

What can void a warranty

  • An install that does not follow the maker’s instructions, for example a battery in a position the maker does not allow, or too close to the coast without the maker’s approval. See solar and batteries near the coast.
  • Work or changes by someone else after the install.
  • Damage from storms, floods, lightning or pests (usually a home insurance matter, not a warranty one). See what to do after a storm or flood.
  • For some batteries, a system left offline for long periods.

Who do you call when something goes wrong?

Your installer first. A good installer works out whether it is an installation issue (their warranty) or an equipment fault (the maker’s), and handles the claim with the maker for you. We do that for our customers. Our help guides also cover common questions about apps, lights and settings, and where to find your battery warranty.

Questions to ask before you sign

  • How long is your workmanship warranty, and what exactly does it cover?
  • Who handles a product claim with the maker: you or me?
  • What are the product and performance warranties on the exact panels, inverter and battery quoted?
  • Does anything about my home (coast distance, battery position) affect the maker’s warranty?
  • Does the warranty pass to the new owner if I sell?

Choosing between installers? Read how to choose a solar installer in the Northern Rivers and local solar installer or solar sales company?.

Why Northern Rivers locals choose Sun Connect Solar

  • Our own in-house team designs and installs every system. Licensed electricians, no subcontractors, from our workshop at Wilsons Creek near Mullumbimby.
  • A face-to-face site visit before every install: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, so there are no surprises on the day.
  • SAA-accredited, a NETCC Approved Seller and a Sigenergy-approved installer, NSW electrical contractor licence 343044C.
  • 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work, rated 5.0 stars on Google by local customers.

Where we install

Our own electricians install solar and batteries across the Northern Rivers, from our workshop at Wilsons Creek near Mullumbimby: Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Banora Point, Bilambil Heights, Pottsville, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Bangalow, Lennox Head, Ballina, Alstonville and Wollongbar, Lismore, Goonellabah, Coraki and Woodburn, Evans Head. See all areas we serve or the Northern Rivers solar and battery installation page.

Questions we get asked

What is the difference between a product warranty and a workmanship warranty?

The product warranty comes from the maker and covers faults in the equipment itself. The workmanship warranty comes from the installer and covers the installation work, such as mounting, cabling, roof penetrations and switchboard work.

How long is the warranty on solar panels?

It depends on the brand and model. Panels carry a product warranty and a separate performance warranty, and the performance warranty is commonly 25 years or more. Check the maker’s document for the exact panel on your quote.

How long is the warranty on a home battery?

Commonly about 10 years, with a minimum remaining capacity at the end and often a limit on the total energy the battery can deliver in that time. Check both numbers for the exact model.

What warranty does Sun Connect Solar give?

A 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work, from the install date, which stays with the property if you sell. The equipment is covered by the makers’ warranties, typically 25 years panel performance, 10 years on the inverter and 10 years on the battery, and we handle those claims for our customers.

Can installing a battery near the coast void the warranty?

It can. Some battery makers require the battery to be at least 500 m from the coast, or need their written approval first. We check the maker’s rules for your address before we design the system.

Are you independently reviewed?

Yes. As well as our Google reviews, homeowners have reviewed us on SolarQuotes, where we’re rated 4.9 from 22 reviews.

Sources

Last checked 5 November 2026. Written in our own words from the sources below and our own install experience.

Author: our director, in-house head electrician and energy expert, in the trade since 1987.

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