Solar panels / charger doing what it is supposed to?

[MarkMaxPayne]

Newmar Customer Support got back to me today. Turns out I wasn't ghosted and it looks like they are going to do the right thing by the customers impacted. I appreciate that they are admitting to the factory error and are going to do the right thing by their customers who have this issue.

Bottom line is that those of us who purchased new rigs which had both solar and lithium options installed at the factory in builds before 2/20/23 do indeed need our solar controllers and some related components replaced. I was told to reach out to my dealer and refer them to Service Bulletin 603: https://newpar.newmarcorp.com/instance1Env99NEWMAR/html/images/BLTN603T.pdf

In my case I gave up while waiting for a response these last couple of months and ordered a Victron SmartSolar Controller from Amazon and installed it myself the next day (so I'd have working solar while in storage and before my 4K mile summer trip). Details in previous posts in this thread. But for all those who have this factory installed option combination, this validates the issues I raised in this thread and provides a path to get it resolved under warranty.

Best,
-Mark

 

[Richpatty]

I am glad to hear they figured it out. But is amazing that they didn't catch this at the design stage. And what controller does not work with Lithium? I can even make my old Magnum work with my lithium....

 

[Rich W.]

I am glad to hear they figured it out. But is amazing that they didn't catch this at the design stage. And what controller does not work with Lithium? I can even make my old Magnum work with my lithium....

The problem was spec’ing a cheap xantrex charge controller. And the replacement while in spec for lithiums probably (I’d say almost certainly) isn’t as good as the Victron unit Mark is now using. Good for Newmar for stepping up (do they read this forum?) but Mark made a better choice anyway. My opinion, fwiw, is that Newmar is in the coach business, not the RV solar business, which explains the pricing (almost like they don’t want the job) and their choice of components.