Slide Tool Switch Box. The Plot Thickens!

[Lug_Nut]

A couple of weeks ago I posted somewhere, which I now can't find, that the slide test tool that Newmar used to sell was no longer available to owners. That original informatiopn came from Rick, (Latitude) when he tried to buy one last month at the factory.

Well, I just received a letter from Newmar that basically states that this tool was not meant for use other than a technician and therefore could be returned for full refund. Apparently, the tool has caused some issues when being operated by some possibly mechanically challenged owners. Oh...Oh! Oooops!

Anyway, it goes on to state that it is up to me whether I wish to keep it or not. It must be a semi release of liability, the letter I mean.

Amyway, I guess it will come as no surprise that I will not be returning it. It's now even more valuable than it was before. Kind of an outlaw, of sorts.

I've never had to use it, but now Latitude, who is up passed Huntsville, Ontario, sure wishes he had one. One of his slides will not open, and I'm sure one of these Bad Boys would soon get that happening. Unfortunitely he is about 120 miles from me.

So now that the Slide switch tool is an outlaw, perhaps I should put a mask on it. Then, when it helps someone in the field that has a stuck or in-operative slide or lock, they will look at each other as it rides away, and say, "Who was that masked switch box?"

What I paid $135 for, is now worth it's weight in gold, or maybe even more, like diesel.

The plot....Thickens!

Peter

[Lug_Nut]

A couple of weeks ago I posted somewhere, which I now can't find, that the slide test tool that Newmar used to sell was no longer available to owners. That original informatiopn came from Rick, (Latitude) when he tried to buy one last month at the factory.

Well, I just received a letter from Newmar that basically states that this tool was not meant for use other than a technician and therefore could be returned for full refund. Apparently, the tool has caused some issues when being operated by some possibly mechanically challenged owners. Oh...Oh! Oooops!

Anyway, it goes on to state that it is up to me whether I wish to keep it or not. It must be a semi release of liability, the letter I mean.

Amyway, I guess it will come as no surprise that I will not be returning it. It's now even more valuable than it was before. Kind of an outlaw, of sorts.

I've never had to use it, but now Latitude, who is up passed Huntsville, Ontario, sure wishes he had one. One of his slides will not open, and I'm sure one of these Bad Boys would soon get that happening. Unfortunitely he is about 120 miles from me.

So now that the Slide switch tool is an outlaw, perhaps I should put a mask on it. Then, when it helps someone in the field that has a stuck or in-operative slide or lock, they will look at each other as it rides away, and say, "Who was that masked switch box?"

What I paid $135 for, is now worth it's weight in gold, or maybe even more, like diesel.

The plot....Thickens!

Peter

[cwg]

Peter, I am also an owner of the slide tool from Newmar. Perhaps we should form a chapter of the "outlaws" group of the tool possessors! Glad to say I have not had to use mine so far, either.

[Bigblock]

Sign me up for your outlaw posse Chuck.Slideouts won't know what hit them.

[Latitude]

Yes Peter

When I talked to you Fri night I would of Gladly paid Double that,

You and Chuck could be the Ghost Busters of Slide Gremlins

Who Ya Gonna Call??? CW and the Doctor

Rick

[RVDude]

Guess I'll have to paint a skull-and-crossbones on my outlawed slide tool.

Though I have not needed it, I have played with it and it works perfectly. Just don't forget to make sure everything is correct before you move the slide! It would definitly ruin ones day (not to mention what would happen to the coach) to mess up with that totally manual tool. But in the event of a circuit board failure, I wouldn't want to be wrenching those slides closed with a ratchet!

[Latitude]

Peter and Jeff

The 'Tool' Does it put power directly to the slide motor??? Bypassing the safeties???

In my situation with Lock arms off Could I of put 12 Volt power directly to the slide motor??? and moved slide??

Are there some kind of contacts or proximity switches behind the Lock arms to tell Dora to put power to the Motor???

Rick



Rick

[rebelsbeach]

Having had a coach where all four slides came in and out on their own several times before a committee of onlookers recommended hitting the 12v override, I can assure you those slides can do some damage as they come in and out.

We had several things crushed and damaged, not to mention a few years scared off the life of my daughter....

Pretty funny afterwards, when I explained to my daughter that all she really needed to do was have stayed on the bed and rode the thing in and out.... With all four "Lucy's" belching their commands it was a bit unnerving in the coach, let alone ALL the lights were blinking off and on....

My issue was a bit different, as it was a small cigarette pack sized controller that had failed, but my post was meant to reiterate the POWER of those slides.

[Lug_Nut]

Rick, Yes it is capable of powering the slides or locks directly, regardless of their position to each other.

Peter

[Latitude]

Rebelsbeach
I hear Ya about "The Power"
But not sure if it is a Good or Evil Power!!!!!

Peter

I am going to ask about the direct power to the slide motor when at Camp Newmar next week!!!

Rick

[RVDude]

Lat - Best to ask, but I don't see any issue with direct power to the slide motor if the locks are properly positioned. However, I suspect Camp Newmar will tell you to slap a 5/8 socket on a ratchet on the "nut" on the slide motor itself (it's actually attached to the drive gear) and be prepared for a lot of wrenching to open/close it manually. They say you don't need to release the torque clutch, but it will take some muscle to ratchet it.

[Latitude]

RVDude

I am sure I could get power to the motot!!

As for direction re: putting Slide In or Out??

Would the reversing polarity change the direction of motor rotation???

Rick

[Lug_Nut]

Rick, I'm thinking no. But, perhaps reverse polarity to the control board or proximity sensor may cause such an intermittent operation. For the answer if this is possible, we would need one of our techie gearheads. So, Jeff, you out there?

Also, in speaking to Rick today, I learned that the three lights (LED's) on the fugitive control box, can give the code to what has failed. This is done by being off, on or flashing. He learned that from Newmar's tech's. I will attempt to get the exact sequence to be able to translate when I visit Newmar on the 6th of next month.

Peter

[RVDude]

Since you'll be zapping power to the motor right at the motor you'll be able to see with just a touch of power which way the slide is moving. Might take a touch or two to figure out. But just touch the power to figure out direction - make sure locks are released. Another thought is to voltmeter probe the wires of another working slide to see which polarity is "in" versus "out."

Since it is a DC motor, reversing polarity will reverse the motor unlike an AC motor. I thought there was another thread on this intermitent reversed wiring to the controller problem? Maybe I need more drinks. Well, I take that back, I always need more drinks.

I just can't see how a reversed polarity to the controller will result in an intermittent operation. Just doesn't make any electrical sense to me. The controller should either work or not given its wiring. Seems "intermittent" would be caused by a loose connection somewhere. Jiggling the plugs/controller could certainly have jiggled a loose connection, loose solder joint on the board, loose circuit board connector link, loose noggin, loose slot machines, etc. and the jiggling made good on that bad joint - intermittently.

So me thinks it is a loose something not a reversed polarity. Try swapping the controllers and see if the intermittent issue moves to another slide. That'll prove something...