Hi guys,
I don’t know if it’s worth paying an extra $85/per microinverter to extend its 10 year warranty to 25 years. My solar set up would have 4 of the APSystems QS1A microinverters and this would then cost me $340 to extend their warranty.
Is this worth it or is it a waste of money?
Thanks 🙏
Posted Apr 26, 2022, 9:15 PM UTC
I changed my mind. This is too far in the future. Take the 10 year warranty and if it fails in year 11 there will be new technology and you likely won't be able to replace these with the same units. Few can find NEW 10 year old parts for almost anything today.
But wouldn’t it allow them to replace it with a comparable product if it’s discontinued? I did a quick search and the APSystem inverter costs like $500 each it seems
In 10 years it will be $5, but cost $500 in labor to replace.
If I follow the inflation I've seen in the past 10 years you may be paying more than 500 for labor. My take is that most of the solar companies and that insurance won't exist in 10 years. No sale here.
This may be one of those things where it is best to have a spare unit, so when one goes out you just have to swap it in.
From a solar installer you shouldn’t spend money at all as you won’t break even during the life of the product. In 10 years everything will be different so I wouldn’t spend on them because the new stuff won’t be compatible with the old most likely. So no warranty. Per a guy that does it for a living.
Do it. We used to install APS and wouldn’t even give people the option to opt in - we priced everything with the 25 year baked in.
Think of it this way - it’s actually $21.25/panel because they’re 4 input micros.
APS are a great product…BUT they do have a higher failure rate than Enphase. That being said, they’re about 30-40% cheaper.