Counterfeit Sharp Panels

[Markc]

One of our suppliers has informed us of “suspicious spot offer” that has been circulating recently.

They wrote:

The deal is offering Sharp NU180 panels cheap. Sharp have investigated this offer and concluded that the panels are
counterfeit. The fake offer is shown below and has been available via several brokers

Sharp NU 180W, up to 1.8MW, Price: EUR 1.44 - 1.48/W (shipment from Dover Port UK)
(offered products have slightly different specification compared to Sharp original module)

Be aware that these cheap module offers are fake and always bear in mind that if something appears to be too good to be true, it often is. If you become aware of such as a suspicious offer in the future please contact Sharp.

Thought I would post this so we are all informed.

May be we ask Admin to post a sticky for this type of post?

 

[Sintra]

Thread now stuck

 

[Markc]

Thread now stuck

Thanks

 

[Martin Dawes]

Thanks Mark. I suppose it was a matter of time before this kind of nonsense started :-(

 

[futurewired]

Thanks marc

 

[futurewired]

Mark even,
while im here can you advise of suitable size equipotential bonding conductor, does it have to be 10mm2 as stated im my course?
in one of my reference books it states 4mm2 can be used but a number of factors have to be met, benefical to me for a smaller CSA for obvious reasons, and im running the dc cable and bond in 20mm Kopex, saves me buying 25mm have loads at the yard.

 

[Martin Dawes]

Do you have to earth your array? If you can avoid it, I definitely would.

 

[Markc]

Mark even,
while im here can you advise of suitable size equipotential bonding conductor, does it have to be 10mm2 as stated im my course?
in one of my reference books it states 4mm2 can be used but a number of factors have to be met, benefical to me for a smaller CSA for obvious reasons, and im running the dc cable and bond in 20mm Kopex, saves me buying 25mm have loads at the yard.

We have used inverters with transformers only to date so have not had the need to bond and that's only if its PME. If there's lighting protection installed then I has to be bonded back to the MET. As the governing bodies can't agree on the do's and dont's I stand by it. If you do bond it I would expect to see it in 10mm regardless.

 

[mr t]

hello, I am new to the forum and I hope this question has not been asked before. now that p.v.cells have become so cheap(approx. 2000 watts of cells for £860.) If you built your own panels would it be possible to have them certified as acceptable for a grid tie in system. In other words Is there any point in making your own panels.

 

[Martin Dawes]

In short, no. Getting them certified is not a straightforward process. To have them certified you would need to demonstrate production techniques and strict quality scrutiny.

 

[mr t]

thanks martin.

 

[GreggElectrical]

Hmm this worries me..... I have a customer who wants to install a system but only wants Sharp panels and an SMA inverter. I haven't used either of these so far so can anyone recommend a reputable supplier who can sell me a competitive kit. Preferably a northern suppler.

The customer wants quoting on a 10kw and 4kw system if this makes any difference.

 

[SolarCity]

Hi Gregg, I think Cleaner Air Solutions are based in Durham and I'm sure that they stock Sharp panels.

 

[SRE]

They do and they're a wee bit cheaper than Segen but their service is rubbish. I use them as a last resort only. My advice would be Segen or Waxman first we've had both Sharp and SMA from them all and all been fine. Mind you struggled with the french SMA installation manual yesterday

 

[SolarCity]

I agree, their service was a little dissapointing when we tried to use them last year.

 

[MichaelM]

Only purchase from Sharp Approved Distributors and you can't go wrong.

As for Cleaner Air... try us again! We've improved our ordering procedures and I've increased the size of my team. Hopefully we can win you back..

 

[JD6400]

Only purchase from Sharp Approved Distributors and you can't go wrong.

As for Cleaner Air... try us again! We've improved our ordering procedures and I've increased the size of my team. Hopefully we can win you back..

Let's hope you have sorted out the exceptionally rude female rep you had on your stall at eco build .
We were in the process of opening up a account's after enquiring on the phone the week before with a polite and helpful lady in accounts i think , but after eco build we binned it !
Not wishing to rub salt in the wounds but that lost you a 107 kw order to segen just on that one alone !

 

[MichaelM]

I do not wish to derail this thread but upsetting installers is never our aim, please give us a call sometime and ask for Michael I'm sure we can talk things through.

 

[SRE]

I have to say that Michael sorted our problem out earlier in the year, but the tone of the emails is less than friendly, even now and it's not very long ago when we had to let down 2 customers because the Sharp official supplier - Cleaner Air - sold us (and took the money) a pallet of panels they didn't have. Good prices alone are not enough and for an area of the country renowned for their friendliness - it seems to have bypassed this company. Sorry guys 10/10 for pricing but 6/10 for service and I need a combination of both.

 

[MichaelM]

Supply of modules has been tricky in the last couple of months due to large demand from a huge project in the south of the country (that we unfortunately had no part of ). This coupled with a resurgent European market hasn't helped us to keep up with demand. We've since fought for the UK market to be better recognized and we're seeing this shortage ease.

As for not being friendly, for this I can only apologise if we came across this way. I feel that business relationships develop over time, are you at Green Build this year? We'll be having a few drinks on the stand one night and you are welcome to join us

 

[SRE]

If you don't have the panels you don't sell them - simples. I had to release some money from a personal account so that I could get them from somehwere else because the money in your bank account wasn't returned until the next day.

As for being friendly - none of my other wholesalers needed lubrication to be pleasant, I haven't met any of them either .....

 

[JD6400]

Just been on the phone to Claire from cleaner air solutions and have to say i take it all back !
Unfortunately they are not quite there on your fronious prices and do not sell schott at the moment , but i will will be ordering other gear now .
I found their attitude and helpfulness truly above and beyond this time !

 

[SRE]

Hasn't been my experience and I've dealt with them several times including the week before last. They drive me mad! I know Segen get a slagging off now and then but tbh they could wipe the floor with Cleaner Air. I buy from several wholesalers and they are by far the worst. Mind you one of the others is running a close second at the minute!

 

[SolarCity]

Thanks for that, Patrecia. An interesting addition to the thread and it's really given us some food for thought.

 

[tlsambo]

and it would cost you a lot to pay for all the MCS tests.

I'm confused why people are making counterfiet Sharp panels? Sharp panels are terrible to start with! Surely if you're going to go to the effort, at least stick a Sanyo sticker on it!

 

[SolarCity]

The counterfeit panels are probably better than the originals.

 

[IVEnergy]

Interesting.

 

[Irina]

The counterfeit panels are probably better than the originals.

BiggsSolar, that phrase made me laugh!

I heard that Sharp panels don't last long in cyclone regions either. I had a report from one of my site's visitors. He said that cells of their Sharp panels installed on the ground (4 meters above) in South Pacific were "sucked out from the frame" during one of the cyclones ...

It just makes one wonder doesn't it ...

Or maybe Sharps are so popular, so whether you want it or not, there'll be more complaints about them than any other brand just because there are a lot more of them installed around the world than any other brand ...

 

[Ypb]

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[Kingspan Solar]

It's a shame that some people have to find ways of stealing money from others just by using their name. Thanks for letting us know, hopefully be able to avoid any large scale counterfeit offers in the future.

 

[hydeselec]

Thanks

 

[tlsambo]

I'm still dissapointed to keep bumping in to people who have been sold Sharp panels. They tell me and usually add that their electrician told them they're the best. When I show them the results in some of the PV Solar magazine articles they find it hard not to show thier annoyance. Help spread the word, sharp are badly made, poor performing panels! Tell all your local electricians!!!

 

[finewine]

I'm still dissapointed to keep bumping in to people who have been sold Sharp panels. They tell me and usually add that their electrician told them they're the best. When I show them the results in some of the PV Solar magazine articles they find it hard not to show thier annoyance. Help spread the word, sharp are badly made, poor performing panels! Tell all your local electricians!!!

Right guys, got a great comparison for you to look at. I had 16 x 245 watt sharp panels installed on 26 / 3 / 12. Cost £9,000 although we were quoted between £7,900 and £13,000! for the exactly the same system (Sunny boy 3600) Roof is south facing with no shading at all and 35degee angle. We decided to pay a little extra as the electrical firm we have chosen have been going for 24 years and Solar is only a small part of their business. My thoughts are that some of those companies that quoted will not be around in 2 years. Generation to date is 290kwh which I am very happy with and 26kwh was generated on April 1st.

Now here is the interesting bit. We were so impressed after week 1 that we decided it was now or never to put Panels ons our rental property 2 doors up. This is in the exact same terrace and faces south with no
shading so ideal for comparison.
This system comprises 16 x 245w Knive panels and the same 3600 sunny boy inverter. £2000 pounds less as well but installed by the same company.

Installed on 6th APril and to date the Sharp system is outperforming the Knive which has surprised me after having read this thread.

On April 12th my Sharp system managed to produce 22kw, much to my surprise in the brighter interludes between the showers. However, the knive only made 19.5kwh. All other days have had the Sharp system between 2 and 10% higher. One very interesting observation however is that the Knive system has peaked at a higher output, up to 3800 w / hour and whilst my sharp hasn't got above 3720 since installed. It seems the Sharp panels continue to generate higher amounts of power when its cloudy or when the panels are shaded due to sun being further around the horizon.

 

[SolarCity]

Thanks for the data. Side by side comparisons are really useful. Keep us updated on how the systems perform.

Incidentally, are both sites entirely free from shade at all times of the day?

 

[tlsambo]

Dear Finewine
The results don't surprise me at all. Despite all the comments about Sharp panels on this forum there are worse panels. I've not heard of Knive panels however I've mocked up a roof on PV Sol and the results are as follows

Knive 245 SMA3600 3962
Sharp 245 Mono SMA3600 3908
Sharp 245 Poly SMA3600 3917
Sharp 245 Poly with PVI3.6 3958
Knive 245 with PVI3.6 3968
REC 245 with PVI3.6 4082
REC 245 with SMA3.6 4032

I reckon Solar City may have raised a very good point. If even a very minor bit of shading is hitting the Knive panels it could easily make the difference in performance. Aerials, Chimneys or even overhead cables could easily make the difference up.
There is also the issue that Sharp panels are badly made. The old panels didn't have a brace across the back holding the two sides of the frame together, on these old panels you could bend the frame far enough to expose the edge of the glass. The brace is a poor solution as it doesn't solve the problem that there is no protection from water ingress.