Re: [RE-wrenches] Another one bites the dust?

[John Blittersdorf via RE-wrenches]

Nick,
Zonna Energy has replacement boards for Outback inverters.  Recently
Outback support started suggesting calling Zonna for out of warranty tech
support.
Zonnaenergy.com
(330) 674-1750

John Blittersdorf
On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 11:17 AM Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I've been trying to get support for an old Outback Power system (GVFX dual
> stack.) I finally got a call back today from someone at a call center who
> told me that Outback Power has been sold and I need to send an email to the
> new owners to request support. Supposedly, the new company has the same
> name and email as the old company, but the phones haven't been transferred
> over yet. My scam radar alarms are ringing off the hook, but what am I to
> do? Anyone else have any luck getting tech support from the new company
> (that has the same name as the old company)?
>
> Oy!
>
>
> --
> Nicholas Ponzio
> Building Energy
> 1570 South Brownell Road
> 
> Williston, VT 05495
> 
> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com 
> "Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Another one bites the dust?

[Maverick Brown via RE-wrenches]

EG4 Electronics has enough capitalization to purchase Outback Power from Alpha technologies? Thank you,MaverickMaverick BrownOff-Grid Solar Commander since 2006Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc. • Solar Commander Remote Power • SunFlow Systems Cathodic Protection maver...@mavericksolar.com512-460-9825On May 8, 2024, at 10:33 AM, Kirpal Khalsa via RE-wrenches  wrote:Nicholas... I got a call from EG4 trying to get us to use their inverters and batteries.  I told them that when they stop trying to sell products directly to my customers and undercutting us I would consider using their equipment.  They asked which inverter brands we were currently using.  I replied, Outback and SolArk.  He told me..."we just bought Outback"So just like in the past  the solar roller coaster keeps going!  The only constant is change!Leaves me with mixed feelings regarding Outback now!KirpalOregon Solarworks On Wed, May 8, 2024, 8:17 AM Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches  wrote:I've been trying to get support for an old Outback Power system (GVFX dual stack.) I finally got a call back today from someone at a call center who told me that Outback Power has been sold and I need to send an email to the new owners to request support. Supposedly, the new company has the same name and email as the old company, but the phones haven't been transferred over yet. My scam radar alarms are ringing off the hook, but what am I to do? Anyone else have any luck getting tech support from the new company (that has the same name as the old company)?Oy!--Nicholas Ponzio Building Energy1570 South Brownell RoadWilliston, VT 05495http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com"Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"
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___List sponsored by Redwood AlliancePay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.orgList Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.orgChange listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgThere are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgList rules & etiquette:http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htmCheck out or update participant bios:http://www.members.re-wrenches.org___
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Another one bites the dust?

[Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches]

FWIW, I recently helped a couple of clients who purchased EG4 batteries and
needed them installed. Things went surprisingly well. I have another coming
up where the client purchased EG4 LifePower4 batteries and Sol-Ark 15k
Inverters and got ghosted by their installer, so I'm taking over that one
as well. So far so good. Of course, these few experiences don't constitute
a statistically significant sample size.

One thing that strikes me as odd is that EG4 says you can have closed-loop
comms with a Sol-Ark, but I had great difficulty getting the EG4 to stop
telling the Sol-Ark to do bad things. Sol-Ark told me that EG4's
closed-loop comms are NOT ready for prime time, and they recommend against
it.

On another very small job where the customer has an existing off-grid
system, Signature Solar tried to help me through a really basic EG4 battery
to EG4 6000 inverter problem where the PV wasn't charging the battery (or
at least not consistently). They were not able to help on that one. I think
it's a closed-loop comms issue. They sent me the software to connect to the
battery to do some diagnostics, but I think there's something going on that
isn't related to the battery. Anyway, I'm switching this to open loop and
hopefully the problem will go away, but I would expect EG4 batteries to
play nice with EG4 inverters.

There is no question that EG4 is making inroads with their batteries being
MUCH lower cost than other brands. We're going to have to deal with it I
guess.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208


On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 11:59 AM Dan Fink via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I've recently been dealing with multiple off grid DIY folks who bought EG4
> products that are not UL listed, and asking me to consult about pushing
> through electrical permits for them. Some have spent $10k+ and are looking
> at really expensive boat anchors on a pallet.
>
> Some EG4 all-in-one inverter/charger/PVCC ARE listed, but some are not. As
> for their rack mount batteries, they advertise a "UL 9540A" listing, but
> the problem is UL 9540A is NOT a listing, it's simply a test that ESS
> manufacturers can use to apply for an actual UL 9540 listing. Signature
> Solar's "tech support' department responded to my info requests promptly,
> but never actually provided the information required by our county
> electrical inspector. When I kept pushing for a response, their replies
> stopped and I got crickets.
>
> I hope the news of Outback being purchased by EG4 is not entirely
> accurate, but "I've got a bad feeling about this"  My other favorite,
> Magnum, seems to be floundering. I don't like the Schneider ecosystem for
> multiple reasons. Who's left? Looks like Midnite to me at this point.
>
> Dan Fink
> Owner, Buckville Energy Consulting LLC
> IREC Certified Instructor for PV and Small Wind Installation
> NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector
> NABCEP PV Associate
> d anbo...@gmail.com
> 970-672-4342
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 9:33 AM Kirpal Khalsa via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> Nicholas... I got a call from EG4 trying to get us to use their inverters
>> and batteries.  I told them that when they stop trying to sell products
>> directly to my customers and undercutting us I would consider using their
>> equipment.  They asked which inverter brands we were currently using.  I
>> replied, Outback and SolArk.  He told me..."we just bought Outback"
>> So just like in the past  the solar roller coaster keeps going!  The
>> only constant is change!
>> Leaves me with mixed feelings regarding Outback now!
>> Kirpal
>> Oregon Solarworks
>>
>> On Wed, May 8, 2024, 8:17 AM Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I've been trying to get support for an old Outback Power system (GVFX
>>> dual stack.) I finally got a call back today from someone at a call center
>>> who told me that Outback Power has been sold and I need to send an email to
>>> the new owners to request support. Supposedly, the new company has the same
>>> name and email as the old company, but the phones haven't been transferred
>>> over yet. My scam radar alarms are ringing off the hook, but what am I to
>>> do? Anyone else have any luck getting tech support from the new company
>>> (that has the same name as the old company)?
>>>
>>> Oy!
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Nicholas Ponzio
>>> Building Energy
>>> 1570 South Brownell Road
>>> Williston, VT 05495
>>> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com 
>>> "Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"
>>>
>>
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Another one bites the dust?

[Dan Fink via RE-wrenches]

I've recently been dealing with multiple off grid DIY folks who bought EG4
products that are not UL listed, and asking me to consult about pushing
through electrical permits for them. Some have spent $10k+ and are looking
at really expensive boat anchors on a pallet.

Some EG4 all-in-one inverter/charger/PVCC ARE listed, but some are not. As
for their rack mount batteries, they advertise a "UL 9540A" listing, but
the problem is UL 9540A is NOT a listing, it's simply a test that ESS
manufacturers can use to apply for an actual UL 9540 listing. Signature
Solar's "tech support' department responded to my info requests promptly,
but never actually provided the information required by our county
electrical inspector. When I kept pushing for a response, their replies
stopped and I got crickets.

I hope the news of Outback being purchased by EG4 is not entirely accurate,
but "I've got a bad feeling about this"  My other favorite, Magnum,
seems to be floundering. I don't like the Schneider ecosystem for multiple
reasons. Who's left? Looks like Midnite to me at this point.

Dan Fink
Owner, Buckville Energy Consulting LLC
IREC Certified Instructor for PV and Small Wind Installation
NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector
NABCEP PV Associate
d anbo...@gmail.com
970-672-4342




On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 9:33 AM Kirpal Khalsa via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Nicholas... I got a call from EG4 trying to get us to use their inverters
> and batteries.  I told them that when they stop trying to sell products
> directly to my customers and undercutting us I would consider using their
> equipment.  They asked which inverter brands we were currently using.  I
> replied, Outback and SolArk.  He told me..."we just bought Outback"
> So just like in the past  the solar roller coaster keeps going!  The
> only constant is change!
> Leaves me with mixed feelings regarding Outback now!
> Kirpal
> Oregon Solarworks
>
> On Wed, May 8, 2024, 8:17 AM Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> I've been trying to get support for an old Outback Power system (GVFX
>> dual stack.) I finally got a call back today from someone at a call center
>> who told me that Outback Power has been sold and I need to send an email to
>> the new owners to request support. Supposedly, the new company has the same
>> name and email as the old company, but the phones haven't been transferred
>> over yet. My scam radar alarms are ringing off the hook, but what am I to
>> do? Anyone else have any luck getting tech support from the new company
>> (that has the same name as the old company)?
>>
>> Oy!
>>
>>
>> --
>> Nicholas Ponzio
>> Building Energy
>> 1570 South Brownell Road
>> Williston, VT 05495
>> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com 
>> "Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"
>>
>
>
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Another one bites the dust?

[Kirpal Khalsa via RE-wrenches]

Nicholas... I got a call from EG4 trying to get us to use their inverters
and batteries.  I told them that when they stop trying to sell products
directly to my customers and undercutting us I would consider using their
equipment.  They asked which inverter brands we were currently using.  I
replied, Outback and SolArk.  He told me..."we just bought Outback"
So just like in the past  the solar roller coaster keeps going!  The
only constant is change!
Leaves me with mixed feelings regarding Outback now!
Kirpal
Oregon Solarworks

On Wed, May 8, 2024, 8:17 AM Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I've been trying to get support for an old Outback Power system (GVFX dual
> stack.) I finally got a call back today from someone at a call center who
> told me that Outback Power has been sold and I need to send an email to the
> new owners to request support. Supposedly, the new company has the same
> name and email as the old company, but the phones haven't been transferred
> over yet. My scam radar alarms are ringing off the hook, but what am I to
> do? Anyone else have any luck getting tech support from the new company
> (that has the same name as the old company)?
>
> Oy!
>
>
> --
> Nicholas Ponzio
> Building Energy
> 1570 South Brownell Road
> Williston, VT 05495
> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com 
> "Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"
> ___
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
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[RE-wrenches] Another one bites the dust?

[Nicholas Ponzio via RE-wrenches]

I've been trying to get support for an old Outback Power system (GVFX dual
stack.) I finally got a call back today from someone at a call center who
told me that Outback Power has been sold and I need to send an email to the
new owners to request support. Supposedly, the new company has the same
name and email as the old company, but the phones haven't been transferred
over yet. My scam radar alarms are ringing off the hook, but what am I to
do? Anyone else have any luck getting tech support from the new company
(that has the same name as the old company)?

Oy!


--
Nicholas Ponzio
Building Energy
1570 South Brownell Road
Williston, VT 05495
http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com 
"Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future"
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