Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-03-2017, 11:13 AM   #461
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,058
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WingedRyno View Post
I envision things working as advertised, safely.
Dan Neeley lives in your neck of the woods. You could always call him.
gerrym51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 11:17 AM   #462
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: WA
Posts: 202
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gerrym51 View Post
Dan Neeley lives in your neck of the woods. You could always call him.
The RoadTrek Whisperer!

If I buy this rig and it later has issues, he will definitely be on the top of my list. I hear nothing but great things about his knowledge and work ethic.
WingedRyno is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 12:01 PM   #463
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12,381
Default

I will preface this with a disclaimer. I am not a supporter of "inspecting in" quality, as I know it rarely works and is hardly ever more than about 80% accurate.

What I am a supporter of is burn in and functional testing of high value, low production, complex, items that can cause problems or incur expensive downtime and repair if they don't work correctly at install or fail quickly.

We don't know the failure rate of the Ecotrek, Voltstart stuff, but I have to believe that the cost savings in field repairs would likely cover the costs of a full functional testing of the systems before leaving the factory. Hopefully, the engineers know how the systems should all work and react to various situations so they could write a procedure that would test everything in a minimum of steps and time, while also doing a burn in on the components. In reality, the systems are pretty complex, but the functions really aren't much more than power in/power out for the various charging methods, plus a look for bad interactions between the methods.

All the building of the units should be done correctly at the build, and doing redundant inspections of wiring, etc really shouldn't be necessary in a well run, adequately trained, factory, but there is an exponential possibility of component failures with the number of complex items added to the systems, which would be caught at functional testing. Throw on top of it the tendency of companies to continually change suppliers or models of those parts to keep costs down, and you add more uncertainty. Since some of the Roadtrek units work acceptably, and some don't, I would assume that if the components are good, the systems should all work when they get to the customer, and there is not a systemic problem with design.

For the cost that has been incurred in trying to fix WingedRyno's van, Roadtrek probably could have functionally tested 3-6 month's worth of EcoTrek production. If his issues had been caught at functional test, it would have failed specific tests that would almost certainly and immediately identified the problem so it could be quickly fixed by people far more experienced and knowledgeable than the tech at the dealer who hasn't been trained in the technology.

It still baffles me how this seems to go on and and on, and repeats on new products.
booster is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 12:11 PM   #464
BBQ
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: East
Posts: 2,483
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by booster View Post
...

What I am a supporter of is burn in and functional testing of high value, low production, complex, items that can cause problems or incur expensive downtime and repair if they don't work correctly at install or fail quickly.

We don't know the failure rate of the Ecotrek, Voltstart stuff, but I have to believe that the cost savings in field repairs would likely cover the costs of a full functional testing of the systems before leaving the factory....

It still baffles me how this seems to go on and and on, and repeats on new products.

+1

The scary part is, we read about these malfunctions on various forums on a regular basis.

Do they ever learn from customer feedbacks?
Who is their cost accountant? The warranty costs must show up somewhere as a spike.
__________________
BBQ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 02:57 PM   #465
BBQ
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: East
Posts: 2,483
Default

.

Come to think of it, I would pull that Nations alternator and put a AC Delco in its place.
__________________
BBQ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 03:55 PM   #466
Platinum Member
 
Davydd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 5,967
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BBQ View Post
.

Come to think of it, I would pull that Nations alternator and put a AC Delco in its place.
It's not so simple. The optional second alternator MB brackets used for the Nations don't work for the Delco-Remy alternator. Advanced RV had to design and manufacture a costume bracket and pulley system among other things to accommodate the Delco.
__________________
Davydd
2021 Advanced RV 144 custom Sprinter
2015 Advanced RV Extended body Sprinter
2011 Great West Van Legend Sprinter
2005 Pleasure-way Plateau TS Sprinter
Davydd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 04:47 PM   #467
Platinum Member
 
GeorgeRa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,265
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by booster View Post
…………………………… I am not a supporter of "inspecting in" quality, as I know it rarely works and is hardly ever more than about 80% accurate…………………….
Indeed, that is how Sony killed NA TV manufacturers surprised why if their TVs were within specs. So inspecting quality didn’t work for them.
GeorgeRa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 06:06 PM   #468
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WingedRyno View Post
I envision things working as advertised, safely.
Not to worry. As you go onward and upward in life, the plaintive voices of the doomsayers become fainter and fainter in the distance.
cruising7388 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 06:21 PM   #469
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12,381
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cruising7388 View Post
Not to worry. As you go onward and upward in life, the plaintive voices of the doomsayers become fainter and fainter in the distance.
I wouldn't exactly say doomsayers, just realists in the fact that Roadtrek has had problems with the new systems in a lot of cases. Just saying there is not problem doesn't make problems not happen, either.

Every expectation has to be that they will get it fixed and ready to go, but it doesn't change the fact that the problems should never have happened in the first place, weren't found by the dealer, and are taking so long to fix.

Hopefully, WingedRyno is now on his way hone with a fully functional warp core Roadtrek. I wish him all best in his adventures, although I am still a little interested in what it is like to travel with a lizard
booster is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 06:33 PM   #470
BBQ
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: East
Posts: 2,483
Default

.

Before you sign off on the acceptance,
you should talk to a guy name Paul.
He has a similarly loaded CS XL as yours.
Ask him about his solar, and what Dan has done for him to remediate the shorcomings.
__________________
BBQ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 07:16 PM   #471
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by booster View Post
I wouldn't exactly say doomsayers, just realists in the fact that Roadtrek has had problems with the new systems in a lot of cases. Just saying there is not problem doesn't make problems not happen, either.

Every expectation has to be that they will get it fixed and ready to go, but it doesn't change the fact that the problems should never have happened in the first place, weren't found by the dealer, and are taking so long to fix.
I hear ya. I don't include you among the doomsayer contingent. You provide no shortage of stinging observations regarding the foibles of RT but they are measured and objective. I get the impression that when push comes to shove, you hope they succeed in improving what appears to be some questionable design aggravated by the kind of poor quality control that's responsible for this thread.

What I'm referring to are confirmation biased posters that that seem to take some erotic pleasure in crapping all over the company without even a hint of any acknowledgement that RT gets, or for that matter, has ever gotten anything right.
cruising7388 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 07:46 PM   #472
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12
Default

Hello, new Roadtrek Agile owner. I've been reading these posts and experimenting with my two Ecotrek modules. What I found is that your assumptions about parasitic losses are correct, I get to about 50% battery from a fully charged Ecotrek module in a day if I don't use any loads but only if Ecotrek is turned on AND it's connected to the coach. If I use separate Battery Disconnect switch (works on all modules), then even with Ecotrek still turned on, I do not get any losses (same as when it's off). So there must be something in the way Ecotrek is connected to the coach that makes it loose power.
Note, you can still charge Ecotrek with Solar while it's ON but disconnected from the coach and it's much faster than when it's connected.
vsandlk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 07:54 PM   #473
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12,381
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by vsandlk View Post
Hello, new Roadtrek Agile owner. I've been reading these posts and experimenting with my two Ecotrek modules. What I found is that your assumptions about parasitic losses are correct, I get to about 50% battery from a fully charged Ecotrek module in a day if I don't use any loads but only if Ecotrek is turned on AND it's connected to the coach. If I use separate Battery Disconnect switch (works on all modules), then even with Ecotrek still turned on, I do not get any losses (same as when it's off). So there must be something in the way Ecotrek is connected to the coach that makes it loose power.
Note, you can still charge Ecotrek with Solar while it's ON but disconnected from the coach and it's much faster than when it's connected.
How are you measuring the percent state of charge? It would be contrary to what others have seen from others if you aren't getting losses when the module is just on but not connected to the coach, and would indicate something has changed.
booster is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 07:58 PM   #474
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12
Default

Just voltage. If I note the voltage is 13.65v (fully charged) and I use disconnect switch, then it stays around the same 10 hours later. If I don't use disconnect switch, then it drops to 13.35v with no other loads which indicates a drop from 160ah to 100ah or 60ah.
vsandlk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 08:06 PM   #475
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12
Default

I think by using disconnect switch, Ecotrek is disconnected from the load side and is staying on the other side with coach AGM and solar charging module. Perhaps AGM in this case is taking a hit and providing current to Ecotrek BMS? I haven't measured AGM voltage after the test.
vsandlk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 08:08 PM   #476
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12
Default

vsandlk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 08:20 PM   #477
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 1,668
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by vsandlk View Post
Hello, new Roadtrek Agile owner. I've been reading these posts and experimenting with my two Ecotrek modules. What I found is that your assumptions about parasitic losses are correct, I get to about 50% battery from a fully charged Ecotrek module in a day if I don't use any loads but only if Ecotrek is turned on AND it's connected to the coach. If I use separate Battery Disconnect switch (works on all modules), then even with Ecotrek still turned on, I do not get any losses (same as when it's off). So there must be something in the way Ecotrek is connected to the coach that makes it loose power.
Note, you can still charge Ecotrek with Solar while it's ON but disconnected from the coach and it's much faster than when it's connected.
Is your refrigerator running when you run the test with the battery disconnect switch "on"?
cruising7388 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 08:22 PM   #478
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12,381
Default

Could it be the solar holding the module full by covering the parasitic, even when the main disconnect is off?

The AGM won't hold that high of a voltage for long as it would be all surface charge. It will drop to about 12.8v very quickly.
booster is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 08:22 PM   #479
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12
Default

Refrigerator selector switch was at 0 setting, I checked.
vsandlk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 08:23 PM   #480
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12
Default

I thought about that, so I did a test at night so no solar was charging.
vsandlk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 07:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.