Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Excel Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-05-2017, 01:48 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Replacement of Level Up Touch Pad

Has anyone had to replace the Touch Pad for the Level Up system on their trailer? The 'Up' arrow and 'Front' buttons have become difficult to activate. The 'Up' button has almost become non-functional. I have not applied undo pressure to the buttons. Although the trailer is 5 years old, the trailer has been in enclosed storage more than on the road.

Also, how difficult is it to pop the Touch Pad from the mount?
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 10-05-2017, 02:47 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Update:

While researching how to replace the touch pad, I found an installation anomaly.

Shortly after purchasing the trailer, I noticed the touch pad was still powered after the battery disconnect was turned off. I noticed a red wire running from the area behind the touch pad to a large fusible link that was connected directly to the batteries. I did some troubleshooting and discovered the wire was powering the touch pad. I didn't like the touch pad not being protected by a small amp fuse and being powered all the time. So I installed an inline fuse and a switch so I could turn off power to the touch pad.

Today, I was looking at the installation manual for the Level Up system and the power for the touch pad is supplied by the leveling controller and is included in the wiring harness from the leveling controller. I called Lippert and they confirmed the power to the touch pad is supplied from the controller through the wiring harness. My question then, why did Peterson Industries see the need to directly wire the touch pad to the batteries?

Does anyone else have this 'touch pad directly wired to the batteries' installation or is my installation an isolated incident? My one thought is they couldn't get power to the touch pad and instead of replacing the controller or harness, the just ran a power wire to the batteries.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 03:14 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
BFlinn181's Avatar
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
If you are sure the touchpad buttons are bad and you're going to replace it, you might try disassembling the touchpad and spraying and cleaning it with contact cleaner. If the touchpad is made up of a flexible membrane that has a metallic surface that is electrically powered. When pressure is applied to the 'button' it comes in contact with a section that conducts the electricity to the proper function of the device. I've disassembled these panels and cleaned them with good results. A very tiny bit of dirt can interfere with the electrical contacts.
__________________

Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
BFlinn181 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 03:47 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181 View Post
If you are sure the touchpad buttons are bad and you're going to replace it, you might try disassembling the touchpad and spraying and cleaning it with contact cleaner. If the touchpad is made up of a flexible membrane that has a metallic surface that is electrically powered. When pressure is applied to the 'button' it comes in contact with a section that conducts the electricity to the proper function of the device. I've disassembled these panels and cleaned them with good results. A very tiny bit of dirt can interfere with the electrical contacts.
Thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking about doing that if the touch pad can be disassembled. I have cleaned other devices with similar pads with some success.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2017, 03:59 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS View Post
Update:

While researching how to replace the touch pad, I found an installation anomaly.

Shortly after purchasing the trailer, I noticed the touch pad was still powered after the battery disconnect was turned off. I noticed a red wire running from the area behind the touch pad to a large fusible link that was connected directly to the batteries. I did some troubleshooting and discovered the wire was powering the touch pad. I didn't like the touch pad not being protected by a small amp fuse and being powered all the time. So I installed an inline fuse and a switch so I could turn off power to the touch pad.

Today, I was looking at the installation manual for the Level Up system and the power for the touch pad is supplied by the leveling controller and is included in the wiring harness from the leveling controller. I called Lippert and they confirmed the power to the touch pad is supplied from the controller through the wiring harness. My question then, why did Peterson Industries see the need to directly wire the touch pad to the batteries?

Does anyone else have this 'touch pad directly wired to the batteries' installation or is my installation an isolated incident? My one thought is they couldn't get power to the touch pad and instead of replacing the controller or harness, the just ran a power wire to the batteries.
Talked to Lippert again to get some technical information on the touch pad and talked with a different person. He stated the leveling controller is powered by a small red wire. So this red wire may be the power wire for the controller and not the touch pad. I would think there would be a power source closer to the leveling controller than behind the wall panel next to the battery compartment. Next week I will be working on the trailer and I will run down the wires and see where the red wire is going.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2017, 11:46 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS View Post
Talked to Lippert again to get some technical information on the touch pad and talked with a different person. He stated the leveling controller is powered by a small red wire. So this red wire may be the power wire for the controller and not the touch pad. I would think there would be a power source closer to the leveling controller than behind the wall panel next to the battery compartment. Next week I will be working on the trailer and I will run down the wires and see where the red wire is going.
Worked on the trailer today. The red wire is in fact the power wire for the controller and not the touch pad. The red wire runs up to just behind the touch pad and then follows the touch pad's wiring harness to the controller.

Looks like I will have to replace the touch pad. The touch pad is a printed circuit with no way to disassemble to clean the buttons.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2017, 12:08 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
drfife's Avatar
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Whitney, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,284
Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS View Post
Worked on the trailer today. The red wire is in fact the power wire for the controller and not the touch pad. The red wire runs up to just behind the touch pad and then follows the touch pad's wiring harness to the controller.

Looks like I will have to replace the touch pad. The touch pad is a printed circuit with no way to disassemble to clean the buttons.
My touch pad started acting similar to yours. I purchased a replacement pad. I elected to save it until the old pad completely failed. That was a year ago. The old pad still works, so I have a spare when needed.
__________________
Russell
'13 Excel Winslow 34IKE

'16 GMC Sierra 3500HD
drfife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2017, 07:11 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by drfife View Post
My touch pad started acting similar to yours. I purchased a replacement pad. I elected to save it until the old pad completely failed. That was a year ago. The old pad still works, so I have a spare when needed.
I'm going to go ahead and replace it because the 'front' button is too difficult to activate and causes the pump to start and stop rapidly. Worried it will cause premature failure of the hydraulic pump.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 02:30 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Purchased a new control panel back in October. Ouch, Lipppert is real proud of them. Best price I could find for the little piece of circuit board and display was $225 on Amazon. Finally replaced the control panel last Tuesday. Had foot surgery the first week in November and spent the next 3 weeks sitting in my recliner with my foot up.

Installation was a breeze, just plug and play. On to the next project.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 03:28 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
rockintom's Avatar
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
Thanks for sharing Carl.....how's the footsy doing? Did they give you a "senior" discount???
__________________
2012 Excel L33ft. GKE named Charm as in 3 times is a Charm. Love Fulltiming. Bullet '14 Chevy D/A 3500 LB CC DRW Summit White - Ebony Interior. Check out our blog at: https://claphamstravels.blogspot.com
rockintom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 10:34 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockintom View Post
Thanks for sharing Carl.....how's the footsy doing? Did they give you a "senior" discount???
Okay I guess. Only hurts when I walk on it. The doctor told me to take it easy for another month. That lasted till I got to the car. Too much hanging fire to sit on my backside.

My Podiatrist doesn't discount anything. Besides, most of his patients are seniors. The young folks go to Sports Injury Specialists.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
CARLnJANIS is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ace, replace, replacement



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
duo-therm touch pad need help to find part classic_wax MH-General Discussions & Problems 13 01-21-2015 10:23 PM
Kwikee level best touch pad for jacks. TAN Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 4 12-25-2013 10:51 PM
Keyless entry touch pad '05 Vectra doesn't work Mr.Cleane Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 4 07-15-2012 07:04 AM
Allison MD3060 no lights on touch pad hoke2 Allison Transmission Forum 7 12-22-2011 02:31 PM
Touch Pad Keyless Entry jimjr Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 3 08-10-2009 05:03 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.