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12-28-2019, 11:25 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
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Factory solar systems
Does anyone know anything about the new super solar flex system? I haven’t been able to find any pricing from our local dealer or others I’ve reached out to. A factory installed and warrantied system sounds like a great option to me but I can’t get anyone to say how much it costs.
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12-28-2019, 04:40 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,728
M.O.C. #12947
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__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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12-28-2019, 04:57 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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It was announced at the fall Rally. I think it is stioll in the testing/engineering phase.
4 265W panels screwed in BattleBorn batteries, soft start ACs and more. I did not hear the price.
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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12-29-2019, 04:01 AM
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#4
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Quartzsite, Arizona
Posts: 97
M.O.C. #24985
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffba
It was announced at the fall Rally. I think it is stioll in the testing/engineering phase.
4 265W panels screwed in BattleBorn batteries, soft start ACs and more. I did not hear the price.
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As I am looking at new a Montana this is starting to look interesting, I may have to wait a year! Hot Dog!
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Kevin in Quartzsite, Arizona....It's an experience!
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12-29-2019, 07:14 AM
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#5
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
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The 2020 brochure says the system includes
4 grid style 265 watt solar panels
A 60 amp MPPT controller
2 250 amp hour dragonfly energy lifepi4 batteries
225 amp precision circuits battery guard
3000 watt hybrid inverter with every electrical outlet inverted
50 amp precision circuits management system
2 15,000 btu power saver air conditioner with soft start
With that set up you can boondocks for a long time
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12-29-2019, 08:36 AM
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#6
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Quartzsite, Arizona
Posts: 97
M.O.C. #24985
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Thanks for the info on the solar upgrade, the catalog the "saleman" gave me didn't mention the upgraded Solar Package, I boondock from about Sept. 1st to about May 15. so that would be of great interest. On your description of the Solar Package it says it included a 300 watt hybrid inverter, should that say "3000 watt"?
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Kevin in Quartzsite, Arizona....It's an experience!
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12-29-2019, 08:59 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Dragonfly== Battle Born
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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12-29-2019, 09:00 AM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
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Yes 3,000 watt hybrid converter. Team Montana just got back with me on a price. According to them it’s a $15,000 option. Out of my league for now but it’s honestly probably about what it would cost to put that kind of a solar package together. Dragonfly doesn’t even list a 250 amp hour battery. The 100 amp hour is $800
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12-29-2019, 09:18 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Tehy battery is especially made for this application
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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01-10-2020, 03:46 PM
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#10
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Lake Country
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #25225
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My dealer just quoted me $19,000US MSRP which probably equates to the $15,000 mentioned above. Similar systems installed by aftermarket guys are going to be in the same ball park. There are lots of questions. I’m not sure which Magnum inverter they are using but I can’t find a model that handles two legs of fifty amp incoming power. Appears to have two MPPT charge controllers which suggests two strings on the solar panels. But again finding technical information is difficult. Having it fall under the warranty would be great however, should there be any issues with the system it is unlikely most dealer techs will have the knowledge to deal with this. I’ll continue down my own path. It also appears to consume most if not all of the front storage bay and I hope to be a lot more space conscious.
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01-10-2020, 06:46 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,523
M.O.C. #18081
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Dragonfly is definitely the spin-offin-house OEM brainchild of Dennis and Sean. If someone is not electrically inclined it’s not a bad way to go at all just premium spend. If you some DIY ability you can get twice the bang for the same buck.
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06-03-2020, 02:53 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 101
M.O.C. #19387
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Here's the latest announcement. If I were buying a new rig I would definitely give this a hard look as we do some boondocking and I have looked into putting in my own system with Battle Born Batteries, solar, etc. The issue is going to be price for the convenience of having the system OEM.
https://rv-pro.com/features/dragonfl...c2MDE2NDU1NAS2
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2017 Montana 3160RL
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06-03-2020, 04:55 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: home base IL, OTR anywhere
Posts: 533
M.O.C. #19382
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The factory option is very expensive and there is always the fear the OEM will cheap out on things to cut costs. So far it looks like Montanas will have decent components with this option. You can also get a kickass system installed by RV Solar Solutions(they have a great reputation) for a lot less than $15,000. The price killer is the LiFePO4 batteries. Not everybody will want them. Their plus is weight savings... important for full timers, not so much for part timers. Worth checking into. A second plus with the Battleborns is the warranty and the ability to easily add drop in batteries to increase your battery bank if your needs change. We are considering this route. Genny, 3000W hybrid inverter and 400AH to start, then add solar (plenty of room on the roof of our 3813MS. Then increase the battery bank to 600AH. Less of a shock to the bank account spread out this way. Down side... we might miss out on the tax credit currently 26% of the cost, next year it drops to 22% then disappears in 2022. So we might bite the bullet on the whole shebang and wipe about $3000 off our tax bill next april. Food for thought. OR, you could do some reading and DIY and save big. Its not really rocket science and knowledge is power.
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2017 RAM 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually CTD Aisin, OEM auto level rear air-ride, B&W hitch
2020 3813MS Legacy Cobalt FBP, MORryde 8K IS & pinbox, PI EMS,DIY mods by in-house "craftsman", RV security system Mk1 Beagle Alerter
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07-31-2020, 09:04 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Battleford
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #26690
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We are looking to purchase our first Montana, and interested in solar... but not sure if I want to go to the regular (1x 265 watt) or the Super Solar package. Good info in this thread...
We have a local guy who is knowledgeable and has done solar for us on other units, but here are observations and questions about aftermarket...
-the built in solar prep wiring is 10 guage; this seems to be true for all 2021 Montana's, but is not adequate for the 1000 watts + of the super solar package... so, do they upgrade the wiring in the super solar package? There is often no real easy way to re-run heavier wire into existing "solar prep" areas.
-having all of the outlets wired to the inverter, along with the power management seems tough to replicate after market... for example, some have said that if you have the AC on and run the microwave, it may beep so that you turn off the AC then run the microwave, instead of burning something up; will that be normal with aftermarket?
We live about 5-6 months per year in our 5th wheel, but boondock only part of that; a week or 2 here, a week there, etc. So, while I think that the Super Solar package is very interesting, I am likely more interested in the regular solar. I will look for threads about that one...
Thanks,
Brad
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07-31-2020, 10:47 AM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
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We got the single 265w panel factory solar package. We plan on adding a second panel and 300ah of lithium. The 5 inverted outlets are enough for us while boondocking. If we need AC or anything else we got the Onan generator for that. The additional 15k for the bigger package didn’t make sense to us especially after learning you can’t get a generator with it.
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07-31-2020, 07:34 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Battleford
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #26690
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakelife
We got the single 265w panel factory solar package. We plan on adding a second panel and 300ah of lithium. The 5 inverted outlets are enough for us while boondocking. If we need AC or anything else we got the Onan generator for that. The additional 15k for the bigger package didn’t make sense to us especially after learning you can’t get a generator with it.
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Thanks lakelife!
I'm concerned about whether the regular solar flex kit will support another panel... I understand it's 10 guage wire -will it work without a lot of line loss?
Then, same question for the solar flex kit charge controller at 30a... will that take advantage of the extra panel?
I like the option of 300ah of lithium; where are your sourcing, and can you share approximate price?
Last, is it an option to order a 2nd panel from Montana, or is this something the dealers order in, or did you source on your own? If the last, where did you get it, and what was the model/part number?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Brad
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08-02-2020, 08:19 AM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bel Aire
Posts: 71
M.O.C. #25287
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When I spoke to Jaboni which is who makes the components in the system they said the small package will support one additional 265w panel. Anything more and you’d have to upgrade just about everything. We plan on going with battle born lithium probably the G2 battery smaller footprint than the standard battery.
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08-28-2020, 06:10 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,157
M.O.C. #25165
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Just a few weeks ago, I ran across a you tube video where a Montana rep was talking about the solar flex prep coming on the new units. If memory serves, the video was put up by BTBRV (Big Truck, Big RV), but I can't seem to find it right now.
__________________
Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
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08-28-2020, 04:13 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Battleford
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #26690
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RMcNeal
Just a few weeks ago, I ran across a you tube video where a Montana rep was talking about the solar flex prep coming on the new units. If memory serves, the video was put up by BTBRV (Big Truck, Big RV), but I can't seem to find it right now.
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Sorry, I don't know the specific one you refer to, but here are some that I have viewed and liked...
For the Super Solar Flex package, I think this is the best video I've seen so far:
For the regular Solar Flex, Haylett RV explains it here:
And, this is a great explanation of the solar prep that comes with all new Montana's:
For even more info on DIY with the basic Solar prep in all Montana's, I think this one is very thorough:
I hope these are helpful; they were to me!
Brad
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08-28-2020, 06:42 PM
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Burke
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #19196
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Brad,
So on your set up.. you going RV fridge or residential. Did that impact any buying decision on the super solar or regular solar system.
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