QR Asset Tags for Solar Modules and Inverters
Put one weatherproof QR tag on the inverter, where a technician can reach it from the ground, and make it open the plant record: module and inverter serials, warranty cards, open tickets and every past visit. Modules already carry factory identity under the glass, as MNRE requires, but that does not help a technician standing below the roof with a fault call.
Why does a QR tag beat hunting serials on the roof?
On a typical rooftop job, serials sit inside each module laminate, on the inverter body and in some handover WhatsApp photo. When a complaint comes in, the technician climbs up to read labels or calls the office to search old chats. A tag on the inverter puts one scan between the technician and the full plant history.
What does MNRE already require on the hardware?
Quite a lot, but it is factory marking, not a field lookup system. Clause 1.11 of the module specifications in the 7 June 2024 PM Surya Ghar Operational Guidelines says modules must use an RF identification tag laminated inside the glass. It carries the module and cell makers, manufacture dates, origin, I-V data and the unique serial and model number. Clause 1.13 adds that the serial, model, manufacturer, year, Make in India logo and wattage should be displayed inside the laminated glass.
For inverters, clause 2.8 asks for permanent marking as per IS 16221 Part II, including the maker, the model and a serial number or code that identifies the manufacturing location and batch. MNRE's 13 August 2025 series approval guidelines for modules under the Quality Control Order, 2025 repeat that the model number and unique serial number must be marked indelibly inside the glass.
On paper, the model consumer-vendor agreement makes the vendor hand over serial numbers and the warranty cards of the solar panel and inverter. For DCR modules, the NISE DCR Verification Portal traces modules by unique serial number and lets anyone verify a DCR certificate by certificate number or QR scan.
So the identity exists. What is missing is a fast way to reach it on site.
What goes on the inverter tag, and what stays on the modules?
| Item | Where it lives | Who reads it |
|---|---|---|
| Module serial, model, wattage | Factory marking and RFID inside the laminate | Installer at handover, inspector, OEM for claims |
| Inverter serial and model | Permanent OEM label on the inverter | Technician, OEM service |
| Plant QR tag | Weatherproof label on or beside the inverter | Technician and consumer, from the ground |
| Warranty cards, SLD, DCR certificate | The plant record the QR opens | Office, technician, consumer |
Encode only a short link to the plant record, with a printed plant ID beside the code in case the camera fails. Serials change when a module or inverter is replaced, and a link keeps pointing at current data. Use a UV-stable outdoor label, placed where sun and cleaning water hit it least, such as the inverter side or ACDB door.
Tagging every module is rarely worth it on a residential roof, since serials are already under the glass. Record them once at installation (our guide to warranty tracking by serial number covers which ones) and map them to string positions in the plant record.
What does a simple install-and-scan checklist look like?
- Stick the tag on a clean, dry surface at commissioning, photograph it and test-scan it.
- Link module and inverter serials, warranty cards and the DCR certificate to that record.
- Show the consumer how to scan it to raise a complaint.
- On every later visit, open the ticket by scanning the tag and close it with photos.
- If an inverter is replaced, update the serial in the record and check the tag still scans.
A clean visit history behind the tag also helps at renewal time, as our AMC renewal reminder plan explains.
Where does PiDuty fit?
PiDuty generates a unique weatherproof QR tag for each installation, meant for the inverter. A technician scan opens the full asset and service history on site. A consumer scan opens a mobile portal to raise a ticket without installing an app, with the asset details filled in.
In short: PiDuty is solar service software for Indian EPCs, rooftop installers and O&M teams, covering service tickets, AMC, warranty by serial number, QR asset tracking and a technician app.
Plans start at Rs57,820 a year for Solar Hub, with Solar Hub Pro at Rs78,000 a year, and there is a 7-day free trial. See pricing for details, or browse more guides on the PiDuty blog.
Frequently asked questions
Do solar modules in India already carry an identity tag?
Yes. MNRE's PM Surya Ghar guidelines require an RFID tag inside the module laminate holding the unique serial and model number, which are also printed inside the glass.
Should the QR code contain the serial numbers?
No. Encode a short link to the plant record and print the plant ID beside the code. Serials change when parts are replaced, but the link stays valid.
Can the homeowner use the same QR tag?
Yes, if the link opens a complaint form for that plant. The consumer scans, describes the fault and the ticket lands against the right serials.