Warranty claim

A warranty claim is a corrective action: once underperformance has been confirmed by an accredited PV test laboratory, the owner claims the missing power from the module supplier. For Light Induced Degradation (LID), unexpected early losses should first be checked with IV and flash testing against nameplate and technology-specific expectations. A loss of a few percent from boron-oxygen LID is usually covered by the power tolerance on the module label, so a small loss may not be grounds for a claim. Follow the warranty provider's formal procedure and archive all communications and reports for compliance and traceability. A warranty can be voided by mishandling or by ignoring its conditions, for example storing modules where rain destroys the packaging, or partially shading thin-film modules. Proving that a module underperforms is difficult and may need costly standardized testing. The warranty may cover replacement but not the labour to remove, ship and reinstall modules. Manufacturers may choose to repair, replace or supplement, meaning they supply extra modules to make up the lost power. Even reputable manufacturers have gone out of business.

<!-- review notes

• sentence 3: support check: partial - Passage says few percent losses are usually accounted in label power tolerance, but doesn't say a small loss may not be grounds for a claim. -->