Garmin makes its RV touchscreen in two versions, SERV and SERV+, each in a 7" and a 10" size. They look the same from the front and have the same outer dimensions, so the names cause a lot of confusion. The difference is behind the glass. A SERV+ has digital switching built in, so it can power lights, pumps and fans itself. A SERV is a control-and-monitoring display: it runs systems that something else switches. This guide explains that difference, then the 7" vs 10" choice, so you order the right one first time.
The short answer
- Choose SERV+ if the display itself has to switch circuits. It has 5 configurable inputs and 6 high-side PWM outputs, so a small rig can run lights, a pump and fans with no separate switching module.
- Choose SERV if your coach already switches its loads with an EmpirBus module or another compatible digital switching system, and you need a screen to control and monitor it, or to replace a SERV that was there already.
- Choose 10" for a main control point with lots of controls on a page. Choose 7" for a smaller wall, or as a second screen.
What both displays do
Garmin builds both around the same idea: one screen in place of a row of physical switches. Garmin lists these features for both versions:
- Touch control of the RV's systems, with portrait or landscape mounting and minimal mounting depth.
- Voice control with "OK Garmin". The owner's manual gives examples such as "OK Garmin, kitchen light brighter". It also says the device must be configured by the vehicle manufacturer for voice to control equipment, and not every command works in every vehicle.
- The Garmin RV Controls app, so a phone or tablet can control and monitor the system over the RV's Wi-Fi.
- Video from compatible IP security cameras on the screen.
- Integration with Garmin, Fusion and EmpirBus products. Garmin's SERV+ press release also names JL Audio.
Both use a CAN interface to reach devices on the vehicle and an Ethernet interface to talk to other devices, and Garmin's manual says neither interface can be turned off. Both have a microSD slot that takes cards up to 2 TB.
Where SERV and SERV+ differ
On garmin.com the SERV+ page carries the full power and switching specs, while the SERV page lists only size, weight, resolution and mounting. The SERV / SERV+ owner's manual gives each one its own specifications, and that is where the real differences show up:
| SERV | SERV+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in switching | No | Yes: 6 high-side PWM outputs, 1 to 10 A each |
| Inputs on the display | None listed | 8 input channels: 5 configurable analog/digital, RV-C +/- and LIN |
| Input voltage | 10 to 32 V DC | 10 to 16 V DC |
| Fuse | See the install instructions in the box | 30 A |
| Maximum current at 12 V | 0.5 A (7"), 0.75 A (10") | 30 A, including the output loads |
| Operating temperature | 14 to 140°F (-10 to 60°C) | 14 to 131°F (-10 to 55°C) |
| Weight | 0.85 lb (7"), 1.48 lb (10") | 1.00 lb (7"), 1.6 lb (10") |
| In the box | 3-pin power cable, trim bezel, mounting hardware | 2-pin power cable, CAN termination connector, trim bezel, mounting hardware |
| Wiring harnesses | Not used (the harnesses are SERV+ only) | Output harness (6-pin) and input/output harness (8-pin), sold separately |
The SERV figures come from the owner's manual. Garmin's install guide for the SERV gives a slightly different weight and fuse size, so follow the documents that come in the box for fusing.
What "built-in switching" means on the SERV+
A traditional RV runs 12 V from the fuse panel, through a rocker switch, to the light (our guide to replacing rocker switches with digital switching covers the change in detail). With digital switching, the switch only sends a signal. A switching output then powers the load and protects it electronically. On a SERV+, six of those outputs are inside the display:
- Outputs: 6 high-side PWM channels, each 1 to 10 A. PWM lets a channel dim lights rather than only switching them on and off.
- Two current limits apply together. If two channels run above 8 A, the other four must stay at 5 A or less. The whole display is also limited to 30 A. Six channels at 10 A would be 60 A, so you cannot load every channel fully. Add up the real loads and keep the total under 30 A.
- Inputs: 5 configurable inputs that read a switch (digital) or a sensor (0 to 16 V, or 0 to 1,500 ohm resistance, such as a tank sender). Input 5 is limited to supply voltage plus 0.5 V. The input/output harness also carries the RV-C and LIN data buses (see RV-C vs NMEA 2000).
Garmin's own wording is that SERV+ has "5 input channels and 6 output channels", and that pairing it with EmpirBus systems makes the number of inputs and outputs "almost endless". When six outputs aren't enough, add an EmpirBus Connect 50 module (see adding circuits with a Connect 50).
When a SERV is the right choice
Garmin's SERV page says it controls and monitors onboard systems and mentions "aligning with third-party onboard systems". The owner's manual says the display monitors and controls circuits through an EmpirBus digital switching system or another compatible one. So a SERV makes sense when:
- Your coach already has EmpirBus modules, or another compatible switching system, and you want a screen in another room.
- You are replacing a failed SERV, not a SERV+.
- You are building a larger system around a Connect 50 and want the screen only for control.
Not sure which one you have? Check the label on the back of the old display for the Garmin part number. The 7" SERV is 010-02763-10 and the 10" SERV is 010-02764-10. The 7" SERV+ is 010-02763-00 and the 10" SERV+ is 010-02764-00.
7" or 10"?
| 7" | 10" | |
|---|---|---|
| Outside size (W x H x D) | 8.24 x 4.85 x 1.52 in | 11.07 x 6.94 x 1.52 in |
| Viewable display (W x H) | 6.03 x 3.55 in | 8.57 x 5.37 in |
| Resolution | 1024 x 600 (WSVGA) | 1280 x 800 (WXGA) |
The depth is the same, about 1.5 in, so the face size is the real decision. The 10" fits more controls on a page and is easier to read from across the cabin. The 7" fits between cabinets and window frames. Garmin says you can network several screens together for more than one control point, so you could put a 10" in the main living area and a 7" by the door or in the bedroom. Measure the wall, and check what is behind it: Garmin's install guide calls for a cut-out from a template, room behind the panel for the cables, and a vertical surface, not a flat horizontal one.
Replacing a display in a coach that came with one
The controls you see on the screen come from the coach builder's setup. Garmin's manual says the available controls "vary with each OEM installation". If the old display still powers on, Garmin's install guide describes saving its configuration (switching pages, wallpaper, orientation and more) to a microSD card and loading it on another compatible display. Garmin warns that the installer-level vehicle integration settings are meant for the original setup and should only be changed by the OEM. If the old display is dead, ask your coach builder for the configuration before you swap it.
Shop the displays
- Garmin SERV+ 7" with built-in switching
- Garmin SERV+ 10" with built-in switching
- Garmin SERV 7" control panel
- Garmin SERV 10" control panel
Then see what else you need to install a SERV or SERV+. Every part ships from our warehouse in Upland, California. Browse the full Garmin SERV range. Found it cheaper? We'll beat it.
FAQ
Can a SERV switch circuits if I add harnesses?
No. The SERV+ output and input/output harnesses are listed for the SERV+ only. A SERV controls circuits that an EmpirBus module or another compatible switching system switches.
Can I run my RV from my phone?
Yes, with the Garmin RV Controls app on the RV's Wi-Fi network. The manual lists a maximum of 10 connected Wi-Fi devices.
Does voice control work out of the box?
It has to be turned on in Settings, and the system must be configured for your vehicle's equipment. Garmin notes that not every command works in every vehicle and that voice is not available in all languages.
Can I mix SERV and SERV+ screens?
Garmin says multiple screens can be networked together. Tell us what is already in your coach and we will check that the combination makes sense before you order.