5 year product warranty - 25 year performance warranty: confused!!

[SolarCity]

Can anyone help me work this out? Most panels have a 5 year warranty on the panel yet have a 25 year warranty on the performance of the panel. Isn't this a bit odd?

Surely if the panel malfunctions, then the performance will also be affected. Therefore, haven't they all effectively got a 25 year guarantee anyway?

 

[claypole]

I guess you could have a scenario where after 5 years the frame snaps, glass breaks, cable frays etc, and once repaired the panel is still outputting within guaranteed output spec. But because this was a product failure after 5 years the repair would not be covered. The output warranty is limited solely to degredation/output loss of the cells.

 

[SRE]

I'm just going through warranties because one of our customers quite rightly wants to know exactly what it covers and there seems to be a shedload of exclusions .. on your point Biggs/Claypole who would cover the cost of poorly produced panels, the exclusions mean debris falling etc isn't covered, fraying cables - surely not ... maybe those sheep again!!!

Another guarantee related query - what if the panel needs replacing but is inevitably an old one not produced anymore. Will there be an imbalance between a new panel and inverter????

 

[GreggElectrical]

I think you will find almost all manufacturers will back out of the warranty if the panel has been shaded in use. Even if only partially. I questioned a few companies on this at Eco build. When pushed most said it would affect the warranty but wouldnt say how exactly.

I'm guessing it will be a get out.