What to Keep After a Solar or Battery Installation
The documents your installer leaves behind — or fails to leave behind — determine whether you can make a warranty claim, sell the property with correct disclosure, get insurance coverage after an incident, or diagnose a fault years later. Most homeowners put the paperwork in a drawer and lose it; the ones who keep a complete folder are less likely to face warranty delays, repeat inspections or avoidable replacement work when something eventually needs attention.
- Certificate of Electrical Safety (or equivalent) — the post-installation compliance document issued by the installer; required for insurance and some warranty claims. Keep the original.
- Grid connection approval or Section 5 notice — confirms the system is legally connected to the grid; required if selling the property.
- Product data sheets for every component — panel model and serial, inverter model and serial, battery model and serial. Required to make a warranty claim.
- Emergency shutdown procedure — posted at or near the battery and inverter; required for emergency services access if there is a fire or incident.
The complete document folder: what belongs in it
After a solar or battery installation, a complete handover should include the following. If any of these were not provided, contact the installer and request them.
Compliance and legal documents
| Document | What it is | Why keep it |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) or equivalent | State-specific compliance certificate issued by licensed electrician | Insurance claims, property sale, warranty |
| Grid connection approval / Section 5 notice | DNSP confirmation the system is connected legally | Property sale, warranty, inverter replacement |
| Building permit (if applicable) | Council or building authority approval for battery location | Property sale, council compliance |
| AS/NZS 5139 compliance documentation (battery) | Confirms battery siting met the Australian standard | Insurance, fire incident |
The name of the electrical compliance certificate varies by state: Certificate of Electrical Safety (VIC), Safety Certificate (NSW/QLD), Certificate of Compliance — Electrical Work (SA/WA). Ask the installer what the equivalent is in your state and confirm you have received it.
Warranty documents
| Document | What to check before filing |
|---|---|
| Panel product and performance warranty | Brand, model, serial numbers, years, performance threshold |
| Inverter warranty | Brand, model, serial, years, how to extend, Australian claim contact |
| Battery warranty | Brand, model, serial, cycles/years, DoD limit, exclusions |
| Workmanship warranty | Installer name, ABN, start date, duration, exclusions, claim contact |
Serial numbers matter: warranty claims for components require the serial number on the unit. If the installer did not record these on the warranty document, photograph the serial number plates on each panel (from the ground with a zoom lens if necessary), the inverter, and the battery before the installation team leaves.
Technical documents
| Document | Use case |
|---|---|
| System design diagram (string layout, panel positions) | Future repairs, fault diagnosis, additional panel quotes |
| Inverter and battery user manuals | Resetting, fault codes, scheduled maintenance |
| Monitoring app setup guide | Future troubleshooting if credentials are lost |
| Emergency shutdown procedure | Emergency services, fault response |
Emergency shutdown procedure
This document must be physically present at the property near the inverter or battery. Emergency services (Fire and Rescue, SES) may need to know how to isolate the system safely during an incident. The installer is responsible for providing this; if they did not, contact them and request it in writing.
If selling the property
Solar and battery installations must typically be disclosed when selling a property. Buyers' solicitors will ask for the grid connection approval and compliance certificates. Missing documents can delay settlement or require the seller to commission an inspection report to confirm compliance. Keep the complete folder accessible with the property documents.
If making a warranty claim
For product warranty claims (panel, inverter, battery): contact the manufacturer's Australian warranty line with the product serial number, installation date, and the original compliance certificate. The installer's name, current SAA accreditation details where relevant, and electrical licence details may also be required.
For workmanship warranty claims: contact the original installer in writing with a description of the fault. If the installer is uncontactable, check the current SAA, state licensing and consumer-affairs complaint pathways rather than relying on old CEC accreditation wording.
Create a physical and digital folder the day of installation. Include the Certificate of Electrical Safety, grid connection approval, serial numbers for all components, all warranty documents, and the emergency shutdown procedure. Filing this now takes 20 minutes; finding it after a fault, a sale, or an insurance event can take weeks.
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