Rogue Juan
Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2019
- Messages
- 25
Sorry for the rant.
I have a 2018 Fleet with the 160
Zamp solar & ZS-30A 30Amp controller & (2) 12 volt batteries running an Iotherm fridge on a low setting. I took delivery almost a year ago. I go off grid sometimes for 6 days straight.
I too am having issues keeping a charge. Full charge when I arrived at camp site. 3 overcast days & I never get above 12.5 volts. After day 3, I go to bed after a warm indoor shower. Voltage is now down to 12.1 volts & I've been using a rechargeable flashlight, instead of the camper's LED lights. Thermostat set at 60°. Wake up at dawn & furnace won't run because I'm below 12volts. Freezing my ass off as I get dressed because the furnace hasn't run for a while & it's 50° in the camper.
FWC is a half hour from my home. They tell me everything is running to spec. As adding a portable panel is not a good option for me, I asked about permanently installing a 2nd 160 panel. They tell me pigtailing a 2nd permanent Zamp solar panel is going to be costly as it would be complicated. Service guy informs me that they have switched to Overland panels & controller since I took delivery, as it's 40% more efficient in overcast conditions. They want $1155 to "upgrade" my solar that I've had less than a year. I go & talk to my sales guy about cutting me a break, since it's been less than a year. He suggests getting (2) 6 volt batteries instead, as they will hold more amp hours than my (2) 12s. But, that they will require more clearance in the cabinet & since they will have to make modifications, installed it will run me $700. I'm considering the cheaper option. But, I want to run my situation past their engineer. Engineer suggests upgrading to Overland solar & says that FWCs were never intended for going off grid more than a few days.
SIDENOTE: I've had my rig less than a year and they had to replace the seals, as the roof was leaking & I started to develop black mold in the camper. The indoor shower had to be fixed, as it was leaking into one of the seat cabinets. One of the vents never opened properly without me pushing up on it & now 2 screen tabs have broken from removing the screen so much. The 2nd one was starting to do the same. Since they were replacing the 1st one anyway, I asked to replace it with a powered one & I'd pay the difference between the 2. They still charged me an additional $115 for labor, even though they were already replacing the non powered one anyway.
BACK TO SOLAR ISSUE: I asked Sales guy about cutting me a deal on the solar "upgrade", since I paid 28 grand for my rig & just had to give them another $325 on my 4th trip back for repairs in less than a year. Sales guy talks to CEO about cutting me a deal. He says CEO said they can't give everyone that comes in to upgrade a deal.
Really pissed at FWC right now. Today, I told Sales guy to cancel my appointment to upgrade the solar, if they won't give me a break on replacing an inefficient solar kit. I also informed him that I will be going elsewhere to "upgrade" the solar & replace the less than year old batteries. I'm considering doing the work myself. I have a Fluke multimeter & sometimes do electrical at my job as a stagehand. Does anyone on this forum, know which Overland panel & controller and which 6 volt batteries, I should get?
I have a 2018 Fleet with the 160
Zamp solar & ZS-30A 30Amp controller & (2) 12 volt batteries running an Iotherm fridge on a low setting. I took delivery almost a year ago. I go off grid sometimes for 6 days straight.
I too am having issues keeping a charge. Full charge when I arrived at camp site. 3 overcast days & I never get above 12.5 volts. After day 3, I go to bed after a warm indoor shower. Voltage is now down to 12.1 volts & I've been using a rechargeable flashlight, instead of the camper's LED lights. Thermostat set at 60°. Wake up at dawn & furnace won't run because I'm below 12volts. Freezing my ass off as I get dressed because the furnace hasn't run for a while & it's 50° in the camper.
FWC is a half hour from my home. They tell me everything is running to spec. As adding a portable panel is not a good option for me, I asked about permanently installing a 2nd 160 panel. They tell me pigtailing a 2nd permanent Zamp solar panel is going to be costly as it would be complicated. Service guy informs me that they have switched to Overland panels & controller since I took delivery, as it's 40% more efficient in overcast conditions. They want $1155 to "upgrade" my solar that I've had less than a year. I go & talk to my sales guy about cutting me a break, since it's been less than a year. He suggests getting (2) 6 volt batteries instead, as they will hold more amp hours than my (2) 12s. But, that they will require more clearance in the cabinet & since they will have to make modifications, installed it will run me $700. I'm considering the cheaper option. But, I want to run my situation past their engineer. Engineer suggests upgrading to Overland solar & says that FWCs were never intended for going off grid more than a few days.
SIDENOTE: I've had my rig less than a year and they had to replace the seals, as the roof was leaking & I started to develop black mold in the camper. The indoor shower had to be fixed, as it was leaking into one of the seat cabinets. One of the vents never opened properly without me pushing up on it & now 2 screen tabs have broken from removing the screen so much. The 2nd one was starting to do the same. Since they were replacing the 1st one anyway, I asked to replace it with a powered one & I'd pay the difference between the 2. They still charged me an additional $115 for labor, even though they were already replacing the non powered one anyway.
BACK TO SOLAR ISSUE: I asked Sales guy about cutting me a deal on the solar "upgrade", since I paid 28 grand for my rig & just had to give them another $325 on my 4th trip back for repairs in less than a year. Sales guy talks to CEO about cutting me a deal. He says CEO said they can't give everyone that comes in to upgrade a deal.
Really pissed at FWC right now. Today, I told Sales guy to cancel my appointment to upgrade the solar, if they won't give me a break on replacing an inefficient solar kit. I also informed him that I will be going elsewhere to "upgrade" the solar & replace the less than year old batteries. I'm considering doing the work myself. I have a Fluke multimeter & sometimes do electrical at my job as a stagehand. Does anyone on this forum, know which Overland panel & controller and which 6 volt batteries, I should get?