Wireless air operation.

[RF_Burns]

I've read in a couple of posts this week about people installing the Wireless Air system on their rear suspensions.

I'm interested in how well this system works. From my understanding you use the wireless remote to pump the suspension up to the height you want. Then the system will maintain the pressure in the airbags to keep it constant. If so, then when you add weight such as fueling up the gas tanks, airbag pressure will increase, so the system will release air to maintain the set pressure. This would allow the suspension to drop which is the opposite of what you want.

Similarly, when you are taking a long curve, the coach will tend to lean outward which will increase weight on the outboard side of the curve and reduce weight on the onboard side. This would cause the outboard side to reduce pressure and the inboard side to increase pressure, causing even more lean outward on the curve.

I'm just wondering if users experience this? Or are you able to put the system in "HOLD" so it doesn't adjust the pressure automatically?

I'm looking forward to installing the Micro-Level control system someday. It replaces the air-valve height controllers with electronic sensors. It gets rid of the air vale sensors and a lot of tubing as well. I'll no longer have to fool with setting the height at the sensor, just set the desired height with controller once and it will remember the sensor reading at the desire height. It has a remote control unit to make manual height adjustments easy.

It also has a "Camp" mode where it will self level the coach at the campsite.

http://www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com/vasilakes/microlevel_intro.pdf

But alas I need new tires and house batteries (fingers crossed for LiFePO4) first.

 

[LQQKatJon]

People have been happy with wireless air. They dont notice the downfall of the actual height measurement vs pressure.
But i still don’t understand how they get by what I understand as a 100 psi limitation if they are running stock bags. Not an issue with sully or daytona.

stock OEM systems are great if upkept and work.

my microlevel is pretty sweet. But out of reach for many as other priorities are out there to spend
Money on.

 

[Matt Colie]

Bruce, there are two available.
Microlevel you know about, there is also a wireless valve control out there. Fortunately, as I understand it, this system does not use any active ride height control. For my light coach, the 300+# of fuel matters.
I also have a completely stock Powerlevel system that does seem to have one leak in the system that I cannot locate - YET. The coach does not squat when sitting.

Matt

 

[RF_Burns]

Matt,
For the wireless air system, I was going by the rally presentations by John Shotwell and Gary Bovee (can be found at GMCMI site) and other on-line information.

It does not have a height control sensors, but does keep the air pressure in each bag within +/- 3 psi of the setting according to documentation. I cannot find any info saying you can defeat the auto adjustment of the pressure... short of disconnecting power to it.

I'm just wondering how this auto pressure adjustment affects the coach in real life operation. Because of this and not having active height sensors, I would not suggest this system.

 

[Matt Colie]

Bruce,
The Micro-Level system that Keith Vasilakes has assembled doe use active ride height sensors. They are electronic (hall effect - I don't know if you trust that stuff), and I am pretty sure that they don't leak air like the OE.
As said, our coach is on the light end, but we blew a line off a level valve once and I set the level with air and capped it. By the next fuel stop, they handling got strange. We took on only about 45us gallons (@6.7#/) and the handling got stranger still. We ended the day earlier than planned and I made repairs......
Matt

 

[RF_Burns]

Matt,
Yes, I like Keith's system for sure. Being an electronics guy I was going to roll-my own but I'll go with his now. But now being retired and living on savings, I need to prioritize any such purchases.

 

[Matt Colie]

Bruce,
Trust me, I understand that situation. Everything I do gets a cost/benefit analysis.
Matt

 

[KenTexian]

Interesting point you made Bruce, about the system maintaining pressure regardless of weight deltas...I don’t care for wireless anything in general (except TV remotes and key fobs). My main gripe is that nothing is unified, you end up with a different remote for every function.

I have been working a software engineer friend to put together an in dash console in that can control the air suspension (same user interface concept as electro level but digital on a touch screen with pressure, height, X/Y access pitch read outs, handle the stereo, GPS, climate control for both roof A/C and dash A/C. Our initial scribbles and hardware options appear promising but we are years away from a prototype.

this would likely only be of interest to gut and restore types as the installation would be extensive...but there you have it.

 

[RF_Burns]

UGHH, I hate touch screens! either they don't work for me (calloused finger tips from holding wires and parts as I solder them for the past 50 years... my favorite programming language is solder) or my fat fingers cause something else to happen! I like tactical feedback!!

 

[KenTexian]

UGHH, I hate touch screens! either they don't work for me (calloused finger tips from holding wires and parts as I solder them for the past 50 years... my favorite programming language is solder) or my fat fingers cause something else to happen! I like tactical feedback!!

Fair enough, I’ll leave you off the marketing effort.

 

[billvv]

UGHH, I hate touch screens! either they don't work for me (calloused finger tips from holding wires and parts as I solder them for the past 50 years... my favorite programming language is solder) or my fat fingers cause something else to happen! I like tactical feedback!!

Especially when you're driving and trying to adjust something; knobs, switches and muscle memory let you keep your eyes on the road. Now voice control.... there's a thing!

 

[KenTexian]

Especially when you're driving and trying to adjust something; knobs, switches and muscle memory let you keep your eyes on the road. Now voice control.... there's a thing!

How often are you messing with the original electrolevel controls while cruising down the road? The original stereo didn’t have voice control...I am building it for my coach but of the next generation of GMCers are interested I’ll see what it would take to make a kit.

 

[RF_Burns]

None of my GM/Chev pickups have been able to understand voice commands (2017, 2015, 2014) and neither can my 2019 Dodge caravan. Out a 10 digit phone number, it may get 60% of the number rights yes I ennounciate the words correctly.
Same thing for my wife. We a both Canadians and have what I'd call a run of the mill Canadian way of talking.

FYI, I'm an electronics guy and had several businesses in electronics over the past 40 years included owning a cellphone store for 25yrs. Good thing I had people running that... I don't have the patience for consumers! lol

 

[Matt Colie]

I have gotten to really hate the voice control for my new TV. Every time I swear about something, it changes to CNN.
Matt

 

[KenTexian]

None of my GM/Chev pickups have been able to understand voice commands (2017, 2015, 2014) and neither can my 2019 Dodge caravan. Out a 10 digit phone number, it may get 60% of the number rights yes I ennounciate the words correctly.
Same thing for my wife. We a both Canadians and have what I'd call a run of the mill Canadian way of talking.

FYI, I'm an electronics guy and had several businesses in electronics over the past 40 years included owning a cellphone store for 25yrs. Good thing I had people running that... I don't have the patience for consumers! lol

You weren’t using the Canadian “eh” over much were you?
In all seriousness it isn’t perfected by any stretch but I am amazed at how far seri and Alexa have come...that being said, it’s nearly useless for my wife’s HEAVILY Russian accented speech.

 

[Chewy USMC]

UGHH, I hate touch screens! either they don't work for me (calloused finger tips from holding wires and parts as I solder them for the past 50 years... my favorite programming language is solder) or my fat fingers cause something else to happen! I like tactical feedback!!

I hear you, I hate texting because of fat fingers

 

[Matt Colie]

I still hate texting and even avoid reading it, but I got a 5$us BT keyboard that works most of the time.
Matt

 

[billvv]

I have been working a software engineer friend to put together an in dash console in that can control the air suspension (same user interface concept as electro level but digital on a touch screen with pressure, height, X/Y access pitch read outs, handle the stereo, GPS, climate control for both roof A/C and dash A/C. Our initial scribbles and hardware options appear promising but we are years away from a prototype.

Sounds like a fun project. Those Android head units like Xtrons, Joying do some of that. They excel at sound systems and GPS; tie-in with ODB2/Canbus. I wonder if you created a Canbus I/O box for real-time control and monitoring and piggybacked on that technology for display and UI - since that is the most likely component to want updating going forward.

 

[Matt Colie]

From post of 17 April 2021 <sinp>
I have been working a software engineer friend to put together an in dash console in that can control the air suspension (same user interface concept as electro level but digital on a touch screen with pressure, height, X/Y access pitch read outs, handle the stereo, GPS, climate control for both roof A/C and dash A/C. Our initial scribbles and hardware options appear promising but we are years away from a prototype.
<snip>

Ken,
I was probably asleep when I read this the first time....
But, we have Kieth Vasalakes (sp), that has a working system available to day and it has bunch of good features.
His isn't touch screen, but it has a BT fob so you can adjust things while standing outside.
Touch screens are for restaurants and living rooms IMHO.
He doesn't write here, only on the old forum.
Matt

 

[KenTexian]

Thanks Matt. I usually stay away from wireless/bluetooth solutions. This is more a project for the hobby and is waaay on the back burner.