Counterfeit Canadian PV Panels

[Rickster]

 

[Pegging]

View attachment 1509679

This guy bought some made Canadian panels in China

Fake solar panels?

So I've been watching some of the well under priced solar panels for sale on places like Facebook marketplace, and wondering if they are either stolen, or whether there are fake panels being imported and sold. Tonight I saw a listing for Canadian Solar panels that were too cheap to be legit. Not ...

powerforum.co.za

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

This guy bought some made Canadian panels in China

Fake solar panels?

So I've been watching some of the well under priced solar panels for sale on places like Facebook marketplace, and wondering if they are either stolen, or whether there are fake panels being imported and sold. Tonight I saw a listing for Canadian Solar panels that were too cheap to be legit. Not ...

powerforum.co.za

I mean that one makes it quite obvious with all those spelling errors.

 

[Pegging]

I mean that one makes it quite obvious with all those spelling errors.

Another one

https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/362319-Fake-Canadian-Solar-panels-Inverter-Experts-(Panello-Power-Solutions)

 

[B-1]

View attachment 1509649View attachment 1509651View attachment 1509655

These are the photos I have, will take more after work.

That sticker makes it clear but the easiest is to measure them. Are the dimensions the same as the spec sheet?

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Another one

https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/362319-Fake-Canadian-Solar-panels-Inverter-Experts-(Panello-Power-Solutions)

Specs on this one don't match the actual specs for the real model.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I dont know Growcol at all but the first result I get for a 5 kW Growcol shows an MPPT input current of 10 A
I assume you have two strings with four panels per string.


The maximum you can expect with that inverter and those 545 W panels are:

50 V x 4 = 200 V x 10 A = 2 kW per string

4 kW total.

Good catch although looks like it's 11A per MPPT (https://growcol-tech.com/single-phase-inverter/).

Even then, that's still no enough for those panels (if those specs are to be believed).

 

[abjater]

What is also important is how the panels are connected. Are they strung so that the bank creates optimum voltage for the MPPT input range? I might have missed where the OP shared that. If @DrJohnZoidberg has the correct model there, it seems this inverter likes 240-520V

 

[sgs]

Canadian Solar, to my knowledge, does not manufacture in Germany. Our panels come from China. Those are fakes.

 

[leon.davibe]

Many things play into the output

ie time of day is the angle optimum , cable losses

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.

so true the peak output is at 25C tested , show me a panel on roof at 25c

ie here is a spec sheet of a 455w i happen to have

read the small print of the top and bottom sections

ie the nominal output at operating temp is way lower, heat reduces panel output

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

Why not contact Canadian solar and ask them?

 

[neoprema]

View attachment 1509679

Definitely fake given that error. my Canadian Solar's did not have that, and the wording was all fine.

 

[W@P]

This is mine

 

[ronnie_94]

The email even seemed sus, I popped them a email lets see if I even get a reply.

 

[gregmcc]

Well worth contacting the local distributor and making them aware. (If they don't already know)

 

[1am7h30n3]

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.

I've regularly seen mine exceed their rating too. I was just trying to make the point that it's hard to evaluate panel output if all the conditions aren't met. In my case, my batteries are often charged before I would hit maximum output and I don't have load to make them produce more power after that. But yes, my panels aren't perfectly angled for the sun.

 

[leon.davibe]

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.

listing on voltex

could be incorrect listing ie see what you say cs6 model number is what you get if you get a spec sheet of 545w
have not got a hit on google of cs3 on 545w

Canadian Solar Panel 545W CS3W-545MS | Voltex

If this product is purchased and no stock is available, our team will contact you with the option of a full refund or suggest an available alternative. Should you wish to confirm stock availability before purchase, please email [email protected]

www.voltex.co.za

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

listing on voltex

Canadian Solar Panel 545W CS3W-545MS | Voltex

If this product is purchased and no stock is available, our team will contact you with the option of a full refund or suggest an available alternative. Should you wish to confirm stock availability before purchase, please email [email protected]

www.voltex.co.za

That's the 545MS, the panels OP has are labeled 545P (which is the ones I cannot find any details on).

 

[leon.davibe]

yea got a lower wattage re labelled probably

that is the problem with a bargain

if it isn't what you expected and you take the price per what you paid you would have been better of buying a lower spec item from reputable

ie by calcs he loses about 10% more than his dad ( assuming they are in same area so subject to same weather)

so lets say he actually got a 500w panel relabelled he paid R7.80 per watt
just got a price on a 455w canadian solar for R3545 so the price is R7.79 per watt

so dealing with a reputable company you could be paying the same price as the bargain per watt , no photos of id etc

but also have to say not all solar shops are equal

popped around a place yesterday
asking the "experts" to confirm on internet knowledge

ask if the panels they have is half-cut
response what is that

ask if the batteries they have is 48v or 51.2v as if i later expand i want to know if they would play nice with my 15s diy battery
his response yes they are 48v

inspecting the box i see the capacity sticker on the side says 5120wh

which tends to go with a 51.2v system ie 100ah x 51.2 = 5.12kwh
while the 48v tend to be 100ah x 48v = 4.8kwh

not the "small" dealer in the area

give me strength

 

[djroetz]

Ive been working with distributers and selling Tier 1 panels for a few years now and the comms was in the beginning of the year that a few containers came in in January with fake Canadians. Ive been warming my customers about these.

My 550W Jinko's installed last year regularly exceeds the rated output. I swear by the Jinko's, JA Longi and Seraphim panels. Its the only ones we sell.

Happy Sun Harnessing MYBB...