[RE-wrenches] OUTBACK power

Thu Aug 7 11:23:26 PDT 2025

Wrenches and Jeff,

I too started to reply about my extreme unhappiness with Outback a couple
weeks back when Jay asked if anyone had any recent updates. I held on to my
responses after writing because part of Jeff's sentiments were a concern of
mine as well. Obviously many are in this for greater reasons beyond just a
career and supporting ourselves. I realize EG**** has helped with the
proliferation of more systems throughout the continents but I truly feel
it's at the expense of filling up e-waste bins. As I remind folks locally
that ask me about their products, the bitterness of poor quality resonates
long after the sweetness of a good deal. Poor man buys it twice. I'll
admit I've not looked into their find print, offerings or product listings
recently as I've got better things to do with my time like find solutions
for the failed Outback products that were well within warranty periods yet
being denied. What I recall from before was that what they offered was
substandard much like the majority of the equipment Signaturd was pushing
direct from China along with Bezos. Beyond that, how James is handling
Outback tells me all I need to know about his businesses and products. I
know there is a market beyond us professionals as new DIY'ers excited to
commence their solar dreams are coming to market every day but diverting
homeowners to substandard equipment that could have otherwise gone to
established and reputable companies like Midnite and the likes that grew
this industry sickens me. I know there's a place for their business model
and fine to work alongside what they offer as I typically don't want to
work for someone that wants bottom of the barrel equipment anyway but the
actions of James Sh*twater and whoever is emboldening him deserve no
respect. Like many of you, I've got hundreds of off grid households relying
on Outback equipment and obviously we all have relied on it because of its
ruggedness and reliability so for them to now shake up the foundation of
trust is extremely frustrating. The thought of how many thousands of off
grid homes relying on their equipment is mind boggling and not something to
take lightly. I realize there was more to be desired from Outback's tech
support for quite some time before James but they always did come through
and at least made the effort to repair or replace equipment still under
warranty. Now all I get after waiting for them to give me an answer for
three weeks is denials on equipment 2 years in on 5 year warranties and
when I ask about perhaps at least repairing something like a FM100 all I
get is "I would reach out to Zonna to see if they'll repair it". For James
to not share his intentions on how they intend to support a big part of the
foundation that paved the way for his undeserved success is nothing but
disrespectable from the way I see it. The repairability of Outback
inverters and controllers was a huge selling point that aligned with my
ideals and a major reason I stood beside them for so long. Now I find it
nearly impossible to try to make them look good. The only reason some of my
sites still have power are because I cannibalized new products in my
inventory (at my expense of course). If he can't comprehend what the eroded
trust in Outback feels like when an off grid client calls to report
their two year old equipement is not functioning correctly then I want
absolutely nothing to do with anything he's involved in. There will never
be a day I sell, touch or support an EGShenzhen product.

Nick

On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 7:01 AM Chris Schaefer via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> I respect your vast years of experience and knowledge. However, being that
> OB has been such a huge provider of offgrid equipment over the last few
> decades I would have expected a much quicker turn over from one owner to
> another, similar to that of when Enersys bought OB some years back.
>
> If James Showalter is such a stand up guy and more importantly cares more
> about the RE industry than the mighty dollar then perhaps he'd like to
> address all of us wrenches and our concerns instead of leaving us and our
> customers out in the DARK. I know that would go a long way with me.
>
> Christopher
>
> On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM Chris Daum via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> 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> 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
>>
>> CA Lic. 773985
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* RE-wrenches [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.
>>
>>
>>
>> *linkedin.com <https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-showalter-9a0599156>*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 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
>> 512-460-9825
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 4, 2025, at 1:21 PM, Chris Schaefer via RE-wrenches <
>> 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> 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> 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
>> 512-460-9825
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 2, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
>> 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> 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 - 208.721.7003
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>> --
>>
>> Chris Schaefer’s
>>
>> <image005.jpg>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Tel 585-229-2083 or Cell 585-748-1870 *
>> *5115 S Hill Road ~ Canandaigua New York 14424www.solarandwindfx.com
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>>
>> *<image006.jpg>*
>>
>> Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said,
>> "democracy" will cease to exist when you take away from those who are
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>>
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> --
>
> Chris Schaefer’s
>
>
> *Tel 585-229-2083 or Cell 585-748-1870 *
> *5115 S Hill Road ~ Canandaigua New York 14424**www.solarandwindfx.com
> <http://www.solarandwindfx.com> ~ E-mail: chris at solarandwindfx.com
> <chris at solarandwindfx.com>*
>
>
> Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said,
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> willing to work and give to those who would not."
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