Solar Warranty Tracking by Serial Number
MNRE's Operational Guidelines for PM Surya Ghar tell the vendor to give every consumer the serial numbers and warranty cards for the solar panels and the inverter, and to help the consumer claim from the manufacturer when something fails. So the answer to "how do we track warranty?" is simple: attach the serial numbers to the plant at installation, and keep them where a service technician can find them years later. EPCs that leave serials in a photo folder or a WhatsApp group lose days on the first claim and cannot prove coverage on the tenth.
What do the MNRE guidelines say about serials and warranty?
The 7 June 2024 Operational Guidelines spell out four things that matter for warranty records.
- Vendor documents handed to the consumer must include the technical specifications, IEC and BIS reports, serial numbers, and the warranty card of the solar panel and inverter.
- The complete system is warranted for 5 years from commissioning, and individual manufacturer warranty documents go to the consumer with all possible assistance for claims.
- Module manufacturers must warrant against manufacturing defects for not less than 5 years from commissioning, with replacement at no cost to the consumer.
- Modules must carry a unique serial number and model number inside the laminated glass, and inverters must be permanently marked with a serial number or code.
The same guidelines require module output of more than 90% of nominal power in the first 10 years and more than 80% over the next 15, so a performance dispute can arise long after the 5-year system warranty. The model consumer and vendor agreement repeats the documentation and warranty duties.
Which serial numbers should an EPC record at installation?
Capture these at the roof, not later from the invoice. A technician with a phone can do it in a few minutes per site.
| Record | Why it matters in a claim |
|---|---|
| Every module serial number | Identifies the exact unit, batch and manufacturing month |
| Inverter serial number and photo of the label | Identifies the exact inverter for service or replacement |
| Make, model and wattage | Matches the unit to the warranty terms in the card |
| Invoice number and date | Supports purchase and supply proof |
| DISCOM commissioning date | Starts the 5-year clock for the system warranty |
| Warranty card and BIS or IEC PDFs | The papers the consumer and the manufacturer will both ask for |
Why do warranty claims stall without a serial record?
A manufacturer service desk has to know which unit failed. If your team cannot say which serial sits on which roof, someone has to climb up and photograph labels before the claim can even start. The consumer waits, the complaint ages, and the free-service duty during the 5-year period falls back on your own team. A serial-linked record turns that into a two-minute lookup.
How should an EPC run a warranty claim as a service ticket?
Treat every claim like a job with a start, proof and a close, not a phone call.
- Open a ticket on the plant record, so the serial, model and commissioning date are already attached.
- Send a technician to confirm the fault, with GPS check-in, a photo of the fault and a photo of the serial label.
- Submit the claim to the manufacturer with those photos and the warranty card.
- Track the replacement and note its new serial number against the same plant.
- Close the ticket with a signature from the consumer, so the history stays complete.
That last record matters. When the replaced unit has a different serial, the next claim starts from the new number, not the one on the original invoice.
Where does PiDuty fit?
In PiDuty, warranty is tracked by serial number against each plant, and modules and inverters can carry a QR asset tag that opens the service history. Tickets hold due dates, and the technician app records GPS check-in, photos and e-signature. Managers see which plants are near the end of the 5-year warranty so renewal and AMC conversations start on time.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which serial numbers should an EPC record for a rooftop solar plant?
Record every module serial number and the inverter serial number, along with make, model, wattage, manufacturing month and year, invoice details and the DISCOM commissioning date.
Does MNRE require serial numbers for PM Surya Ghar plants?
Yes. The vendor documentation duties in the Operational Guidelines include serial numbers and warranty cards for the solar panel and inverter, and modules must carry a unique serial number inside the laminated glass.
Who helps the consumer claim a component warranty?
The guidelines say individual component warranty documents from the manufacturer go to the consumer and the vendor must extend all possible assistance for the claim.