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Hoping it gets better...

BryanValRox

BryanValRox

Elite Member
Thanks for the response. Obviously you have great credentials and an excellent skill set And I have NO Doubt that you are extremely capable.
I never questioned that based on your detailed problem statements.

I was only asking the question(which respectfully, you didn’t directly answer) if someone remember to calibration the system to reflect the upfit of the original battery to your 320 amp hour replacement. Could your system be making SOC display values based on a 100 amp hour batter for example?

Just trying to explain the SOC/Voltage relationship.
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
Sorry about my rabbit hole response. Yes, I did calibrate everything to the big battery. The apps are reporting everything accurately.
 
O

Ox262

Active member
Here's a rando thought... Is your Victron charge controller working properly? I ask since my new 262RB had a defective charge controller, with minimal current from our 400 watt panel in direct sun. Worked with Victron, not the dealer or Alliance, and they sent me a new controller within a week, no charge. Works great now.
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
I have wondered about the controller. But the second panel definitely is doing something funny. I have really been considering switching to a 50 amp controller anyhow.
 
M

M and E

Elite Member
Hilldweller said:
sigh

I did run up to Blue Compass yesterday. Remember that it's 75 miles each way, new 6.4L HEMI @ around 15 mpgs.

They were happy and proud. Detail girl was in the lot cleaning my trailer. They thought I was there to take it home. I said, "let me test everything first..."

I turned on the app to check the battery; it was on shore power with everything in the trailer turned on. Battery was charging and looked pretty happy at 39% soc. So I turned off the breaker, cut the shore power to see what the solar panels (two of them now) were doing.
Battery immediately became unhappy. Still at 39% but discharging. 13.2 volts and -4.6 amps in the hole, or -60.7 watts.
It was a perfect solar day. Bright sunshine, no clouds. The fridge was running, already cold, lights were on. No other 12v consumers. So I turned off everything that was drawing current and checked the battery and Victron controller. The battery said it was getting 10.2 amps or 135.7 watts. From two panels in bright sunshine? Huh? My portable 200w suitcase puts out close to 14 amps in the same conditions. Two 200 watt panels should be well over 20 amps, hopefully closer to 25.
I told the detail girl and her eyes glazed over. She went to get a tech.
Two techs came out. The poked and prodded, got on the roof, checked the panels. Got out their meters. Verified that it looked like only the original panel was charging the battery. Panel #1 was pushing 20v to the controller; that's nominal. Panel #2 was pushing 40v for some reason.
Wasn't getting to the controller. I've been playing with solar for 18 years and haven't seen anything like this. It's either the wrong kind of panel, broken, or wired wrong.
Then back inside the trailer I checked the things that had been broken and were supposed to be fixed. The sink cabinet, counter extension, and trash door all looked perfect. Nicely done. The GFCI outlets that were backassward wired were fixed.
The two USB-C outlets in the theater seats still didn't work. And when I checked the A/C outlet above the sink in the bathroom, the bottom of the cabinet fell out. Ooopsie.

I left there in a sour mood. My wife spoke with the sales manager Graham on the phone --- she's from Brasil and has a Latin temper. I'm pretty sure she threatened his genitals but I'm not certain. It's hard to keep up with Portuguese obscenities.

The other funny thing.
When I told them that I traded my 1500 with a class-4 hitch for a 2500 with a class-5 hitch, the service guy told me that I'd need a 3" to 2.5" adapter. Which I found odd. I knew he wasn't correct but a found an Amazon vendor with a kit that contained a 3" to 2.5", a 2.5" to 2", and a nice coupler lock all together. I grabbed the hitch at the dealer and sure enough it was a 2". So they even got that wrong. But, expecting them to be wrong, I brought the right gear with me.

At this point I think Alliance should send a factory tech to the dealership to fix the solar issue. I'd declare victory at that point and fix the other things my damn self. But I want the solar sorted out, the roof warranty is at the back of my mind for that.

One fail after another. They really really looked embarrassed at the dealership. And they should be.
Click to expand...
Are they wired in parallel or series?

Do the blanket test (cover one then the other) on the panels too then test the output at the inverter.

135W on a 200W flat mounted single panel is about right (presuming they don't tilt). But you have two. Sounds like one panel doing all of the work. Do the blanket test (cover one then the other) on the panels too then test the output at the controller.

Your suitcase setup is tilted and you're going to get a better result.

We have solar here at home with 20000KWH batteries. On my Enphase system we can can control the charge current to the batteries. 10.2 sounds pretty close to a setting of 10 AMPs. I know nothing about Victron though. Worth looking into perhaps?

I am unsure if these RV panels have micro inverters at the panel. Ours here at home do. If so, check those.

Are both panels the same size and generation?
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
The panels should be the same brand, generation, etc. And they should be wired in parallel. I mean, I’m looking for current here.

I’m hoping for Alliance to step up to the plate and get this sorted out. Enough is enough.
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
Well well well. Update, a couple of days late, but here it is.

I had spoken with Nelson, the service manager, previously and had asked him to run a jumper from panel 2 to the solar controller independently and disconnect panel 1. Just verify that it was working. He said they did that. Then I asked him to use a Y-connector in front of panel 1, spicing in panel 2 and running them both to the controller. He planned to have the tech do that on Wednesday.

I called him on Wednesday to see if that had worked and got the news that panel 2 was a 200w 40v panel designed for a 24v DC system, not a 12v system like our Deltas use. So they contacted the panel manufacturer to get a replacement. Hopefully it arrives today. Nelson has my trailer in the lot right next to Service. I guess that when they ran panel 2 to the controller they must have noticed that the controller freaked, my battery bms too?

sigh

So many errors.

Alliance refused to give them tech support when they called, BTW. Kevin at Alliance had emailed me and told me that tech support was available but when they called they were denied because the second panel install was "an aftermarket installation".

So, ummm, those of you with Alliance trailers, what's it like to camp in them? Bet it's nice...
 
Jwtsg

Jwtsg

Well-known member
Hilldweller said:
Well well well. Update, a couple of days late, but here it is.

I had spoken with Nelson, the service manager, previously and had asked him to run a jumper from panel 2 to the solar controller independently and disconnect panel 1. Just verify that it was working. He said they did that. Then I asked him to use a Y-connector in front of panel 1, spicing in panel 2 and running them both to the controller. He planned to have the tech do that on Wednesday.

I called him on Wednesday to see if that had worked and got the news that panel 2 was a 200w 40v panel designed for a 24v DC system, not a 12v system like our Deltas use. So they contacted the panel manufacturer to get a replacement. Hopefully it arrives today. Nelson has my trailer in the lot right next to Service. I guess that when they ran panel 2 to the controller they must have noticed that the controller freaked, my battery bms too?

sigh

So many errors.

Alliance refused to give them tech support when they called, BTW. Kevin at Alliance had emailed me and told me that tech support was available but when they called they were denied because the second panel install was "an aftermarket installation".

So, ummm, those of you with Alliance trailers, what's it like to camp in them? Bet it's nice...
Click to expand...
Bill,,,imho have you considered binding mediations between you, Alliance & the dealer with the responsible party being required to pay all attorney fees,,,loss of use,,,full repairs or trailer replacement?
Am positively amazed with the lengths all parties are going to avoid any responsibility for your issues.
Would strongly consider either legal pursuits, lemon law, or sale . Legal advice from an appropriate law firm that would take this on a fee contingent basis would limit your out of pocket $ or provide best available legal recourses first imho.
Mediation participants could include naming Alliance Owners, Dealership Owners, & product mfgr owners & their respective business liability insurance companies and request binding response times by an impartial mediator for each to discuss among themselves & as a group their recommended a final solution for consideration prior to mediators ruling, Binding mediation excludes any appeal by any participant to the mediators findings in many jurisdiction.
To your query,,,think most All owners would agree that their units are very nice units and enjoy them. Unsure of any other advice. Other members probably have insight & suggestions as well. Good luck 👍🍀🌞🙏
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
Hurray. Just got a text that the new panel 2 arrived, was installed, and they’re going to send me screenshots of the readings shortly.

So maybe tomorrow I’ll have a trailer. Five weeks after purchase. Already made a payment
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
They left the fridge running all night to drain the battery down a bit. And hopefully the solar panels will start charging it back up. And the plan is to leave home at 9:30 with them calling me at 10 and either telling me to turn around and go home or head on up to get the trailer. Wish us luck.
 
B

Bozo

Prominent Member
Hilldweller said:
Well well well. Update, a couple of days late, but here it is.

I had spoken with Nelson, the service manager, previously and had asked him to run a jumper from panel 2 to the solar controller independently and disconnect panel 1. Just verify that it was working. He said they did that. Then I asked him to use a Y-connector in front of panel 1, spicing in panel 2 and running them both to the controller. He planned to have the tech do that on Wednesday.

I called him on Wednesday to see if that had worked and got the news that panel 2 was a 200w 40v panel designed for a 24v DC system, not a 12v system like our Deltas use. So they contacted the panel manufacturer to get a replacement. Hopefully it arrives today. Nelson has my trailer in the lot right next to Service. I guess that when they ran panel 2 to the controller they must have noticed that the controller freaked, my battery bms too?

sigh

So many errors.

Alliance refused to give them tech support when they called, BTW. Kevin at Alliance had emailed me and told me that tech support was available but when they called they were denied because the second panel install was "an aftermarket installation".

So, ummm, those of you with Alliance trailers, what's it like to camp in them? Bet it's nice...
Click to expand...
Would be nice if wasn’t always fixing gremlins.
 
Hilldweller

Hilldweller

Member
So here's how it went.

Austin had agreed to have a tech check the panels Saturday morning; we'd already be in route, about a third of the way up there. If the panels weren't working we'd change course and go shopping or something.

I got a text from Nelson in the morning saying that everything was good. He showed me pictures of 12 volt gizmos in action as proof; I asked him to have the tech check the battery and solar status with the apps. He replied that Brian the tech with the apps and Austin the PDI manager were both off yesterday. :confused:

We got there with an uncomfortable feeling. Which was becoming all too familiar.
I went straight to the trailer and checked the apps. 12v gizmos were still running and the battery was very full. The solar output was meh.
So I found Nelson and told him the solar output was meh. I requested the ever-reliable blanket test (mentioned in a previous post, thank you).
Blankets obtained, Nelson got on the roof. Panel 1 was doing meh (fall sun low on the horizon and panel partially shaded by the air conditioner). Panel 2 was putting out zero. As in not working. My wife was already wandering around the dealership and haranguing everyone she could corner. I mean, she was intense.
Nelson was confident though. He started to unplug and replug the connectors, like jiggling the handle on the toilet. And it worked. Panel 2 started to make juice. Not impressive juice, not enough to keep a fridge happy, but enough to help.

The USB-C's in the couch still didn't work, of course. I don't think they ever even submitted that to Alliance --- but they did yesterday. A very nice young guy came out to the trailer and took apart the arm of the couch and took pics. We talked about meters and he ordered one off Amazon like mine.

Then everyone hid from us. We started to chat with a couple in the parking lot. They've had their trailer for almost 2 years and have used it 4 times; it's been at the dealer the rest of the time getting sorted.

So with everyone in hiding I had to go inside and poke around until I found Graham and asked him to find a tech to install out hitch so we could get the frick out of there. He found Nelson who told us all the techs were at lunch.
sigh

When Nate, really nice young tech, came back from lunch he installed the hitch and showed me how not-to-kill-myself using it. I've never towed anything larger/heavier than my old Aliner and this trailer is a learning curve.

So we thanked Nate, looked around to see if anybody was going to come out and say "sorry for our eff-ups" or "congrats and thank you for the purchase" or anything. But no, they stayed inside.

I got out on the highway and the trailer wasn't happy at speed. Wallowed. Sorta white knuckled me. I stopped at a rest stop and had a walk around. At the dealership the trailer was up against a small rise so I couldn't see underneath the utilities side. All of the dump caps were hanging off. So I figured they had filled all the tanks to test them and left the caps off to drain everything. So I screwed one back on, though about it, then pulled the lever. Tank was full. Fresh tank, both grey tanks, and the black tank. All totally full. So I dumped all that fresh water in the parking lot.

That's when I realized that my F&I guy hadn't been there, I still had no paperwork for the sale, no license plate. I texted my sales guy Gabriel and asked him to FedEx my plate to me.

It's pretty obvious that they lack sufficient training, have bad internal communication, and really aren't good at this line of work.

Back in 2003 I had a Honda Goldwing. Honda had had a big oopsie when building that flagship motorcycle. For the first two years of the GL1800 the jigs they used for the frame were a little off and was leading to frame failures. They didn't know how to remedy it at first and, as a gesture of good will, they made the payments on the bikes until they were safe to ride.

I didn't get my trailer for 5 weeks after purchase. If you followed the Honda model, which I think was a good one, it would be a great gesture of good faith for Blue Compass of Chattanooga to reimburse me for:
1) wasted fuel, 3 round trips to the dealership. $120
2) a wasted month of storage fees. $117
3) a month's payment on the trailer "mortgage". $385

I mentioned that at the dealership and that's when they all ran and hid.

I'm going camping next weekend. We plan to have fun.
 
F

Fishfnatic

Well-known member
I would not take it back to that dealer. Alliance will work with mobile techs if in warranty. They should have swapped out trailer. We had to swap out our first alliance with dealer after they could not find leak after we stayed in it over the weekend after signing papers. Leak did not show up during inspection only while staying in it. We had paid for Rv inspector on first camper. I followed him around doing his checks on that trailer. I had to do my own pdi on current trailer. Spent 4 days in dealer parking area. But dealer made good. I still haven’t taken it back since.
 
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