Rayleigh Instruments Limited has issued warranty conditions for its RI-ENERGYFLOW-MIDI power inverters, published on 30 May 2024 under issue number 20240511. The document sets out a voluntary product warranty for end users of the RI-ENERGYFLOW-MIDI, running for five years from the date of purchase1.
The core commitment is stated in the document:
"We warrant that we will repair or replace (at our option) a Product or any part thereof, if such Product is faulty or defective in manufacture or materials for a period of 5 years from the date of purchase."
The warranty applies only to new products, and only where the inverter has been installed and correctly commissioned by a properly certified MCS installer or one authorised by Rayleigh Instruments1. Proof of correct commissioning, such as a certificate of compliance, may be required, and claims for failures caused by incorrect installation or commissioning are excluded1. The warranty is non-transferable except where the product is installed in a building, in which case it transfers to a subsequent purchaser of that building or of the products, provided the products remain installed1.
Several conditions attach to the cover. The product must retain its original serial number and rating labels intact and readable, and it must not have been wholly or partly disassembled or modified except by Rayleigh1. Where a product or part is replaced or repaired under the warranty, the balance of the original warranty period applies rather than a fresh term, and no new certificate is issued1. Replacement units may differ in size, shape, colour or capacity if the original is no longer available, and costs arising from incompatibility with other installed components are not covered1. For systems without an internet connection, each claim obliges the installer or end user to arrange qualified personnel for an on-site inspection and data collection under Rayleigh's instruction1.
Exclusions listed in the document include damage from incorrect storage, handling, installation or commissioning; operation outside specified ranges; accidental damage, theft or vandalism; force majeure including violent or stormy weather and lightning; overvoltage and fire; cosmetic damage with no effect on function; water entry, contamination, excessive heat, solvents, insufficient ventilation, strong vibration or strong magnetic fields; normal wear and tear; repairs or modifications by unauthorised third parties; use of unapproved spare parts; and interconnection with other manufacturers' products1. Rayleigh must be informed within one month of product failure, and claims made after that period will not be considered1.
Claims are made by email to warranty@rayleigh.com, with the end user providing name, address, postcode and telephone number, the model designation and serial number, proof of purchase, installation date and address, a signed commissioning report, installer contact details, a detailed list of observed faults and any error messages1. For valid claims, Rayleigh states the end user will not be charged for reasonable costs of making the claim, including processing, replacement parts or freight, but third party costs for access or labour are not included, nor is compensation for direct or indirect damage arising from the defective inverter1. Faulty units must be returned within ten working days of receiving a replacement, in the replacement's packaging, with a qualified installer available for the exchange and re-commissioning1.
Why it matters for households
An inverter is the component that converts a solar array's direct current into usable mains electricity, so its failure stops generation rather than merely reducing it. A five year term is shorter than the warranty periods commonly attached to solar panels, which means a household could face the cost of an inverter replacement while the panels themselves remain covered. The condition tying cover to MCS certified installation places the paperwork trail, including the commissioning report and certificate of compliance, at the centre of any future claim. Households that bought a system with an existing property, or that inherited an installation, fall within the transfer provision only while the equipment stays installed in the building. The exclusion for damage caused by continued use after a known defect, and the one month notification deadline, make early reporting the point at which the warranty is most likely to be preserved or lost.
What happens next
No further steps are set out in the warranty document. Rayleigh Instruments has not reported any change to the terms, and no end date for issue 2024051 is given1.
Sources1 cited
- RI RI-EnergyFlow-Midi Inverters Warranty 30_05_24, rayleigh.com