Steelsmith
Nampa, Idaho
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Joined: 10/20/2010
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Last year, when I purchased our 'new' MH ('94 Rexhall,33XL) I noticed that the steps had been 'crashed' at some point in the distant past. The whole assembly had seen better days, the 'repairs' were 'less than'. So it went on the list for replacement, in the future ...
An odd thing came up, while in discussion with the 2nd owner, the 1st owner had replaced the 12v chassis battery with a 12v 'deep-cycle' battery. The second owner had just replaced that battery with a normal 12v battery. I soon found out that having the MH plugged in to shore power, did not charge the chassis battery. Also, shutting off the chassis battery solenoid switch did not stop the drain from the 12v battery, just reduced it to a slower drain.
This fall I replaced the 'Kwikee-steps' with new ones. I've found that if the 12v chassis battery is'nt charged up, the steps don't retract when the solenoid switch is turned on. Furthermore, depending on the level of charge remaining in that battery, the steps may remain deployed even with the ignition on/diesel running! Found that out, when I picked up the MH from the local diesel shop, where I was having some repairs done and it wasn't plugged into a charger.
It was at night and my wife was following me home. I had no idea that the steps could be deployed and the MH driven (thought there was a safety device of some sort to prevent this).
When the 12v chassis battery is sufficiently charged, the steps do retract when the ignition is on/diesel running, but a low charge doesn't do this!
We were very fortunate in that my wife was able to alert me to the steps being down before they had contacted any immovable objects. I'm sure this is what happened to the original steps and the deep-cycle battery was his answer to the constant drain to the chassis battery. However, there was never an addition made to the charging system to maintain the battery in question.
I will now purchase a 'trick-l-start' to permanently install which will charge/maintain the chassis battery. There's a 110v outlet in the engine bay for the block heater, I can plug in the 'trick-l-start' there.
Sometimes it takes a while to really understand your RV. Hopefully you will, before you repeat the mistakes pervious owners have made and left for you to replicate again!
I hope this post will alert new owners of older MH's to this possible situation.
Dan Stevens
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PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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Would the steps retract if you push that little switch up under the dash, that uses the coach battery to boost the house battery?
I would think that the house batteries are the ones that activate the steps, and if they are low, you shouldn't expect the alternator to get enough to the battery to move the steps for awhile....after all, that alternator is also putting out amperage needed to run the engine and charge the start battery....the "overflow" power will go to charge up the house battery.....
At least that is the way I think it works.
Wouldn't the genset (powering the converter) work the steps? That is more direct.....but then again, if the battery is really down, it's going to suck the juice away from the steps.
Options may be to install a battery cut-out switch. Then the battery can't drain. The RV will have several things that will draw power from the house battery...even when you think things are OFF....the CO2 detector, smoke detectors (if wired in that way) are examples.
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris / GS MJ
Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie, Tugger & Beau 
RIP: Cookie, Foxy & Gidget @ Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293
The Pets
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J Walker
Oakton, Va
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Your troubleshooting might be correct but unless you have more info than in your post there may be more to the problem. I can't see how you could have low voltage with the engine running. I have always seen the battery voltage jump to near normal once the alternator starts charging. Two other things to check are the magnetic door switch and a loose power connector. The magnetic door switches do go bad. You can test it by shorting the two wires connected to the door frame side. A poor power connector might take longer to find.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
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Steelsmith
Nampa, Idaho
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Joined: 10/20/2010
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On my MH, the chassis battery does power the steps, (not the house batteries). Regardless of how I think it should work, if the 12v chassis battery is down, even with the diesel running the steps remain deployed.
Everything works as it should here at my home, as long as I keep a 2amp charge going to the chassis battery. If I don't keep a light charge on it, in a couple of weeks the steps tell me they're not happy.
I replaced the magnetic door switch when I replaced the steps themselves a month or so ago. It all works fine, as long as the chassis battery is charged.
Just thought someone else might benefit from my experience.
Dan Stevens
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Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
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Joined: 02/07/2008
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Dan, my coach has an idiot light on the dash to tell me the steps are out. Perhaps yours does too, but the lamp is burned out due to being on all the time. You might check that....Dennis
Dennis and Debi
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dcbrewer
kentucky
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Joined: 01/17/2006
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Mine work off the chassis battery also. If the chassis battery is low the steps will not come in all the way, but when I use the cross over switch to start engine the steps retract fully and work good when engine is running.
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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Just a note... the trick-l-start doesn't require 110vac. There are just three wires.. one to the pos pole of the house battery, one to the pos pole of the chassis battery and one to ground. Simple.
With engine running, the alternator should charge both sets of batteries and with sufficient amperage to pull in the steps immediately. I think you may have more of a problem than you think.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
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RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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Acampingwewillgo
USA
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Joined: 11/15/2002
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Im always having an intermitten issue with the steps retracting when the coach is started and the door closed. I verify this 99% of the time but this last vacation, I didnt this one time. Of course as I approached a construction zone and narrow single lane traffic, I thought about it. Just then, my steps struck a Large pilon. I figured, "Oh great"...to make this long story shorter, I stopped, the step was bent out of shape, I pushed and forced it back into shape and its worked perfectly since! Go Figure!
96 Vogue Prima Vista 37' CAT 3176B
Our Babies: Mollie, Rubie, Cassie and Maggie, all rescued Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I do not know about the "Old Style" Kwikee steps as I have a new style controller, however the much vaulted Ignition Interlock on them does not work the way I think it should.
How I think it should.. IF I have the steps locked out and the door closed, and crank up the coach, RETRACT.
How they work.. IF I have the steps locked out and the door closed, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS RUNNING they remain out till the door is opened and reclosed.
THIS, is a programming fault near as I can tell.. And I blame Kwikee for it.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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Steelsmith
Nampa, Idaho
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Joined: 10/20/2010
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Sorry for the confusion regarding the 'trick-l-start' (not what I intended to list) 'battery-minder' is what I meant to say. It is 110v and can be permanently installed as a maintinence devise @1.33amps charge rate. That's what I intend to use for my chassis/start battery by itself.
Dennis, I don't believe that there is an idiot light for the steps being out, if there is, it like yours is burnt out from being deployed.
If you read the various replys posted above, you will probably come to the conclusion, (as have I) that the only thing consistant about MH wiring theory is that there must be wiring! Where it goes and how it acts/controls the miriad electronic devices onboard a MH is determined by the system designers. I have found that these people will change designs just to justify their existance on the payrole. They are not concerned with if their design change improves the whole system, but if it addresses their concern to a single segment of that system. They seldom care how the whole system operates, just their assigned area. It's like building by commitee! By the time it's done nothing works quite the way it should because compromises have been made across the board.
This is just MHO and is worth exactly what you have paid for it!
Dan Stevens
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