HWH Steps Sensor Wet

[righellis]

When the HWH three-step hydraulic steps sensors get wet, they don't let the steps go all the way out. Eventually it dries out.

We had a light rain and mine acted up. see pic. I think I have a gap in the seals around my sensor. It is three-years old and we are full timers, so it gets a slot of sun.

Question. Can I silicone seal the tiny gap and the sensor still work?

Thanks.

[Kevin Bell]

Originally Posted by righellis

When the HWH three-step hydraulic steps sensors get wet, they don't let the steps go all the way out. Eventually it dries out.

We had a light rain and mine acted up. see pic. I think I have a gap in the seals around my sensor. It is three-years old and we are full timers, so it gets a slot of sun.

Question. Can I silicone seal the tiny gap and the sensor still work?

Thanks.

You could seal the moisture in and guarantee future failure, but why not just replace the sensor? If it's the one on front of step it's the shin sensor. If underneath, curb sensor. Different part numbers.

[righellis]

Originally Posted by Kevin Bell

You could seal the moisture in and guarantee future failure, but why not just replace the sensor? If it's the one on front of step it's the shin sensor. If underneath, curb sensor. Different part numbers.

It has dried out and all is working again, thus thinking to seal it now that it is dry.

[Suburbazine]

Typically once wet, these sensors have a very short future. The sensor itself is not actually intended for outdoor exposed use, it's at most an "outdoor covered" use. The manufacturer of the sensor even specifically recommends not installing it where water may be present ever.

Also, adding silicone to the sensor can actually cause it to malfunction into a stuck closed state.


And although it's not recommended, I just cut mine off entirely. You know it can fail into an open state and not detect anything? Just expedite the process and know it is not functional. It beats failing into a closed state all the time.

[righellis]

Originally Posted by Suburbazine

Typically once wet, these sensors have a very short future. The sensor itself is not actually intended for outdoor exposed use, it's at most an "outdoor covered" use. The manufacturer of the sensor even specifically recommends not installing it where water may be present ever.

Also, adding silicone to the sensor can actually cause it to malfunction into a stuck closed state.


And although it's not recommended, I just cut mine off entirely. You know it can fail into an open state and not detect anything? Just expedite the process and know it is not functional. It beats failing into a closed state all the time.

Disabling is something I have wondered about. We are 100% careful when the extend and if they look like they are going to hit something we close the door immediately.

You say 'cut off'. Is it as simple as unplugging it or is there some wiring tweaking needed?

[Suburbazine]

Originally Posted by righellis

Disabling is something I have wondered about. We are 100% careful when the extend and if they look like they are going to hit something we close the door immediately.

You say 'cut off'. Is it as simple as unplugging it or is there some wiring tweaking needed?

You can literally just snip the wires right where they come out the front of the step. Make sure they don't touch each other else the step stops working. If you want to do it right, just unplug them.


The curb sensors (the ball plunger switches on both sides), on the other hand, have to stay connected else the step stops working.

[righellis]

Originally Posted by Suburbazine

You can literally just snip the wires right where they come out the front of the step. Make sure they don't touch each other else the step stops working. If you want to do it right, just unplug them.


The curb sensors (the ball plunger switches on both sides), on the other hand, have to stay connected else the step stops working.

Ok, you really hit on all my queries perfectly. I cannot find anything that would be the curb sensor on the bottom of the lowest step. The bottom of mine and the 2020 Essex next door don't seem to have one, BUT I obviously don't know what I am looking for. Can you send a pic of your curb sensor?

[Suburbazine]

Originally Posted by righellis

Ok, you really hit on all my queries perfectly. I cannot find anything that would be the curb sensor on the bottom of the lowest step. The bottom of mine and the 2020 Essex next door don't seem to have one, BUT I obviously don't know what I am looking for. Can you send a pic of your curb sensor?

The curb sensor is actually built into the slide mechanism on the 2nd step on both sides. It just checks to see if slide rail pack is moving straight or if it gets twisted. If you lift the bottom of the front step, you can see how the plunger switches work (and sometimes hear them click). These sensors will trigger for anything of substantial mass (the ground, a ball, a human, etc) that the steps hit, not just curbs. It might not feel good, but these will keep the steps from mauling you if you fall in front of them while they're deploying.

https://prnt.sc/m0h0Neu6r9kv
https://prnt.sc/q5RdDHKK2Gz-


The part you're wanting to remove is the shin sensor, it is really good at sensing legs but not much else (the bumpers on the ends of the step prevent it from sensing curbs).

[righellis]

Originally Posted by Suburbazine

The curb sensor is actually built into the slide mechanism on the 2nd step on both sides. It just checks to see if slide rail pack is moving straight or if it gets twisted. If you lift the bottom of the front step, you can see how the plunger switches work (and sometimes hear them click). These sensors will trigger for anything of substantial mass that the steps hit, not just curbs. It might not feel good, but these will keep the steps from mauling you if you fall in front of them while they're deploying.

https://prnt.sc/m0h0Neu6r9kv
https://prnt.sc/q5RdDHKK2Gz-


The part you're wanting to remove is the shin sensor, it is really good at sensing legs but not much else (the bumpers on the ends of the step prevent it from sensing curbs).

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I see them on my coach.

[righellis]

If I choose to change the shin sensor, it appears that I have to detach the actual step from the side frame. That true?

[FledCali]

Originally Posted by righellis

If I choose to change the shin sensor, it appears that I have to detach the actual step from the side frame. That true?

There is a screw in lower left corner of the front step, if you remove that screw the sensor plug is tucked into there. When they replaced mine it was just stuck on with 3M tape that was on the backside of the sensor strip.

[righellis]

Ordered new shin sensor. $350ish. I'll keep it as a spare until my current on acts up too much.

[Suburbazine]

Originally Posted by righellis

Ordered new shin sensor. $350ish. I'll keep it as a spare until my current on acts up too much.

You could save money by skipping the 600% markup and buy direct from the OEM


https://www.tapeswitch.com/store/pro....php?prod=1900