RV-C Protocol: Moving Forward to Make RV Service Operations Run Smoother

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) has been working on a new system for RV repair diagnostics. The basic idea is that, like today’s automotive systems, an RV technician would be able to plug a diagnostic tool into a port on a unit and accurately locate problems or faults in many RV systems.

In a recent issue of RV Technician magazine, RVDA Editor Melissa Broadus spoke with David Diamond of Country Coach, former chairman of RVIA’s Technical Subcommittee on CAN, and Martin Perlot of Silverleaf Technologies about how the system works, and what dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors need to do to get this diagnostic system of the future on RVs. Here is another special Q&A with Perlot covering what new developments have occurred in the past year.

Just to remind readers, can you give us a brief explanation of how the RV-C Protocol works?

Most of your readers will be familiar with how traction control systems work in a car. Sensors on the wheel detect slippage, and they send messages to the engine and transmission to reduce their output. A two wire network connects all those components, and they can talk to each other and coordinate what they are doing. Not only does everything work together, but the service technician can plug in a single service tool to test and diagnose all those components at once.

RV-C is exactly the same concept, but for RV appliances. Instead of engines and brakes, it is generators, inverters, and air conditioners - and just about any other appliance you might find in an RV. Two wires connect each component, allowing them to share status information and interact intelligently. A single service tool hooked into the network can read diagnostic information from all the appliances at the same time.

What changes and advances have been made in the past 12 months to the RV-C Protocol?

We’re seeing tremendous growth in the number and variety of RV-C-equipped products. RV-C has now reached the critical mass where it’s possible to build a totally RV-C compliant RV, using components from top tier suppliers.

When will this be ready for RV dealerships and what do they need to do to implement it?

The dealerships are going to be driven by the need to service the RV-C-equipped units that are showing up in their service bays. Fortunately, RV-C is very service-friendly. There is a reasonably priced PC adapter and software package available.

One of the key advantages of RV-C is that every device shares the same service tool and techniques. This cuts the training and expense down considerably.When the technician encounters something new, he doesn’t have to scramble to get a new cable or learn new software. He only has to worry about the specific features of that particular product, not about how to hook up to it, or run the software.

What type of training is now available for service technicians and what training is in the works?

To this point, technician training has been done through the RV manufacturers. We expect to expand this as the new generation of RV-C devices start to hit the market in the near future.

How many suppliers and manufacturers are currently using the program and what do others need to do to get on board?

We had a dozen suppliers at our most recent Network Fest in Louisville, and that didn’t include every company using RV-C.We’re not sure exactly how many manufacturers are using RV-C. That’s because there are two ways that manufacturers are adopting RV-C. Some  are adopting it as a central part of their electrical design, and are pushing vendors to supply them with RV-C components. Other manufacturers are content to take an incremental approach, installing minimal two-node networks for the time being. As more components become available and manufacturers realize the power and reliability of RV-C, those networks will expand.

For suppliers, getting started with RV-C is very easy. RV-C uses commonly available electronic components, and is cheap and simple to implement in a circuit board. It is certainly the least expensive way to get intelligent diagnostics and external control in an appliance. The technical documentation is freely available, it doesn’t require expensive test equipment, and there are lots of resources for the developers.

For manufacturers, implementing RV-C is even easier. At the basic level, it’s merely a matter of running the two data wires through the RV, and adding a diagnostic connector and a pair of resistors. From there, the manufacturer can consider different safety and automation features, and how the customer views and controls the system. There are infinite possibilities for customizing and improving the RV.

For anyone wanting to learn more, www.rv-c.com is a good place to start. The site contains a variety of resources for engineers and technicians. RVIA member companies may use the site to post product announcements, documentation, and service software. Non-members can use the forum section to post questions, comments, and suggestions.