The RV Industry Association (RVIA) announced its RV-C website integration with the RVIA website is now complete. Members can now access the RV-C Protocol directly through the Standards & Regulation section of RVIA.org, making it easier than ever to find the tools and resources you need.
The RV-C Area of the website includes:
- Current RV‐C specification;
- Current RV Test Procedures;
- Current DGN Table;
- News and Resources on participating and processes for adapting RV-C;
- RV‐C technical forum;
- And more!
In order to comment on a submission, you must be logged into your RVIA.org member account.
If you need to set up an account, please review “How to Create Your RV industry Association Account.”
RV-C Overview:
RV-C Introduction
RV-C was created by the RV Industry Association to provide a standardized, open communication protocol for recreational vehicles, built on the proven CAN bus framework. Its purpose is to enable seamless interoperability between multi-vendor RV components—such as lighting, HVAC, power, and chassis systems—while simplifying wiring, diagnostics, and control. By replacing proprietary and incompatible systems, RV-C reduces manufacturing complexity, lowers costs, and allows for easier integration and maintenance across diverse RV platforms. This industry-wide standard ensures that modern RVs can operate more efficiently, reliably, and intelligently through a unified data and control network. Many features that would be impossible to implement without networking become economical and easy using RV-C.
Monitoring, Control, Automation, Troubleshooting, and Diagnostics
By connecting key devices, RV-C allows RV components to behave more intelligently. They can share information and coordinate their operation. They can provide troubleshooting information to the customer or service technician. These components can also be monitored and controlled remotely.
RV-C’s Two Main Systems
First, it is a hardware specification that allows RV product designers to add inexpensive circuitry to their products to access the network and tell the RV builder how to connect these components. This specification is based on CAN – Control Area Network, which is the same hardware used by almost all modern automobiles and has been proven to be reliable in the harshest environments.
The second part is a language, or more precisely, a dictionary for all products to use while talking on this network. This language is what separates RV-C from other CAN networks. It is specifically designed to address the unique needs of the modern RV.
RV-C is a Recommended Practice as Approved by the RV Industry Association Board of Directors
It is not mandatory for either the RV manufacturer or supplier to implement RV-C, and compliance is not enforced under the RV Industry Association inspection program. The RV Industry Association established a Technical Subcommittee on CAN that was given the task of developing this RV-C protocol, and this Subcommittee continues to manage and expand it. The RV Industry Association’s role helps ensure that further expansion of the RV-C remains transparent. The RV Industry Association has placed the RV-C online to be an open, public protocol.
RV-C Uses Two Wires to Connect All Devices on the Network
These wires form a digital data bus, similar to the Ethernet used to connect PCs, but designed for a harsher environment. This data pair is run through the RV, and short drop connections are run from this backbone to each network device. A 120-ohm resistor is put on each end of the data backbone harness to absorb signal reflections. RV-C differs from most protocols in that every device is considered equal. There is no “master” node or server. Because every device can talk directly to every other device on the network, the RV designer can create multiple control and monitoring points for any and every device. Because RV-C provides a standardized language, components don’t even have to know the make or model of any other product to interact.
Components Interact Intelligently Once Connected
Potentially, every device can read the status of the AC and DC power, climate control, chassis (including the engine and transmission), and more. They can use this information to adjust their behavior or act automatically according to the context. They may moderate their power consumption according to the battery level or the AC power source. They may change their operation according to whether the RV is moving, a slide room is extended, or the waste tanks are full. All of this intelligence resides entirely in the software – making it inexpensive to add and simple to configure and customize.
RV-C Is Adaptable to New Products and Technologies
The first RV-C protocol document was published in 2004, and it has been expanding ever since. As new appliances and component devices are introduced to the RV industry and new features and technologies are invented, the new ideas have been incorporated seamlessly into RV-C. The process for expanding the protocol is open, public, and fast – so RV-C is always at the leading edge of the industry.
RV-C Wireless Available Soon
WRV-C is a wireless extension of RV-C, the product of a multi-year effort by the RV Industry Association Wireless Working Group. The group released the initial drafts in 2025 for review by the industry and expects to present official documents in Q2 2026. WRV-C builds on the existing RV-C protocol, making the integration of Bluetooth, Wifi, and other wireless devices as seamless as possible. WRV-C provides a comprehensive security model comparable to popular home automation standards, but with the performance and interoperability of wired RV-C. Secure, flexible, easy to install, and user-friendly – WRV-C will be a worthy addition to the RV-C protocol.
Compatibility Testing Now Available
Another multi-year project reached fruition in 2025 as the RV-C Compatibility Working Group released its first set of compatibility tests. These tests define step-by-step procedures for verifying that a device properly implements the key elements of RV-C and therefore will work as expected on a live RV network. Developers may test their products manually, following the processes given in the document, or use automated testing tools that are available from private vendors. The 2025 release covers the core RV-C requirements for network integrity and diagnostics – the most essential elements of compatibility. The working group continues to work, periodically releasing new tests for specific types of devices – the first 2026 release covering the chassis and safety interlocks.
RV Industry Association members are strongly encouraged to participate in the development process. As with all RV Industry Association technical committees, the task group relies on the expertise of the RV Industry Association membership to ensure that it gets all the details right.
Register to Get Updates Prior to Release
You don’t have to join a task group – you can have every potential update or amendment sent to you by email just by registering with the RV-C Administrator. The committee invites your review and comment – your input, and the input and efforts of all the engineers and experts within our membership, are what will keep RV-C growing and working for everyone.
