Jeff:
 
There’s no conjecture about how utterly crappy the ‘service’ is from what used 
to be Outback.  They make promises and underdeliver or just ignore you.  The 
latest for us is promising a new MATE3 (to an elderly customer with health 
issues) but that was nearly two months ago.  Meanwhile, the only EG4 system 
we’ve sold is terribly noisy – 90 decibels.  Fortunately our customer is pretty 
deaf (but his wife isn’t).
 
Let the buyer and seller beware.
 
Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4309 or 4321
406-777-4309 fax
 
 
 
 
From: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jeff 
Clearwater via RE-wrenches
Sent: Monday, August 4, 2025 11:11 PM
To: [email protected]; RE-wrenches <[email protected]>
Cc: Jeff Clearwater <[email protected]>; RE-wrenches 
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] OUTBACK power
 
Having consulted for EG4 all I can say is you are all way off in your 
conjectures.  James and his team have the industry’s best interests at heart.
 
Anymore is only appropriate to discuss off list. Conjecture without direct 
knowledge often results in unnecessary harm and projection of our fear rather 
than useful sense making.
 
I believe the List has ethical standards that we should follow here. 
 
May we all work together to continue to build on all the great cooperative work 
we’ve done to uplift the solar industry over the years. 
 
Best
 
Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design
Since 1996
 
 
 
Sent from my iPhone



On Aug 4, 2025, at 11:58 AM, William Miller via RE-wrenches 
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
wrote:

Friends:
 
One explanation is possibly that James Showalter wants to quietly remove a 
well-respected, competing product from the market.
 
William
 
PS:  It is more than a bit off-putting that EG4 chose to post a note 
<https://eg4electronics.com/energy-access-innovations-powers-americas-future-with-new-texas-facility/>
  kissing up to DJT.  I’m suddenly way less anxious to give EG4 a try.
 
WM
 
Miller Solar
17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 
CA Lic. 773985
 
 
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]> ] On Behalf Of Maverick 
Brown via RE-wrenches
Sent: Monday, August 4, 2025 11:39 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Cc: Maverick Brown; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] OUTBACK power
 
James Showalter
 
Founder of EG4 Electronics, Signature Solar and partner in buying Outback from 
Alpha / Entersys. 
 


 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-showalter-9a0599156> linkedin.com
        
 
 
https://eg4electronics.com/meet-james-showalter-founder-of-eg4-electronics/
 
He ran a solar installation business and then switched gears. 
 
That’s about all I know. 
 
Thank you,
 
Maverick
 
Maverick Brown
Off-Grid Solar Commander since 2006
Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.
 • Solar Commander Remote Power
 • SunFlow Systems Cathodic Protection 
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 
512-460-9825
 
 
 
On Aug 4, 2025, at 1:21 PM, Chris Schaefer via RE-wrenches 
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
wrote:

Who is James ( I assume a partner of Signature Solar) and what is his 
background?
 
Christopher
 
On Sat, Aug 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM Jay via RE-wrenches 
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
wrote:
I checked on a few websites and some do have some items. 
 
I wonder if they bought it for the military contracts and the retail they don’t 
really care about. 
 
Because EG4 and signature solar and big battery all know how to market and sell 
and make new good products. 
 
One thing I heard was they bought it to  sell lithium batteries to legacy 
Outback people.  I guess that they would make some changes to the mate to 
communicate with their batteries. Which made sense maybe?
 
Hopefully someone will spill the info at somepoint because it’s weird 
 
I could  see myself buying any OB products as replacement maybe but for a new 
project, seems unlikely. 
 
 
 
On Aug 2, 2025, at 12:52 PM, Maverick Brown via RE-wrenches 
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
wrote:
I do wonder what the real reason is that James bought outback and he also 
invented flex boss and grid boss. The Outback transition has languished 
uninformed to Wrenches and even to the DIY community. 
 
Just like the Gudgel boys, James has also shaped the industry in the new 
transition to the next era. 
 
After 20 years in the solar/battery business we built a homestead from the 
ground up in 2017 and the main inverter was a single Radian at the house and 
the outbuildings all had used XW inverters. I always thought I’d switch them to 
Radian  One of the XWs died after over tens years of service. I replaced it 
with a Fortress Envy 12k. I guess if I have another failure here, that’s what 
I’ll get. 
 
Always open to customers wishes and have installed just about every inverter 
that’s ever been made installed from Tucson to Tucumcari ;-) but mostly in 
Texas. But, I’m Willin’ to work on the next best thing. 
 
 
 
Thank you,
 
Maverick
 
Maverick Brown
Off-Grid Solar Commander since 2006
Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.
 • Solar Commander Remote Power
 • SunFlow Systems Cathodic Protection 
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 
512-460-9825
 
 
 
On Aug 2, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches 
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
wrote:

The question I have is, if they come back, would you trust them again? It would 
take a lot to convince me.



Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
 
 
On Sat, Aug 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches 
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
wrote:
Any word on whether OUTBACK power is coming back to life or they just died.?
I sure miss the products personally, not to mention my whole system is OUTBACK
Dana Orzel - [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>  - 208.721.7003
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