Path-Q Solar
What should I check if an installer refuses to provide a detailed equipment list?
Answer
Treat the refusal as a material transparency warning and do not compare or sign the proposal until the equipment, quantities, ratings, warranties, substitutions, and exclusions are documented. A provider may omit proprietary details temporarily, but the final contract should identify what is being supplied.
Key points
- Request exact or sufficiently specific models for panels, inverters, batteries, racking, controls, and major electrical equipment.
- Check whether the proposal allows substitutions and who approves them.
- Confirm system capacity, performance assumptions, warranty terms, and included installation scope.
- A vague equipment list makes competing quotes and future warranty claims harder to evaluate.
What it depends on
- Contract language and permitted substitutions
- Importance of equipment specifications to performance and compatibility
- Installer's explanation for withholding information
- Financing, warranty, and incentive requirements
Risks and trade-offs
- Substituted equipment may have different performance, compatibility, or warranty terms.
- The customer may pay for a premium specification but receive a lower one.
- Unclear scope increases change-order and dispute risk.
Information you may need
- Complete equipment schedule and single-line diagram
- Model numbers, quantities, ratings, and warranty documents
- Substitution, change-order, and approval clauses
- Written explanation of any unavailable specifications
Your next step
What to do next
Request a contract-ready equipment schedule and obtain another quote if the installer will not provide enough detail to evaluate the system.
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