What to specify and supply.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT PANELS
Manufacturer and whether they are genuine Rated output and tolerance Warranty, and whether it can actually be claimed Certification
WHY WARRANTY CLAIMABILITY
Long warranties from absent suppliers are worthless.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT BATTERIES
Chemistry and its characteristics Usable capacity, not nominal Cycle life at a stated depth of discharge Temperature tolerance Warranty terms
WHY CYCLE LIFE AT A STATED DEPTH
Cycle figures quoted without the discharge depth are meaningless.
WHY TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE MATTERS HERE
High ambient temperatures shorten battery life substantially.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT INVERTERS
Continuous and surge rating Efficiency Waveform quality Protection features Whether it supports the intended configuration
WHY WAVEFORM QUALITY MATTERS
Some equipment is damaged by poor waveform, and some simply will not run.
WHAT TO BE CAUTIOUS OF
Components substantially cheaper than the market Ratings that cannot be verified Products with no identifiable manufacturer Counterfeit branded equipment
WHY
Counterfeit and misrated components are common and they fail early.
WHAT TO VERIFY
That ratings are genuine.
HOW
Reputable suppliers, and testing where possible.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH WITH SUPPLIERS
Their warranty support, and their record.
WHAT TO KEEP
Documentation for every component installed.
WHY
Warranty claims require it.
