Does everyone ask for purchase receipts for their equipment (panels, inverters, etc.)

[dshenmdyn]

How does everyone handle getting receipt for your installation, including the equipment?

In the excitement of having the system up running, I realized that I did not ask for a final receipt from my installer nor the individual receipts for the equipment (panels/inverter).
Should I?

For the installation receipt, I was counting on the cleared checks and contract as the evidences that I have made the payment. This is for claiming the federal tax credit. Sufficient?

What about the individual component receipt? Does one need it in case warranty service is needed from the manufacturer? (Especially if the installer is no longer in business at that time)?

[solardreamer]

How does everyone handle getting receipt for your installation, including the equipment?

In the excitement of having the system up running, I realized that I did not ask for a final receipt from my installer nor the individual receipts for the equipment (panels/inverter).
Should I?

For the installation receipt, I was counting on the cleared checks and contract as the evidences that I have made the payment. This is for claiming the federal tax credit. Sufficient?

What about the individual component receipt? Does one need it in case warranty service is needed from the manufacturer? (Especially if the installer is no longer in business at that time)?

I got my installer to provide final invoice showing full payment and 0 balance with reference to the contract listing all equipment and services.

[captaindomon]

My installer provides a final packet that includes the schematics of the system, the permits submitted, the user manuals for all the components, the warranties, a detailed invoice with line items listed and amounts paid etc, and some "how-to" information on filing taxes.

[solar_newbie]

Do you get the invoice from Supplier that sell equipment to installer? That is the only valid invoice to show the date of purchase. Manufacture might not honor installer invoice. I am not sure.

[captaindomon]

Do you get the invoice from Supplier that sell equipment to installer? That is the only valid invoice to show the date of purchase. Manufacture might not honor installer invoice. I am not sure.

I'm actually still finishing up the installation. Once they give me the info I'll let you know if it's included. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll look for it to keep for my files.

[dshenmdyn]

Do you get the invoice from Supplier that sell equipment to installer? That is the only valid invoice to show the date of purchase. Manufacture might not honor installer invoice. I am not sure.

My installer doesn't want to share the his invoice from his distributor. I assume that's because he does not want me to know where he got the equipment and how much margin he adds on it. I can see where he comes from. Unfortunately, it will be troublesome if the manufacturer wants to play hardball and tries to find excuses for not honoring warranty.

[captaindomon]

Shouldn't the manufacture information, including the manufacture date, lot number, etc, be stamped on the panels themselves?

[solar_newbie]

Shouldn't the manufacture information, including the manufacture date, lot number, etc, be stamped on the panels themselves?

Usually installers will provide his invoice with all equipment list and install list. I am doubt if they will give us their invoice since there are multiple different discount and they might pre-order.
I hope we can do warranty if installers are gone.
The worst case == buy a new panel or inverter.

I have just learn that you can buy single panel with a very cheap price in Bay Area by going to pick them up in warehouse.

[PVAndy]

Do you get the invoice from Supplier that sell equipment to installer? That is the only valid invoice to show the date of purchase. Manufacture might not honor installer invoice. I am not sure.

As an installer I would never give a customer my invoices.

A final invoice showing equipment installed is all that is required for warranty work

Andy

[igerstein]

As an installer I would never give a customer my invoices.

A final invoice showing equipment installed is all that is required for warranty work

Andy

To build on this, to the people getting full equipment invoices from your installers: you're almost certainly being fed a line. No business is going to give the customer their exact material and labor costs pre-profit, that's proprietary. Why on earth would the business want you to have a birds eye view of their business model and profit margins?

disclaimer: i don't own a business so take this with a grain of salt

[jakepv]

Serial Numbers

My installer provided the serial numbers for the panels (which I can also see as part of the Solar Edge monitoring).

However, the installer didn't write down the serial numbers for the optimizers because they said SE can see them through their backend monitoring and would be covered under warranty automatically.