Keystone-Forest River RV Control Panel (Upgrade Replacement)
There are two types of control panels. Those that are older and those that are better. The former control panels had very few components it controlled while the latter and newer models control just about everything in your RV. Upgrading will be an expense but it may be worth it as some of the better models do not run that well.
Upgrading your control panel from Forest River may be difficult as they usually only ship to dealers. If you need one expect to pay about $200 approx., for the replacement panel. The good point for most people is that these newer models can be run with an app.
To learn more about the different control panels, just continue to read our article. It explores the topic so you have the best information on hand to help you solve most control panel issues. Having the best information ensures your RV works better every time.
RV Control Panel Replacement
Where is The Control Panel on a Camper?
If you own a Class B RV, you may find the control panel in a cubby hole next to one of the seats. This location keeps it accessible without putting it in the way of any other components you need to use as you drive.
For bigger RVs and trailers, you may find the control panel in what is called the command center. This command center is usually located in a small recessed cabinet that has a door covering the opening.
The exact location would differ between brands and models but one thing that is consistent with all brands, you have everything you need to watch in one location. That makes keeping an eye on your components easy and saves you time. One glance helps you see everything.
Then it has been recommended that if you have small children along with you, you should put a lock on the cabinet door. That way curious fingers do not mess up your controls and damage any vital components.
When you do your walk-through, make sure to take note of its location. If you need or want to, label the cabinet 'your command center' so you always know where it is when the door is closed.
RV Control Panel Switches
A lot of people still drive older RVs or tow older trailers. Some of the latter may not have control panels as there are few components to keep an eye on. The older the RV, the more basic the control panel.
That means that you may have a few switches like the water pump, water heater, and then level indicators for the holding tanks. These control panels did not have a lot of switches on them and were easy to operate.
But as time went on and RVs became more sophisticated and filled with a variety of components, these control panels grew in size and held a wide variety of switches.
One of the control switches on the newer models would be the sensitivity switch. You turn this when the indicators on the panel are not showing the actual levels in your holding tanks.
The additional switches would control and show levels for the following items: battery, fresh water tank, gray water main, black water main, gray water number two and black water number two, onboard generator fuel levels, water pump, LP gas water heater and operate all of the lights in different zones.
Then some models also include switches to control the slides as well as other mechanical components your RV was made with. As we said earlier, this central location makes it easy to monitor different components at a glance.
RV Control Panel Upgrade
These control panels can go by different names. They can be called control panels, command centers, power boards, and even monitor panels. These panels control different features.
One of the reasons some RV owners upgrade their control panels is that many of the original panels were very slow. What is meant by that is that you may have to press the monitor panel 3 times just to get the water pump turned on.
Other people want to have a hands-free control center and the upgrade brings with it a wifi connection ability so you can use your phone to manipulate the panel. The drawback to these types of control panel upgrades is that you have to have a Google account to use them.
Then you can always go to Amazon and find some great after-market control panels that handle all the tasks you want it to do. These control panels range in price from roughly $20 to $200 approx. They come in all sizes and designs and you get ample options to choose between.
Finally, you can always go to your dealer or brand internet store to find a control panel that meets your needs. These companies are always upgrading their onboard equipment and you can get a better panel if you investigate the options.
The biggest thing to be worried about will be compatibility. Some versions of the upgraded models work with Winegard and some will not. You will have to do some research to see which control panel will work the best with your onboard systems.
Upgrading The RV Control Panel
Getting the control panel is the easiest part of this process. Once you have selected the best model for your RV and its different systems, the hard part will start.
Of course, you can go to YouTube and find a lot of videos showing you how the hard part is done. The first step will be to make sure the power is off throughout your RV. This is always the first step when you are working with electrical items.
The second step will be the disconnecting of all the wires but don’t do this step all at once. It is best to do it as you go so you do not get confused and connect the wrong wires to the wrong switches.
Some people have installed separate switches for their water pump but how you upgrade is up to you and your needs. One owner did this because some of their switches did not have a light indicating it was on.
Once you start the second step, you should do the third step at the same time. Hook up the wires to your new control panel as you go for the same reasons. As you do step three, you may have to replace some wires and run them from the component to the control panel.
There is some planning involved when you do this process. It is not going to be easy. Your upgrade process will depend on which control panel you buy.
RV Control Panel Replacement
With Forest River and its subsidiaries, you may not be able to get a replacement panel directly from the company. This company only works with dealers and its authorized parts outlets.
What you will need to get a replacement is the usual RV information make, model, last 6 digits of the VIN, and so on. Forest River has made some exceptions to its no retail policy. If you happen to live several hours away from the nearest dealer, they will send the replacement to you.
At least that was what happened to one owner. Other companies may have different procedures and you may be able to buy a replacement control panel from their internet stores.
Or you can go after-market and see what is available in those outlets. This option may be cheaper than going through your dealer but they may not be compatible with every component in your RV.
RV brands will have replacement parts when they are available. The supply chain is getting back to normal but it may still be a while before they have the right parts to send to you or their dealers.
Also, you do not have to have one control panel for every component. You can have one for each component depending on the space in your RV or your preference.
Forest River RV Control Panel
It looks like Forest River uses the Lippert One Control tablet control system. This is a system that is wireless connected to all the components in your RV. The manual says:
The OneControl® tablet is an Android-based device that uses the OneControl® application to bring system controls and monitoring software to a touchscreen tablet. The OneControl® tablet can access the internet (if available), basic how-to RV videos, product videos, owner's manuals, and many more RV owner's resources. The systems controlled and monitored by OneControl® include slide-outs, leveling systems, awnings, lighting, temperature, water tanks, tire pressure, battery levels, and many more.”
If you have trouble with this system, you may be able to bypass Forest River dealers and deal directly with Lippert. It is hard to say how the company will handle direct inquiries.
Forest River also installs the TP33 control panel, also called the iRV Controller. This controller handles up to 20 components. This controller also has level indicators for your battery and holding tanks. It also includes a level indicator for a galley tank.
The One Control by Lippert seems to be the upgraded version of the iRV controller. It lets you use your smartphone to control all the devices in your RV from anywhere within a limited range.
Keystone RV Control Panel
Some of the RV models produced by this company may have the iN Command with Global Connect control panel. Instead of having an army of switches at your disposal, you get a touchscreen.
This touchscreen is supposed to make the operation of the different components easier. This iN Command system controls just about every system in your RV and it can be paired with your smartphone.
To connect your phone to this system you should see the Global Connect symbol on the iN Command monitor. Then you need to go to the App Store or Google Play and download the correct app to make the pairing work.
The models of Keystone RVs that have this newer system are - Alpine, Fuzion, Montana, Outback, and Raptor. One could say that this newer system is the upgrade version of the older command panels Keystone used to install in these RV models.
If you have this system and are having trouble making the pairing, just view the video below. It is a 4-minute video that shows you each step you need to take to make the connection.
Other models may have the Passport control panel in their RVs or trailers. This system is the older manual switch system with indicator lights showing different levels whenever you press the corresponding switch.
KIB RV Control Panel
This is your basic control panel that seems more old school. It also looks to be a better fit for those older RVs that are still on the road. The RV KIB Tank Sensor Monitor Panel M23 has 3 switches for the water pump and the water heater with the latter having one switch for gas and the other for electricity.
On top of the panel are LED indicator lights that let you know the levels of the battery and your holding tanks when you press the corresponding button. There is also the M21 Tank Monitor System Panel which is even more basic than the M23.
It only comes with one switch, but it still monitors the battery and 3 holding tanks. The same can be said for the Monitor Panel System (K21) except that it comes with one black and one red switch.
The switches should light up when they are turned on. These control panels do not do much more than what is already described. If you want a control panel that handles lights, awnings, and slides, then expect to pay more for that convenience.
The cost for these three systems will range between $44 and $108. They may be the perfect fit for off-grid camping but they may also be the perfect fit for your older RV.
Jayco RV Control Panel
In keeping up with its competitors, Jayco installed its own smartphone controlled control center. It is called Jaycommand and it is powered by BMPRO. You will find this option in the following RV models- Northpoint, Pinnacle, Seismic, Eagle TT, Talon, and HL Ridge.
Those models have had this control panel since 2019 and it may be the highest level you can get to with this factory direct control panel. The features include:
- Monitor: water tanks, temperature, battery, and fuel.
- Control: lighting, slide-outs, awnings, HVAC, generators.
- Integrate: tire pressure monitor, propane sensor, and more.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology
This system helps it keep up with the upgrades Forest River and Keystone are doing. Some older and other more recent Jayco RVs may use a Lippert control system. There used to be a 5-inch touchscreen in several models and you can upgrade to the 7-inch version with relatively little difficulty.
The 7-inch screen allows you to control more functions in your RV and it may be worth moving up to the larger control panel to make your command center more convenient to use.
Lesser Jayco models may come with the KIB options. Make sure to make a note of the brand of the control center during your shopping time. You may want to upgrade it sometime in the future.
Lippert RV Control Panel
This company used to make the LCI ONE Touch Control (MYRV) Smart TECH Control System 406345 RV Camper and it may still be installed in many older and more recent RV models. However, the company seems to be focused on having RV owners upgrade to the OneControl smart system.
That is the only system we found on their website and many of the top RV makers are installing this system in their more recent and more expensive RV and trailer models.
According to the company website, this system is supposed to: “ manage and monitor your equipment in the OneControl app - like RV leveling systems, slide-outs, awnings, lighting zones and more... right from the palm of your hand.”
As well as keeping you updated on your tire pressure and other tire issues. This system has level indicators for up to 9 holding tank options and a battery level monitor.
Then it controls 14 other components like lighting, etc., all from a push of a button. Those 14 buttons do not include the 6 for the awnings and slides your RV may come with.
It is a very convenient control panel that allows you to operate just about anything in your RV from within a given range.
RV Control Panel Wiring
If you are doing the work yourself, make sure you have a good wiring diagram to help guide you. While Keystone may use a color code for all of its electrical systems, there is no guarantee that the color code follows the color codes for traditional homes or not.
But when your control panel is not working right, one of the first places you need to check will be the wiring in the control panel. While inside and in safe spots, control panel wires are not immune to the same problems that affect all other wiring systems.
Once you get the control panel off, check for loose, damaged, or frayed wires, Tighten up any that are loose and replace any wires that are damaged. Make sure the wires are connected tightly before putting the control panel back in place.
You want to replace all damaged wires as soon as you can. This will avoid any future damage these bad wires can cause.
The RV Control Panel Not Working
The above problem is one of the first steps you need to take to diagnose the issue and see if that repair gets the panel working again. If not and the wires are good, the next two places to look will be the fuses and the breakers.
You never know when these electrical items will act and protect your control panel and other electrical components from shorts and power surges. If these two important electrical parts are okay and nothing has happened to them, the next place to look will be your battery.
Make sure it is fully charged and if not, then charge it up and see if this solves the problem. If not move on to the next place you need to check. This would be to double-check to see if you configured the device correctly.
The upgraded control panels need to be configured correctly if they are going to work. It is simple to make a mistake and not do this step right. If it is not configured correctly, then you need to redo it and make sure it was done right this time
No Power To The RV Control Panel
Not a problem here as the same suspects in the previous section will apply to this problem. You should use your multimeter to verify if you have power running to your control panel. If there is, then the panel may be bad and it will need to be replaced.
The multimeter needs to be used for the fuses and the battery. It is hard to tell if the fuses have blown with a visual-only check. Verify that they are blown with your meter. If the battery is low on power, your meter will let you know that information as well.
Finally, check your breaker and fuses. If they have tripped or blown then your control panel will not have any power to work. No matter the electrical device, the sources are always the same when it comes to no power.
Some Additional Words
The type of control panel your RV will have will depend on who made it and when they made it. Some of the more expensive and recent RV models will have the upgraded systems installed already.
There is nothing wrong with the older control panels, it is just that technology has left them behind. Using an upgraded panel also allows you to connect more components to it making your RV life a little simpler.
