AM Solar Priorities

In January 2016, Greg and Deb hit the road to enjoy the RV Lifestyle that so many of their customers have been living.  The Holders remain as valuable advisors and product testers.  Although they won’t be in the office very often, they have left the business in good hands with a team of experienced managers who are committed to continuing the tradition of exceptional quality, service and innovation that has been integral to AM Solar’s success.

Company History

Greg and Deb Holder started working with solar in 1987 as Alternate Means, selling and installing solar systems for a wide variety of applications including vacation cabins, RVs and even a monastery.  Later, as the Holders’ focus turned to recreational vehicles, RV Solar Consultants was formed.  

Seeing the demand for a device to regulate electrical current between solar panels and multiple battery banks, Greg worked with Heliotrope General to design the world’s first dual battery solar charger, the RV30.  As orders were coming in, a fire destroyed the factory where the charge controllers were being manufactured.  Instead of rebuilding, the owner sold the charge controller manufacturing rights to Greg as a percentage of gross sales, thus starting Heliotrope PV.    These charge controllers were initially assembled by hand and later outsourced to electrical assembly factories.  RV manufacturers were the primary market for the controllers, who without solar, were seeing batteries die while their vehicles waited in assembly line parking lots.  

Over time, the expensive analog technology used in the Heliotrope controllers gave way to more efficient digital technology and Heliotrope PV was abandoned, but Greg’s foot was in the door and business was booming.  In 2002 the Holders founded AM Solar and five years later, they moved into their custom constructed headquarters in Springfield, Oregon.