Counterfeit Canadian PV Panels

Kyle012

Kyle012

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Hey All,

I purchased x8 545 Canadian Solar Panels from a gentleman who was not an authorised distributor, and acted as what he describes as an "agent", upon installation of the panels, I started to second guess their authenticity for the following reason:

- They have not achieved a greater output of 375W per panel.
- The sticker on the back regarding its specs looks authentic, however, when you scan the QR code it takes you to a Google search page with "Canadian cyber security" as the search, not related to Canadian Solar panels.
- There is no barcode underneath the glass, which I have read on another forum, PV panels should have?

I am based in Northriding, I am looking for an expert that could maybe certify my suspicions or authenticate the panels.

Each panel cost me R3900, so I am out of pocket here and feeling taken advantage of and would like to amend the situation, any advise?

Thanks
 
First off, if they are counterfeit, you have just paid school fees and are out of pocket..

Secondly, should have started asking questions the moment you saw the price from an unauthorized distributor..

Third, should have never approached an unauthorized distributor, as this is how you open yourself up to things like this to begin with..

Lastly, maybe a glimmer of hope, assuming your panels were not installed properly your max output issue might just be related to that and not it being counterfeit..

If they are counterfeit, then perhaps they do the old 2TB flashdrive switcheroo, stating a much higher spec than its actually made for and why you are only getting 375 max output..
 
WAslayer said:
First off, if they are counterfeit, you have just paid school fees and are out of pocket..

Secondly, should have started asking questions the moment you saw the price from an unauthorized distributor..

Third, should have never approached an unauthorized distributor, as this is how you open yourself up to things like this to begin with..

Lastly, maybe a glimmer of hope, assuming your panels were not installed properly your max output issue might just be related to that and not it being counterfeit..

If they are counterfeit, then perhaps they do the old 2TB flashdrive switcheroo, stating a much higher spec than its actually made for and why you are only getting 375 max output..
Click to expand...
Well I am not totally out of pocket, because of have the person who sold it to me ID number and physical address, so should they be, he is going to have a hard time being charged for fraud.
 
Post some pics of the panels, the boxes and the paperwork that came with the panels.
 
How long have you been running the system for? It's quite hard to reach maximum output from your panels. You need to have the perfect set of circumstances. Absolutely no shading, full sunshine (but not too hot that reduces the output), perfect angle of sun onto the panels, and you have to have enough load on the system that it can actually use the output otherwise it won't get produced.

I hit a peak of 362W out of my 490W canadian solar panels on the last 'perfect sun' day that I can see in my logged data, for some reference.
 
1am7h30n3 said:
How long have you been running the system for? It's quite hard to reach maximum output from your panels. You need to have the perfect set of circumstances. Absolutely no shading, full sunshine (but not too hot that reduces the output), perfect angle of sun onto the panels, and you have to have enough load on the system that it can actually use the output otherwise it won't get produced.

I hit a peak of 362W out of my 490W canadian solar panels on the last 'perfect sun' day that I can see in my logged data, for some reference.
Click to expand...
IMG_6268.jpeg

Hey, so they mounted in a field, no shading, north facing, 32 degree angle, optimum conditions. In theory I should be getting at 100%, 4360W. I have maxed out at 2729W, won't go higher then that. That's a 37% drop in potential output.
My dad has x10 545w Canadians, he gets over 4KW, and we live up the road from one another.
 
1am7h30n3 said:
How long have you been running the system for? It's quite hard to reach maximum output from your panels. You need to have the perfect set of circumstances. Absolutely no shading, full sunshine (but not too hot that reduces the output), perfect angle of sun onto the panels, and you have to have enough load on the system that it can actually use the output otherwise it won't get produced.

I hit a peak of 362W out of my 490W canadian solar panels on the last 'perfect sun' day that I can see in my logged data, for some reference.
Click to expand...
About 2 months now.
 
Thanks, that's interesting.
They connected to a 5kw Growcol Inverter and a 5Kw Growcol battery.
 
Kyle012 said:
View attachment 1509657

Hey, so they mounted in a field, no shading, north facing, 32 degree angle, optimum conditions. In theory I should be getting at 100%, 4360W. I have maxed out at 2729W, won't go higher then that. That's a 37% drop in potential output.
My dad has x10 545w Canadians, he gets over 4KW, and we live up the road from one another.
Click to expand...
you should be expecting 72-80% atleast. TBH why do you not contact the supplier. Call them out that something is wrong?
 
1am7h30n3 said:
I hit a peak of 362W out of my 490W canadian solar panels on the last 'perfect sun' day that I can see in my logged data, for some reference.
Click to expand...
That's not great, how are your panels oriented?

I've got 540W JA Solar panels and have regularly seen them even exceed their rating.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
That's not great, how are your panels oriented?

I've got 540W JA Solar panels and have regularly seen them even exceed their rating.
Click to expand...
mine regularly exceed rating cloud edge etc but on a normal sunny day you expect 72%-80% cloud edge I easily hit 110%
 
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Counterfeiters easily fake stickers and barcodes, looking at those wont clarify much, the fact the QR code links to the incorrect webpage is a dead giveaway.
Op have you phoned the local distributor of the panels and asked their advice, just say you bought them on FB and you are concerned they may be fake, I’m pretty sure they’d be willing to help you out.
 
airborne said:
Counterfeiters easily fake stickers and barcodes, looking at those wont clarify much, the fact the QR code links to the incorrect webpage is a dead giveaway.
Op have you phoned the local distributor of the panels and asked their advice, just say you bought them on FB and you are concerned they may be fake, I’m pretty sure they’d be willing to help you out.
Click to expand...
After some sleuthing I do think these are counterfeits.

I cannot find a reference to this specific panel anywhere, this range (CS3W) only goes up to 420W: https://www.canadiansolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Canadian_Solar-Datasheet-HiKu_CS3W-P_EN.pdf

Might be something not yet listed on their site but it seems less and less likely with other things not lining up either.
 
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