Roadtrek warranty change?

[avanti]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

SAMKOON HMI Touch Screen SA-5.7A, 5.7" HMI Genuine original

Yeah. The Samkoon device is a generic programmable touchscreen. You can download the technical manual here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B87...LTQ/edit?pli=1

It is basically intended as a user-interface front end to an industrial Programmable Logic Controller, although it looks like it can be programmed to do simple tasks on its own. Here is a diagram from the manual:

samkoon.jpg

I suspect that there is either a PLC somewhere, or maybe an Arduino or similar. I doubt that the PC shown is relevant to this kind of application.

All this is interesting because for me one of the big open questions about these new-age RV systems is exactly where the "IF-THEN" rules that certainly exist are executed. Advanced-RV uses the elaborate (and expensive) Sliverleaf RV automation system. DavyDD has reported that he thinks it is used exclusively in a "display only" mode. But for this to be true, there would have to be some other programmable device to execute the automation rules of the vehicle. It will be fun to see these details dribble out for the various vehicles as technically-minded owners start tearing them apart.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

it is possible that they've now changed to the underhood device you saw-i only know of mumkins

No. As I mentioned in one of these threads, that underhood device is simply a Balmar voltage regulator that they are using to control their "engine generator". Same one that I used on my recent upgrade.

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by avanti

No. As I mentioned in one of these threads, that underhood device is simply a Balmar voltage regulator that they are using to control their "engine generator". Same one that I used on my recent upgrade.

Avanti- i stand humbled-lol-

we have no idea what the samkoon screen is supposed to monitor or control because roadtrek chooses to not send instructions

[wincrasher]

Gerry, I think the only thing they are going to send is this:

[mumkin]

I didn't even get that... LOL Good thing. I never liked koolaid.

Since the Samkoon is sitting right next to the BMS, and it has screen information that suggests battery information, I would assume that it is to be keeping up with battery condition.

[booster]

One prime thing to look at would be if the systems have a shunt or inductive pickup to measure actual battery current and give the ability to calculate actual state of charge. If they don't have that, it doesn't matter if they have the programmable monitor screen, because there would be no data to display.

[gerrym51]

roadtreks with ecotrek issues-still not fixed at this time-anyone with info?

[gregmchugh]

I am surprised Gerry hasn't popped up here with the latest news on the Ecotrek issues. It has been a whole 3 hours since Jim Hammill provided an update. Gerry seems to be off his game today, I usually see him spread the word within seconds of it getting posted on the Facebook group. Come on Gerry, get your act together

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by gregmchugh

I am surprised Gerry hasn't popped up here with the latest news on the Ecotrek issues. It has been a whole 3 hours since Jim Hammill provided an update. Gerry seems to be off his game today, I usually see him spread the word within seconds of it getting posted on the Facebook group. Come on Gerry, get your act together

i've 'ahem been busy'.

However now that you bring it up Jim has says it's a defective relay issue.

don't have anything else-lol

[mumkin]

You edited your post Gerry... LOL... reporting my latest meltdown today.

Yup... exactly the same issue as last time. Total shutdown of all electric. When reporting it to the factory, I asked if there was any reason why we couldn't just switch it back to the tried and true AGMs. I just didn't see how I could ever trust this new system at this point.

They got back to me quite quickly that there was no reason why not, but to ship the lithium back to them for more testing.

Now my dealer and Roadtrek are figuring out who is doing what... and when.

I was supposed to be leaving for Arizona end of next week.

[wincrasher]

I would suppose that doing that would result in some kind of refund to you, correct?

[obgraham]

Wow. Just Wow.

There's nothing else to say.

[mumkin]

Theoretically... right now that is the least of my problems.

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by mumkin

You edited your post Gerry... LOL... reporting my latest meltdown today.

Yup... exactly the same issue as last time. Total shutdown of all electric. When reporting it to the factory, I asked if there was any reason why we couldn't just switch it back to the tried and true AGMs. I just didn't see how I could ever trust this new system at this point.

They got back to me quite quickly that there was no reason why not, but to ship the lithium back to them for more testing.

Now my dealer and Roadtrek are figuring out who is doing what... and when.

I was supposed to be leaving for Arizona end of next week.

is it a relay or the battery?

[mumkin]

How the hell would I know... neither do they... my problem is not the problem of the two at the dealerships or it would have been mentioned today in my discussions with the factory.

[Jostalli]

If I were Jim Hammill I would be firing people over this. Unfortunately, though I believe the problems lie at the top of the organization.

[mumkin]

Most likely the top over even his head...

[obgraham]

Part of me says this is not a surprise.

I know everyone likes to rave about the RT factory tour. Well, I took it, and was quite concerned. The place would never pass in the US. Noisy in the extreme, lacking in maintenance and clean-up. In contrast, at Newmar you could eat off the floors, and in most places hear yourself think.

RT builds the rig in one bay, with a set team that installs most everything in the vehicle. Few if any workers specialize in a specific task, except maybe in the paint shop. So how in the world can they expect every piece of such a complex machine to be installed correctly?

Finally, each rig had a build-out sheet attached, where they would list the components. Mine was about half filled in.

I'm not expert in manufacturing techniques -- however after a few different tours I realized that others have managed their QC in a better way, using different assembly protocols.

Just my opinion. Many others disagree!

[booster]

Originally Posted by obgraham

Part of me says this is not a surprise.

I know everyone likes to rave about the RT factory tour. Well, I took it, and was quite concerned. The place would never pass in the US. Noisy in the extreme, lacking in maintenance and clean-up. In contrast, at Newmar you could eat off the floors, and in most places hear yourself think.

RT builds the rig in one bay, with a set team that installs most everything in the vehicle. Few if any workers specialize in a specific task, except maybe in the paint shop. So how in the world can they expect every piece of such a complex machine to be installed correctly?

Finally, each rig had a build-out sheet attached, where they would list the components. Mine was about half filled in.

I'm not expert in manufacturing techniques -- however after a few different tours I realized that others have managed their QC in a better way, using different assembly protocols.

Just my opinion. Many others disagree!

We had exactly the same impression of the tour, and my career was manufacturing engineering. I have audited dozens of companies for vendor approval, and
Roadtrek would not have passed audit for any of the places
I worked. Very out of procass control, and probably around 30 percent wasted production, In my opinion from the quick tour.

[avanti]

People over at the AirForums have made similar comments about the Airstream Interstate factory tour. In both cases, the results can be trivially verified at any RV show by anyone who knows how to look beyond the glitz. It is ironic that the two most expensive of the mass-produced B-van upfitters both do such an atrocious job at QA.