I get it, there are some real idiots installing batteries, and then
expecting a whole new battery bank after 5 years. I've done a fair bit
of tech support for battery issues in the HUP days, and usually if I
spent some time going through their charge settings, and seeing if the
system was coming to full charge regularly, we could take care of the
problem. Otherwise we could gently convince them that their long term
negligence had led to the problem.
This is a much different situation. It's a single dead cell, 15 months
after installation on a part time cabin; the batteries sit at full
charge half the time. I am already considering my time on the issue,
and making just one trip out is the only smart business move.
Steve Higgins is already dutifully looking into it, we'll see what he
has to share.
The real question is:
Is FLA battery quality fading as production slows? or are they possibly
now sitting too long on warehouse shelves?
Once again, the warranty service we need throughout the solar industry is:
1) charge a credit card deposit,
2) Provide us an immediate replacement,
3) when we return the faulty unit,
4) they can do an autopsy, and determine fault.
Ray
On 9/21/2026 11:46 AM, William Miller wrote:
Ray:
I once submitted a warranty claim to Rolls which was rejected. There was a
valid reason the claim was rejected along with some very suspect reasons.
For example I was told that temperature compensation settings in the charge
controllers did not meet spec, which was true, However the temp. comp.
settings I used were more conservative than required. I acknowledged the
valid reason and dropped my claim.
I have had many occasions where a client has asserted that batteries did not
meet performance or longevity expectations and asked for warranty relief.
My personal criteria is for the claim to include logging to prove the
batteries were consistently charged sufficiently and never over-discharged.
It should not matter one rip how the battery charge was maintained, be it by
generator, grid, solar, thermonuclear reaction or black magic.
It sounds like Rolls may be trying to duck the claim by asking irrelevant
questions and making the process overly tedious. Good luck.
William Miller
William Miller
Miller Solar
www.millersolar.com
CA License C-10 77398
-----Original Message-----
From: RE-Wrenches [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Ray Walters
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2026 10:03 AM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: [Re-wrenches] Rolls Warranty?
Greetings Wrenches and Steve Higgins;
I'm having an issue with a recently installed single series string 48 v of
Rolls S6 L16s. They are just over a year old, and we already have a dead
cell in one of the batteries. My local supplier already gave us the pass,
so we're going through the truly onerous warranty process directly with
Rolls. They are literally asking for serial #s of the solar panels! Their
online support portal is rough, it doesn't even have Outback on the drop
down menu of inverters, and literally won't let me submit the info without
choosing the inverter.
We already filled out the and submitted the PDF form, but the portal wants
me to reenter all the info again. Seems the idea is to waste so much time
and energy, that we run away screaming and buy replacement batteries on our
own. I now have several hours of my time and my customer's time wasted on
what is an obvious manufacture defect.
First: In 30 years in the industry, I have not had bad cells in the first
year. This is not a good omen for the already dimming future of FLA
batteries. Rolls L16s Did have a decent reputation.
Second; I understand Rolls needs to weed out all the DIYers that trashed
their batteries, but I'm a very long time reliable professional installer,
and I need a replacement battery immediately. This is a single string, and
we can't just rewire around the bad cell. Our Denver local supplier:
Continental Battery Systems quit carrying Rolls, or any L16s now. We are
totally dead in the water with this system, and very frustrated with both
Rolls and my long time supply chain.
Thanks,
Ray Walters
Solarray, inc.
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