Essex KE-1601 keyless entry

[MSHappyCampers]

Jim, sometimes I think somebody does things like that deliberately!

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by HicksRA

I replaced my old style keypad with the KE-1700 a year or so ago. All that was necessary was to enlarge the hole a little with my dremel tool. All wires match up and it was a very simple install.
I like it much better than the old one.

As I had stated in an earlier post I had intended on doing the same. However, after talking to the Essex Tech Guru, when he stated that they improved the design and reliability of the KE-1601 Keypad in late 2009 I decided to give them one more try.

I just didn't want to drag out my Dremel and have at the side of the coach just yet as I have too many other higher priority items to take care of before leaving for Alaska in April. Then my keypad decided to work once again but it is now intermittent. Hopefully it will stay that way until I am settled into Fairbanks the middle of May when I will have more time to work on this project.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[MSHappyCampers]

Richard, the guy I talked to said that many people have used a hair dryer to heat the old 1601 keypads, drying the moisture that gets in them. You might want to try that as a temporary fix.

[HicksRA]

Not trying to start an argument as to which one is better, but the 1601 keypads use the old bubble contact technology which only has a certain lifespan until the material gets brittle and will not work any more. Also, the buttons on mine had almost dissentegrated from the sun. The 1700 uses a touchpad like on a cell phone which has no moving parts to wear out and no chance of moisture invasion.
I don't know if the updated 1601 uses the same touch pad technology or not. If so, it would be just as good of a replacement.
Just my opinion.

[Stretch]

Our keypad has failed twice. Essex promised the new one (red lights) would not fail like the old one ( blue lights). Been a year so far so good.


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[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Our keypad has failed twice. Essex promised the new one (red lights) would not fail like the old one ( blue lights). Been a year so far so good.


Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

Is this the 1600 or 1700 series?


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[Dr4Film]

Since it is a 2005 model year I am betting on it being the 1700 series versus the 1600. My 1600 has always been red up until the latest revision which happens to be blue now.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Since it is a 2005 model year I am betting on it being the 1700 series versus the 1600. My 1600 has always been red up until the latest revision which happens to be blue now.



Dr4Film ----- Richard

Richard,

Is this the AKE-5 version that replaced the1600. I'm sure a replacement is in my future. My OEM 1600 is still working but one of the LEDs just died and I figure the pad is on its last legs since it's now 12 years old.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Steve Ownby

Richard,

Is this the AKE-5 version that replaced the1600. I'm sure a replacement is in my future. My OEM 1600 is still working but one of the LEDs just died and I figure the pad is on its last legs since it's now 12 years old.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

Steve,

Wrong version. The AKE is for cars. The KE-1700 is for RV's.

The KE-1700 Series Keyless Entry System

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Steve,



Wrong version. The AKE is for cars. The KE-1700 is for RV's.



The KE-1700 Series Keyless Entry System



Dr4Film ----- Richard

When I started looking at a replacement, I emailed Essex. Their response was that I could use the AKE-5 which has the same footprint as the discontinued 1600 and would be a direct drop in replacement or go to the 1700. The 1700 is what is currently marketed for coaches but I was told the wiring and operation are identical. The difference being a larger hole being necessary for the 1700.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[Dr4Film]

Steve,

You are correct. I looked at the web site for the AKE-5 and it looks identical to the new replacement unit I had ordered a few weeks ago to replace my failing KE-1600 keypad.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[MSHappyCampers]

The replacement they sold me for the AKE1601 was the AKE-5BH. It works great!

[Dr4Film]

I just returned from a weeks vacation to Arizona and San Diego. I absolutely HAVE to replace the keypad before leaving for Alaska on the 20th of this month.

The old keypad had been very erratic working sometimes and others NOT. Plus recently the dang thing started beeping like crazy at any given moment. Regardless of what I tried to do bar cutting the power wire to the keypad it would sporadically go off beeping on its own at any given moment.

I have printed the installation instructions that Joe so graciously provided in a previous post and it will be going in within a day or two after the rain stops here in Southern CA which we so desperately need.

So the moral is that if your keypad is not working when you touch one of the buttons -- Replace it Quickly. It will only get more frustrating trying to keep using it as I did. For some reason it would work fine one time and then another regardless of what you do it won't work at all and then there was the constant beeping that would drive my dog crazy who really likes to sit in that seat next to the keypad.

BTW, these keypads are touch sensitive buttons NOT push buttons. If the keypad does not respond when you first touch the key then it is on its way out.

I believe the upgrade model KE-1700 does have push buttons but it requires a larger opening to be made into the side of the coach. If this new KE-1601 Keypad goes south on me one day then the larger KE-1700 will be installed.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[HicksRA]

Richard, the KE-1700 is not push button, it's merely a static touch like a cell phone screen with no moving parts.