"November 22, 2017
Re: Zantrex Freedom SW Sine Wave Inverter/Charger Model 815-3012
To Whom It May Concern,
On November 8, 2011 we purchased a Xantrex Prosine 2.0 Inverter/Charger and had it installed in our 2000 Itasha Horizon Mobilehome. We were living full time
in the motorhome and traveling. We mainly "dry camped" and we learned alot about watching the "amps" and what we needed to turn on the RV generator to run.
In July 2016 we hooked to "shore power" in Montana. In July 2017 the _Xantress Prosine 2.0 quit working.
Since we had good luck with the Xantress Prosine 2.0 we decided to replace it with a new Zantrex.
On August 28, 2017 we searched Google on the internet and found a Zantrex Freedom SW Sinewave Inverter/Charger 3000 Xanbus Enabled
on tweetys.com. Total price with shipping was $1793.99. Name of business: Tweetys RV Parts, 31625 Rice Rd.#2, Bulveerde, Texas, 78163, phone 800-358-5894.
We installed it by just removing the old inverter and placing the new inverter exactly the way the old inverter had been wired.
The Zantrex 3000 did not seem to be working as we had no extra amps.
We had been told by the "techs" that the old monitor panel was not compatiable with the new invertor.
On September 6, 2017 we decided to order by way of the internet a _Xantrex Xanbus System Control Panel and Freedom SW Remote Adapter so we could monitor the problem with the new invertor. We purchased it from invertorsupply.com because the price was cheaper than Treetys. Cost plus shipping was $215.73. Retailer: Inverter Supply, 23502 Torre Circle, Boca Raton, Florida, 33433. Phone:888-606-2149.
Now we have spent $2009.72 for Xantrex warranty products.
The new panel monitor showed the inverter was not working. We called th Tech Phone Line 800-670-0707 and talked to a tech. He walked us thru the settings on the monitor and said the inverter should work now.
We reset the new inverter and tried again. It still wasn't putting out Amps. We called the Tech Phone Line several times more and again was put thru reprograming the control panel. They said perhaps the problem from the Blue Sky system we also had on the couch for solar.
We called the tech at Blue Sky Energy phone: 760-597-1642. He walked thru the setup and monitor for Blue Sky. The Blue Sky tech said "the problem was NOT with Blue Sky'.
We continued to call Zantrex tech phone line with no solution to why our new inverter wouldn't work.
Finally, the tech said they couldn't figure out the problem over the phone and we needed to take the unit to an "authorized Zantrex dealer" so they could figure out what was wrong.
Again we googled the internet to see where "an authorized Zantrex dealer" was located. There was one in Indiana, one in Washington, and one in Tucson,Arizona and one in Gilbert, Arizona, three in California, one in Oregon, one in Alaska.
Considering the time of year and snow expected anytime we decided to get it fixed in Arizona and spend the winter in Yuma, Arizona. We would have to go to Tucson, Arizona which was 238 miles from Yuma. We chose Tucson because we was familiar with the area and knew where we could park while the inverter was being fixed.
After a year of sickness for the both of us we were anxious for a warmer winter and getting the new Zantrex fixed so we could use it. My wife was recovering from Breast Cancer and a Mastectomy and I was recovering from Heart problems, Kidney failure, and Diabetics. We were both in our 70's and the stress of the pass year needed a vacation. But the 1313 mile trip was not easy on us at our age.
On the way to Arizona we were staying in South Jordon, Utah for a few days and got to thinking about what the Zantrex techs kept saying we must have wired the inverter wrong. So we called a local RV mechanic to check our system out WITHOUT going into the Zantrex inverter so as not to void the warranty on it.
On October 12, The R.V. Doctor's findings 120V input okay and proper location, there is no pass thru power or convertor recharge, no portal repairs were done.
He wrote out the problem on a invoice and signed it. His name R.V.Doctor Mobile R.V. Repairs, 5451 S Sanford Dr, Salt Lake City, Utah 84123, Doug Nielsen, 801-261-8700. Our cost for the analyse was $278.00.
Now we have spent $2287.72 on our Zantrex warranty products.
Now we are in Tucson, Arizona. 238 miles out of our way. Our RV uses an average of gas 7 miles per gallon. That makes
34 gallons extra diesel used. Cost per gallon of diesel $2.709 times 34 gallons costs $92.11.
Now we have spent $2379.83 on our Zantrex warranty products.
On October 31, 2017 we arrived in Tucson, Arizona and called the dealer to make an appointment to get in to have the new inverter checked.
The lady answering the phone said they only had a mobile service not a shop. That their tech would come to our location and get it and then check the inverter out and then bring it back. Oh, and by the way, they would have to charge us an service call fee, labor to remove the inverter and labor to replace it. That Zantrex warranty only covered damaged parts inside the inverter. Nothing else. The name of the dealer: R.V.M.D, 4232 E Lee St., Tucson, Arizona, 85712. Phone: 520-270-9922. Name on business card is Steve Clemit, man who came out to our location name was Mike.
We told her that we would remove it and take to their location and then we would re install it so we wouldn't have the extra expense. She said if we did that it would void the warranty that it was working. Feeling we had no choice because of future warranty problems we agreed for them to come get it.
After a few days we called R.V.M.D. to see if they had checked the inverter. The lady said yes, it was done, and Mike would deliver it back to us the next day.
November 8,2017, the Zantrex inverter was returned. They said the Com Board was bad and was replaced. Mike installed the inverter and in doing so blew a ittel fuse JLLN 300 and had to buy one to replace it. Bill from R.V.M.D. was $342.50 for service call and labor, and $79.00 for the fuse. Totaling: $421.50.
Now we have products purchased :: $2009.72
extra fuel: 92.11
analyse cost: 278.00
Zantrex authorized dealer cost: 421.50
totaling:$2801.33
We feel we should be reimbursed for $791.61 that we spent to have a "warranty" product repaired. Or reimbursement of the total $2801.33 and we will ship the Zantrex 3000 and Panal back to Zantrex, if Zantrex pays the shipping.
Our mailing address is P.O.Box 56, Plains, MT 59859. Our phone is 970-874-4344. Our email is kay.suckow@yahoo.com.
Thank You,
Dennis R. Suckow
Kay F. Suckow"