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10-05-2017, 01:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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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
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10-05-2017, 02:47 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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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
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10-05-2017, 03:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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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
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10-05-2017, 03:47 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
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.
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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
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10-05-2017, 03:59 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS
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.
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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
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10-18-2017, 11:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS
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.
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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
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10-20-2017, 12:08 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Whitney, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,284
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS
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.
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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
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10-21-2017, 07:11 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drfife
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.
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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
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12-08-2017, 02:30 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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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
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12-08-2017, 03:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
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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
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12-08-2017, 10:34 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockintom
Thanks for sharing Carl.....how's the footsy doing? Did they give you a "senior" discount???
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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
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