Buying · Faisalabad, Lahore, Punjab
How to Check Genuine Solar Panels: Canadian Solar, Jinko, LONGi and JA Solar
Short answer
JinkoSolar, Canadian Solar, LONGi and JA Solar each run an official online check: you type the serial number (barcode) printed on the panel into the maker's own website and see whether it matches a real module. Do this before you pay, on the manufacturer's site only, never through a link a seller sends. Then check the panel itself, because a real serial number can be copied onto a fake.
Why checking matters in Pakistan
Demand for solar has grown fast in Pakistan, and fakes have followed. National press has reported lower-grade B- and C-grade panels sold as A-grade products from well-known brands, and a LONGi representative has said publicly that the company's name is being misused to sell substandard panels. A fake or downgraded panel can look identical on the roof; the difference shows up later as lower output, faster degradation, hot spots, and a warranty claim the manufacturer rejects. A five-minute check protects an investment that runs for decades.
Where to find the serial number on a solar panel
- The nameplate on the back, next to the electrical ratings.
- A barcode strip on the front, laminated under the glass near one edge on many modules.
- The carton or pallet label, listing the serial numbers inside.
The number on the front strip, the back label and the packing list should all agree. If they do not, stop and ask why.
Official verification routes by brand
Type the address yourself or start from the manufacturer's main website. A QR code or link from the seller can open a fake page showing a fake "genuine" result.
| Brand | Official route | What you enter | Step-by-step guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Solar | "Module Authenticity" on csisolar.com | Serial number plus an on-screen code | Canadian Solar verification |
| JinkoSolar | "SN Authentication" on jinkosolar.com (cs.jinkosolar.com) or the Jinko Flash Track app | Serial number | Jinko verification |
| LONGi | "Module Authenticity" on longi.com, or the module's nameplate QR code | Product barcode from the front or back | LONGi verification |
| JA Solar | "Module Authenticity" at product.jasolar.com | Product barcode plus an on-screen code | JA Solar verification |
Canadian Solar verification
Canadian Solar's tool is on its manufacturing site, CSI Solar, under "Module Authenticity". Enter the serial number and the captcha code. Read every line of the result, not just the tick:
- Module type and power: should match the label and your quotation.
- Module grade: the grade your quote promised.
- Ship-to country and importer: should be Pakistan. Canadian Solar's page states the warranty applies only in the listed ship-to country.
- Production and shipment dates: very old dates on a "new" panel deserve a question.
- Query count: a high count on a panel fresh from the box may mean the number has been copied onto other panels.
If nothing is found, email Canadian Solar's verification team with photos of the front sticker and back nameplate. Canadian Solar has also warned about fake apps claiming to be linked to the company.
JinkoSolar serial number check online
On jinkosolar.com, "SN Authentication" opens Jinko's customer-service portal (cs.jinkosolar.com); the Jinko Flash Track app does the same check. Enter the serial number and compare the model and power shown with the label and your quote. Full steps: Jinko solar panel verification.
LONGi module authenticity
LONGi's "Module Authenticity" page (in the website footer) asks for the product barcode from the front or back of the module. LONGi's "One Module One Code" system adds a unique anti-counterfeiting QR code on each nameplate that links to that module's details; if you scan it, check that the page that opens is on longi.com.
JA Solar module authenticity
JA Solar's checker asks for the product barcode and a verification code. A match shows a result table including the module's grade; if nothing is found, contact the service email shown on the page.
Step by step: checking panels before you pay
Six checks before you pay for panels
- 1Get the serial-number list with the quote
- 2Pick panels at random from different cartons
- 3Photograph front strip and back label
- 4Check on the maker's site you opened yourself
- 5Match model, watts, grade, ship-to country
- 6Inspect the panel: a real serial can be copied
Red flags for fake, grade-B or refurbished panels
Price and supply
- A price far below the market rate for the same model. Check the solar panel price page.
- Small lots in many power classes, or "same brand, any wattage" at a discount. Remember: panels below 615 W are out of stock, so "new" 540–600 W stock is old stock.
- No proper invoice or packing list, or a seller who avoids putting brand and model in writing.
Labels and paperwork
- Serial numbers that differ between the front strip, back label and carton.
- Stickers that look home-printed: blurred text, wrong fonts, spelling mistakes, labels over older labels.
- Ratings on the label that do not match the manufacturer's datasheet for that model.
Physical condition
- Cell cracks, snail trails, discoloured or mismatched cells, or bubbles in the lamination: signs of grade-B or damaged stock.
- Scratched or bent frames, dirty or re-sealed junction boxes, cut or re-crimped cables: signs of refurbished or second-hand panels.
- Yellowed back sheet or cloudy glass on a panel sold as new.
On-site testing: a qualified technician can measure open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current in sunlight and compare them with the label; for large orders, electroluminescence (EL) imaging reveals hidden cell cracks. Panels in sunlight produce dangerous DC voltage, so leave this to trained people.
Grade-A, grade-B and "Tier 1": what they mean
Grade describes the individual panel. Grade-A panels pass the factory's full quality checks; lower grades have cosmetic or electrical defects and are meant to be sold as such, at a lower price. The problem is lower grades sold as grade-A.
"Tier 1" is a financial bankability list of manufacturers, not a quality grade for a specific panel. A Tier 1 brand on a label does not prove the panel is genuine or grade-A.
How Solar Works Pakistan handles panel authenticity
We supply LONGi, JinkoSolar, Canadian Solar, JA Solar, AIKO, Cora Dawn and Jasco panels through established Pakistani distributors. Quotations name the brand, model, quantity and manufacturer's warranty. At handover you receive the project documentation, including a list of the panel serial numbers installed, so you can run the manufacturer's check yourself. See how we work.
Get today's price or a free site survey
Want a quote with the exact brand, model and serial-checkable panels named?
- WhatsApp or call: 0336 666 4321
- Email: info@solarworks.pk
- Head office: Main Boulevard, Sargodha Rd, Block F FDA City, Faisalabad
- Lahore branch: 2nd Floor, Jeff Heights, Gulberg, Lahore
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily
We serve customers across Punjab. Site surveys are normally free. Contact us or browse the brands we supply.
Frequently asked questions
How do I do a Canadian Solar verification?
Open "Module Authenticity" on Canadian Solar's manufacturing site (CSI Solar), enter the serial number and the on-screen code, and check that model, power, grade and ship-to country match your quote. If nothing is found, email Canadian Solar with photos of both labels.
Can I check a Jinko solar panel serial number online?
Yes: "SN Authentication" on jinkosolar.com opens Jinko's portal (cs.jinkosolar.com), or use the Jinko Flash Track app. Compare the result with the panel and your quotation.
If the serial number shows as genuine, is the panel definitely real?
Not always: a genuine serial can be copied onto a fake or lower-grade panel. Check that the serial matches on the front strip, back label and carton, look at the physical condition, and watch the query count where shown.
What does "ship-to country" mean, and why does it matter?
It is the country the manufacturer shipped that panel to. Canadian Solar's warranty applies only there, so a panel shipped elsewhere and resold in Pakistan may not be covered. Ask the seller in writing before buying.
Where is the serial number on a solar plate?
On the back nameplate, and on many panels a barcode strip under the front glass near one edge. The carton or pallet label also lists the serials inside.
How can I spot a refurbished solar panel?
Scratched or bent frames, dirty or re-sealed junction boxes, cut or re-joined cables, yellowed back sheets and labels over older labels. A price well below the market for that model is another warning.
Does Solar Works Pakistan give a list of panel serial numbers?
Yes, our handover documentation includes the serial numbers of the panels installed, so you can verify them on the manufacturer's site. Ask us for the list at any point.
Sources
- Canadian Solar (CSI Solar) module authenticity query and fraud alert.
- JinkoSolar, SN Authentication and customer-service portal.
- LONGi, Module Authenticity page and "One Module One Code" announcement.
- JA Solar, Module Authenticity (product.jasolar.com).
- ARY News, "Counterfeit solar panels put Pakistan's solar ambitions in jeopardy".
- Vico Export, Tier 1 list Q2 2026 (bankability criterion).