How to prevent steps from coming out

AvoJim · 09-17-2010, 06:38 PM

HI Everbody

Does anyone know an easy way to prevent the steps from coming out when you open the door. If I want to do some work in the battery compartment under the entrance step it would be very convenient to keep the slide out steps in. It just occurred to me that there might be a circuit breaker but I am not at the coach right now so I can't look. I thought about disconnecting the battery but the door has to be open to do that and the steps would already be out. I could crawl under the coach and discconect the step motor but that doesn't qualify as easy. I guess I could install a battery disconnect switch in another compartment but I'll bet the answer is simple and I will slap my forehead when someone gives it to me.

Thanks in advance
Jim

Richard S. · 09-17-2010, 06:57 PM

You can tape a small magnet over the contact on the door jamb.

SpursMVP · 09-17-2010, 07:05 PM

Our coach as a switch on the dash for the steps. You can mess with it so that the steps stay either up or down based upon your goals.

kennersonf · 09-17-2010, 08:01 PM

While inside the coach place the toggle switch in the position to cause the steps to retract when you close the door. With the steps retracted and the door closed, toggle the switch to the position to hold the steps open as if you were stopped somewhere. Now, when you open the door, the steps will not extend.

frankdamp · 09-17-2010, 08:51 PM

On our coachan 02 Forest River Georgetown 325, there's a switch panel alongside the door. One switch turns on the floor-level night lights, a second one turns the porch light on and a third one disables the steps in the "position last set". This is over-ridden when you turn the ignition on so that you don't drive off with the steps down, but it eliminates that "in-out" dance every time you open the door when you're docked.

Wouldn't be difficult to add a switch to duplicate that capability.

AvoJim · 09-17-2010, 09:30 PM

Fred K

Will try your procedure tomorrow and report back.

Jim

wa8yxm · 09-18-2010, 10:29 AM

I use a toggle switch on the door switch leads. Instructions in a neighboring thread.

AvoJim · 09-18-2010, 11:10 AM

Richard

I believe there are two sensors in my door jam, one covered in black plastic and one in white. Does the magnet go on both or one? I guess I will get a couple of magnets and experiment.

Jim

Richard S. · 09-18-2010, 12:09 PM

You just need one, try it you only have 2 chances.

AvoJim · 09-22-2010, 10:15 PM

Well I brought the coach home today (preparatory to taking it in for brake recall ) and looked for a circuit breaker that controls the steps. AHA! There it is in the circuit breaker panel below the main service box. Now all I have to do is pull it out....huh.....how do you get the darn thing out? I ask this question relying on the axiom that the only stupid question is the unasked question. I don't think I ever ran across a circuit breaker that couldn't be pulled. I never realised that there are "reset only" circuit breakers. I tried all the main service box circuit breaker and they didn't prevent the steps from coming out either. Finally I found a magnet and tried that. It works great. As I mentioned earlier there are two plastic covered "thingies" where the magnet sensor is located. One is white and one is black. I stuck a cabinet latching magnet on the white one and nothing happened. I put it on the black one and the stairs closed immediately. So, now with the magnet and a little duct tape to hold it it in place I can keep my steps closed while I work in the battery compartment. YEA!!!

After all this I noticed a sticker by the switch panel as you enter the coach. It says that if you turn on the ignition while the coach is parked the steps will retract. That is not true in my case ..but.. when I bought it the steps didn't work at all and it took the seller about a week to get them to go in and out. I think maybe they changed the wiring so it doesn't work as originally designed.
Anyway with the magnet I can deal with it. Thanks everbody for you help.
Jim

ChrisNiemann · 09-22-2010, 10:52 PM

on this subject... i have looked and looked and can not find...

is there a place that sells JUST THE SENSOR AND MAGNET... my sensor broke and left me with two wires and deployed steps, so i just hooked up these two wires to a toggle switch, down is deployed, up is retracted... but I would like them back to the way they are suppose to be... anyone know where to get this without buying a whole wiring harness...

Kwikee Steps, single step electric...