22 RBS Theater Seat Inoperable w/o Shore Power

GuadGuy · 03-04-2021, 06:09 AM

We have discovered that the seats in our new 2021 22 RBS will recline only if hooked up to shore power, even though the slide works just fine on 12v or shore power. Is this normal? Can’t seem to get a “yes/no” answer from Keystone direct.

**chuckster57** · 03-04-2021, 06:18 AM

Welcome to the forum

Yes it is normal. Your slide motor is 12VDC and uses the battery and converter (when plugged into shore power) to operate. Your chairs are 120VAC and like your air conditioner, microwave and probably the TV require either shore or generator power to operate.

GuadGuy · 03-04-2021, 01:07 PM

Chuckster57-

Thanks for the prompt welcome and answer. I believe you, but it still doesn’t make sense to me to limit the operation of the seats to 110v only. If that made sense for the seats, seems like the same logic would apply to the operation of the slide.

Hope the Keystone designers read these posts.

dutchmensport · 03-04-2021, 01:25 PM

I'm assuming you have Thomas Payne furniture. If you look under or behind the seats, you will see they are plugged into a wall outlet (AC), but the wire goes into a brick. Look at the brick carefully with a magnifying glass. I think the brick converts to, something like 18 volt DC. Something like that. So, if you tried to wire up something to your camper 12 volt system, it wouldn't be enough "voltage" to use the recliners correctly.

This is the way they are made. They were never intended to run off the camper house battery.

This same furniture can be used in a stick and brick house.

**chuckster57** · 03-04-2021, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuadGuy

Chuckster57-

Thanks for the prompt welcome and answer. I believe you, but it still doesn’t make sense to me to limit the operation of the seats to 110v only. If that made sense for the seats, seems like the same logic would apply to the operation of the slide.

Hope the Keystone designers read these posts.

As far as we ( moderators) know, there isn’t anybody from Keystone that monitors/participates in this forum. There is a disclaimer at the bottom of each page stating non affiliation.

Yeah it may not be the greatest logic, but that same furniture is in a whole bunch of different brand trailers.

notanlines · 03-04-2021, 02:16 PM

Guad, most of us would not be happy if our slides operated on 110 volt. ☹️

travelin texans · 03-04-2021, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuadGuy

Chuckster57-

Thanks for the prompt welcome and answer. I believe you, but it still doesn’t make sense to me to limit the operation of the seats to 110v only. If that made sense for the seats, seems like the same logic would apply to the operation of the slide.

Hope the Keystone designers read these posts.

Unless you're new to the rv world it makes perfect sense.
Powered recliners, residential refrigerators & some other 120 volt items are relatively new to RVs making them feel more home like, where in the past they were more suited as stand alone self contained units to park anywhere & run off batteries & propane.

MarkEHansen · 03-05-2021, 01:08 PM

I was looking at a new trailer and noticed this. Once I decide to pull the trigger, I plan to order the trailer without the seats, and just put my own in there.

By the way, on the 12 vs 18v topic, there are boost converters which can be used to convert 12vDC into 18vDC. They are not very expensive. You just need to make sure you get one which supports the current requirements of the target (chair in this case).

**JRTJH** · 03-05-2021, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkEHansen

I was looking at a new trailer and noticed this. Once I decide to pull the trigger, I plan to order the trailer without the seats, and just put my own in there.

By the way, on the 12 vs 18v topic, there are boost converters which can be used to convert 12vDC into 18vDC. They are not very expensive. You just need to make sure you get one which supports the current requirements of the target (chair in this case).

Or, alternatively, unplug the 120VAC chair from the wall plug and plug it into a 120VAC inverter, connected to the trailer battery... That's what we're currently doing with residential refrigerators, televisions, ceiling fans and many other "house electrical items that got stuck in an RV".....

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 03:14 PM

OK guys. Have we progressed so "far" that a power recliner, having it and having it operate, are so important??? I'm just generally happy with a chair/couch I can sit down on and then get up! Power recliners? Not such a big fan - give me that handle.

**chuckster57** · 03-05-2021, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

OK guys. Have we progressed so "far" that a power recliner, having it and having it operate, are so important??? I'm just generally happy with a chair/couch I can sit down on and then get up! Power recliners? Not such a big fan - give me that handle.

Next trailer will have Auto level and theatre seating that has heat and massage.

travelin texans · 03-05-2021, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Next trailer will have Auto level and theatre seating that has heat and massage.

Hell yea!
Our last 5er had washer/dryer, dishwasher, ceiling fan, heat pump, quartz countertops, all the comforts of home, because it was home.
Would never buy another without auto level, theatre seating or any of the stuff already mentioned especially if fulltiming.

BigBobIa · 03-05-2021, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Next trailer will have Auto level and theatre seating that has heat and massage.

All running on 12v!!!!

**chuckster57** · 03-05-2021, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBobIa

All running on 12v!!!!

Not needed. We only camp with full hook ups. Mama has to have her shows on Directv and my flame point Siamese cat needs AC so I’m good with 110V chairs.

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Next trailer will have Auto level and theatre seating that has heat and massage.

Auto level (which I wanted forever) is SO great. Now power reclining, heat and massage.....maybe not.

My son brought me a Merc SL 550 to look at and it had all that massaging, heating blah, blah. I thought I would wreck the car so told him to take it back. RV is sort of the same way. Don't like heat on my back; massaging puts me to sleep and I only want to do that in bed; the power recliners were meant for someone different than me - I dislike them. Great when you extend, horrible when you try to get out of them. Someone knock at the door? Wait an hour for it to "let you out". I've jumped out of it more times than not. Plus, for me, when I retract that recliner it actually compresses my body make me constantly try to "pull my body out of the crack" to keep from being compressed in the crack. Nah, I like that handle but hey! we all like what we like.

wiredgeorge · 03-05-2021, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Next trailer will have Auto level and theatre seating that has heat and massage.

I was at an RV dealer that had the theater seats with all the gimmicks and the blue ring where the controls were was too close to where my hand fell naturally and I kept vibrating and getting hot without intending to do so. Better take your favorite pooch and that pup sit on your lap for heat and vibration when they scratch.

blubuckaroo · 03-11-2021, 08:49 AM

We’re currently having the dinette area, of our slide, converted to theater seats. In our case, we have to supply 120 vac to the slide. I had the same
question though about only being able to run the chair on shore power. To fix this, the vendor is equipping ours with a battery back up that is supposed to operate the recliners through 110 cycles. These back ups fit into the back of the recliner, and are available online.

MarkEHansen · 03-11-2021, 09:18 AM

Why not get theater seats that don't require 120v AC power? The seats in my current trailer don't use any power.

blubuckaroo · 03-11-2021, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkEHansen

Why not get theater seats that don't require 120v AC power? The seats in my current trailer don't use any power.

That’s what I thought too, when er first started shopping for our seats. We found the mechanical recliners have predetermined positions of stoping, but the power recliners have infinite positions where you can stop the recline.

dutchmensport · 03-11-2021, 10:55 AM

Ya'all do know, the reason THEY put theater seats with lighted blue rings, massages, reclining feature, and heat, is because they are promoting the "glitz" so the average consumer will never notice the shoddy manufacturing of the camper itself.

They've learned, just like these home renovation television shows explain, the bones of the house can be falling down around their ears. The foundation can be crumbling, the roof can be leaking, and it can have rats and roaches everywhere. But, if the bed in the master bedroom is made up elegant and the room is staged JUST RIGHT, potential home buyers will NEVER look at the structure and focus on how pretty the bed looks, and end up buying the house.

RV manufacturers do the same thing. (It's just something to think about).

On the other hand ... hey ... who says you actually have to "rough it" when you go camping? Soft bed, televisions, heat, water, stove, refrigerators, showers, you name it ... I don't think any of us sleep under our horse on the bare ground any more, eat wild berries, and drink water from a near by creek, now? Do we?

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