[RE-wrenches] OUTBACK power

Thu Aug 7 06:22:57 PDT 2025

Jeff:

There’s no conjecture about how utterly crappy the ‘service’ is from what used to be Outback.  They make promises and underdeliver or just ignore you.  The latest for us is promising a new MATE3 (to an elderly customer with health issues) but that was nearly two months ago.  Meanwhile, the only EG4 system we’ve sold is terribly noisy – 90 decibels.  Fortunately our customer is pretty deaf (but his wife isn’t).

Let the buyer and seller beware.

Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4309 or 4321
406-777-4309 fax

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of Jeff Clearwater via RE-wrenches
Sent: Monday, August 4, 2025 11:11 PM
To: william at millersolar.com; RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Jeff Clearwater <jeffc at villagepowerdesign.com>; RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] OUTBACK power

Having consulted for EG4 all I can say is you are all way off in your conjectures.  James and his team have the industry’s best interests at heart.

Anymore is only appropriate to discuss off list. Conjecture without direct knowledge often results in unnecessary harm and projection of our fear rather than useful sense making.

I believe the List has ethical standards that we should follow here. 

May we all work together to continue to build on all the great cooperative work we’ve done to uplift the solar industry over the years. 

Best

Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design
Since 1996

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 4, 2025, at 11:58 AM, William Miller via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> > wrote:

Friends:

One explanation is possibly that James Showalter wants to quietly remove a well-respected, competing product from the market.

William

PS:  It is more than a bit off-putting that EG4 chose to post a note <https://eg4electronics.com/energy-access-innovations-powers-americas-future-with-new-texas-facility/>  kissing up to DJT.  I’m suddenly way less anxious to give EG4 a try.

WM

Miller Solar
17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 
CA Lic. 773985

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> ] On Behalf Of Maverick Brown via RE-wrenches
Sent: Monday, August 4, 2025 11:39 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Cc: Maverick Brown; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] OUTBACK power

James Showalter

Founder of EG4 Electronics, Signature Solar and partner in buying Outback from Alpha / Entersys. 

 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-showalter-9a0599156> linkedin.com

https://eg4electronics.com/meet-james-showalter-founder-of-eg4-electronics/

He ran a solar installation business and then switched gears. 

That’s about all I know. 

Thank you,

Maverick

Maverick Brown
Off-Grid Solar Commander since 2006
Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.
 • Solar Commander Remote Power
 • SunFlow Systems Cathodic Protection 
maverick at mavericksolar.com <mailto:maverick at mavericksolar.com> 
512-460-9825

On Aug 4, 2025, at 1:21 PM, Chris Schaefer via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> > wrote:

Who is James ( I assume a partner of Signature Solar) and what is his background?

Christopher

On Sat, Aug 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM Jay via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> > wrote:
I checked on a few websites and some do have some items. 

I wonder if they bought it for the military contracts and the retail they don’t really care about. 

Because EG4 and signature solar and big battery all know how to market and sell and make new good products. 

One thing I heard was they bought it to  sell lithium batteries to legacy Outback people.  I guess that they would make some changes to the mate to communicate with their batteries. Which made sense maybe?

Hopefully someone will spill the info at somepoint because it’s weird 

I could  see myself buying any OB products as replacement maybe but for a new project, seems unlikely. 

On Aug 2, 2025, at 12:52 PM, Maverick Brown via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> > wrote:
I do wonder what the real reason is that James bought outback and he also invented flex boss and grid boss. The Outback transition has languished uninformed to Wrenches and even to the DIY community. 

Just like the Gudgel boys, James has also shaped the industry in the new transition to the next era. 

After 20 years in the solar/battery business we built a homestead from the ground up in 2017 and the main inverter was a single Radian at the house and the outbuildings all had used XW inverters. I always thought I’d switch them to Radian  One of the XWs died after over tens years of service. I replaced it with a Fortress Envy 12k. I guess if I have another failure here, that’s what I’ll get. 

Always open to customers wishes and have installed just about every inverter that’s ever been made installed from Tucson to Tucumcari ;-) but mostly in Texas. But, I’m Willin’ to work on the next best thing. 

Thank you,

Maverick

Maverick Brown
Off-Grid Solar Commander since 2006
Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.
 • Solar Commander Remote Power
 • SunFlow Systems Cathodic Protection 
maverick at mavericksolar.com <mailto:maverick at mavericksolar.com> 
512-460-9825

On Aug 2, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> > wrote:

The question I have is, if they come back, would you trust them again? It would take a lot to convince me.

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 Sat, Aug 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> > wrote:
Any word on whether OUTBACK power is coming back to life or they just died.?
I sure miss the products personally, not to mention my whole system is OUTBACK
Dana Orzel - dana at solarwork.com <mailto:dana at solarwork.com>  - 208.721.7003
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