2017 Vegatouch is very impressive

[Cruzer]

The display panel is just an interface. Like the switches, it communicates with the G6 controllers. If the controller took a dump then most everything would go down and any switch panels would also be dead. If the touch screen went down then the switch panels would still work but I think the odds of that are slim compared to a G6 or switch failure. The touch screen is most likely less prone to failure than a switch panel which gets its buttons pushed repetitively.

In my case I plan on adding the system and will have two panels, one in the rear bath and one in the main living area. If one panel goes down I'll still have the other. I will also retain the existing Magnum controllers, AGS, thermostat, dump valves, etc so if the G5 or G6 go down I'll be covered there as well.

On a new coach I would like to see a dedicated thermostat available to use as a back-up. The Firetravel that I looked at had pairs of temperature sensors so I'm guessing that they did retain the thermostat as a backup and that the Firefly system needed its own dedicated sensors. The AGS I could live without and the generator can still start with the rocker switch so it wouldn't be too critical if the entire system malfunctioned.

[ghaynes754]

Rather than wall mount panels, not sure of the cost, why not a couple more tablets? Crestron software, I think it's available on Android and I know it is available for the iPad/iPhone, and if put a charging cradle on a wall if you wanted a place to store it.

[brobox]

Thanks for that explanation Mark. It helps me understand a system I have no knowledge of. Heck, I am still playing catch up with all the new LED lights.

[wmpbauer]

Mark,
So what you're saying, is if the pad or the wifi that the pad uses has a hiccup, there's no redundancy...no interface with the system controller, and you have no control over the functions of the interfaced systems?

Basically time to get a hotel?


Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
2013 Aspire DEQ
Ford Edge

[Cruzer]

Originally Posted by wmpbauer

Mark,
So what you're saying, is if the pad or the wifi that the pad uses has a hiccup, there's no redundancy...no interface with the system controller, and you have no control over the functions of the interfaced systems?

Basically time to get a hotel?


Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
2013 Aspire DEQ
Ford Edge

I'm not sure how Entegra has it set up. I only saw the prototype and am familiar with the system on Foretravel but not enough with Entegra's implementation of the system.

Obviously, all of the regular wall switches will still operate the G6 controller. For those functions not on the wall switches, there will need to be some sort of access to whatever is being controlled in order to bypass a failure in the Firefly system. Those failures can happen in a number of areas. If the G6 CPU goes down then the wall switches or iPad interface or VergaTouch panel won't do a bit of good. However, the G6 is pretty much failure-free and most coach builders are now using it. The previous G5 controller used by Entegra prior to 2017 was quite reliable as well so I don't expect this to be a big concern. If the VegaTouch screen goes down then you will have the switches available and the iPad interface. The switches are limited in what they control but the iPad would cover everything that the VegaTouch does.

Hopefully there is still a set of rocker switches to control the Aqua-Hot, a thermostat and some Magnum inverter control panels still present to serve as a redundancy. I did see that on the Foretravel IH45 but haven't seen the latest Entegra implementation so can't confirm that at this time. If there are none then a CPU failure would require at least some sort of Aqua-Hot and thermostat control to keep you out of a hotel.

[loisjop]

Mark,
So what you're saying, is if the pad or the wifi that the pad uses has a hiccup, there's no redundancy...no interface with the system controller, and you have no control over the functions of the interfaced systems?

Basically time to get a hotel?

Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
2013 Aspire DEQ
Ford Edge

The same can be said for the ECM or TCM or a number of other electronic controls. Don't worry about the mule going blind just load the wagon. Just saying. Noel

[757driver]

If the mule goes blind will the adaptive cruise control still work?

[loisjop]

Originally Posted by 757driver

If the mule goes blind will the adaptive cruise control still work?

Depends if you have brakes on the wagon or not! Noel

[Cruzer]

Originally Posted by 757driver

If the mule goes blind will the adaptive cruise control still work?

It will as long as the mule wagon has two busses - RVC for the house and J1939 for the chassis.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by loisjop

Depends if you have brakes on the wagon or not! Noel

Would need ABS brakes on the mule as well.

Now, if the mule passes gas would that be considered "Air Brakes"?

[loisjop]

Originally Posted by 757driver

Would need ABS brakes on the mule as well.

Now, if the mule passes gas would that be considered "Air Brakes"?

That's funny!😀😀

[Cruzer]

And here I always thought that that was the air dryer purge making that funny noise.

[wmpbauer]

Talked to Ted Cook today about the Vegatouch.

There is some redundancy as some of the controls can also be accessed from the dash....something that is not well known...especially the temperature (A/C).

The Genset and slides have redundancy, not based on the Vegatouch.

But he stressed that they have about four years experience with this system and frankly have experienced little in the way of crashes or failures. He also stated that the failures are usually cured by simply turning off all Coach Power and rebooting the system. What's more today cause most of the crash by simply overloading the system with rapid commands.


Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
www.entegraowners.com
2013 Aspire DEQ/Ford Edge

[Cruzer]

That makes sense. The system really is not problematic and actually increases reliability over having multiple analog switched circuits with all the additional wiring connections.