retract entry steps

[bandmbrown]

This is really a 2 part question.
The first part concerns the main and aux battery "on/off" switches on the ems panel. Does everybody turn these switches "OFF" when they store the coach.
Then part 2. If you turn the switches "off" how do you retract the entry steps upon exit.
Thanks
Bob

[Vegasdan]

I don't tun mine off but I'm not away from the coach for long, just a few days at a time. I guess if you are goint to turn it off I'd do so when inside and with the door closed and steps retracted, then jump.

[powerboatr]

this is what i do
close the door, then turn off the batteries, then open the door and carefully climb out of the rig, then close and lock the door
this way the steps stay in..
sometimes i bring along a small step to help my old bones up

[DiamondDan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerboatr this is what i do close the door, then turn off the batteries, then open the door and carefully climb out of the rig, then close and lock the door this way the steps stay in.. sometimes i bring along a small step to help my old bones up

My 08 Astoria must be wired differently - the step motor and sensor operate when the coach batteries are off.

What I do is to close the screen door only, reach through the opening in the screen door and turn off the coach batteries. It's not the world's most elegant solution, but it works for a coach like mine that has the coach battery disconnect reachable this way.

[Wayne M]

It really depends on your make model, and year. For my 2008 Winnebago Destination, I have to leave the chassis and house batteries turned on. I am constantly plugged into 110v so the Trik-l-Charge is charging both sets of batteries.

I do have to turn the step switch to the off position. If the steps are left on there is a constant voltage being applied that will drain the batteries if left on, so I also close the screen door, let the steps go in and reach through the screen and turn the steps off.

[PlayItForwrd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M It really depends on your make model, and year..

Yup.

Our Cruise-Air's steps won't budge if the house batteries are turned off...

Our Allegro's steps work regardless...

[powerboatr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDan My 08 Astoria must be wired differently - the step motor and sensor operate when the coach batteries are off. What I do is to close the screen door only, reach through the opening in the screen door and turn off the coach batteries. It's not the world's most elegant solution, but it works for a coach like mine that has the coach battery disconnect reachable this way.

sorry the first way is how i do my folks bounder.
the Tuscany is different i wired a switch in series to the ground on the step mag switch and flip it to off, the step retracts and i can do this while standing on the ground, it will kill power no matter which position the step switch on teh wall is switched to.

[phranc]

I use a fold up stool to ease entry when steps are retracted.

[TandW]

I don't worry about it. Would prefer there was no battery disconnect, 'cause it gets kicked off often due the position the manufacturer mounted it in.

[DutchStar38]

Our coach has a "Store/On" switch and when I select store then supposedly all battery power is disconnected. That is except for the entry steps. They always work.

[bandmbrown]

thanks for the replies. powerboater has a great idea for my situation.
turn off power with door closed then climb out. would not mind leaving the steps down but storage is tight and i'm afraid a neighbor might just clip them off.

[J. Ingram]

I extend the steps and then shut off the batteries and leave the steps extended.

[RV Mech Tech]

Some manufactures have a switch near the coach door that shuts power off to the steps only in addition to the main battery cut off switch(s) so that you can keep the steps out when you are using the RV and still keep the power on inside the RV - if you do not have one, find the power wire going to the step control module and put a switch in-line with that wire (near the coach screen door opening if possible) and you can control the operation of the steps independanty of the coach power switch - you can then open and close the coach door wthout the steps retracting - when you put the coach into storage step out, close the door, let the steps retract and then shut both switches off ( this can be done if the step switch is mounted near the opening of the coach screen door slide/opening- when you take the RV out of storage turn on the coach power, and then (making sure you are out of the way) turn the step power switch on -this is why the manufactures put these switches near the coach entrance door.