Adding IGN hot feed to Kwikee steps
Present generation Kwikee steps have an ignition sensing wire. ***IF*** there is power to the Kwikee steps coming in on the red wire, and if the yellow ignition sense wire is connected to an IGN source, the steps will retract when the ignition key is turned to IGN.
***HOWEVER***, if there is no regular power going to the steps because (in my case) the house battery disconnect switch is OFF, the steps will stay out when the ignition is turned on. The Kwikee yellow ignition sense wire (unfortunately!) does not provide power to move the steps. It only signals the controller to move the steps if power is present via the normal source. I would like to add power to the red wire when the IGN is energized, so that the unit can retract the steps even if the house battery switch is off.
Obviously, one way would be to power the Kwikee controller at all times. I tested it and it draws 9 mA in the condition of powered, but controller switch off. If possible, I'd rather not add a draw to either battery.
Following is the Kwikee wiring diagram. Now, on my mini MH, when the engine is running, a solenoid connects my chassis and house batteries, to charge the house battery. Notice I said running, not simply IGN energized. Given that, would I be creating any problem by adding an appropriately sized and fused wire as shown by the dashed line in the diagram? I can't think of any issue other than it will, when the IGN is on and the battery switch is on, tie the two batteries together. But once the engine is running, they are already tied together by the solenoid as described above. So am I okay to do this?
***HOWEVER***, if there is no regular power going to the steps because (in my case) the house battery disconnect switch is OFF, the steps will stay out when the ignition is turned on. The Kwikee yellow ignition sense wire (unfortunately!) does not provide power to move the steps. It only signals the controller to move the steps if power is present via the normal source. I would like to add power to the red wire when the IGN is energized, so that the unit can retract the steps even if the house battery switch is off.
Obviously, one way would be to power the Kwikee controller at all times. I tested it and it draws 9 mA in the condition of powered, but controller switch off. If possible, I'd rather not add a draw to either battery.
Following is the Kwikee wiring diagram. Now, on my mini MH, when the engine is running, a solenoid connects my chassis and house batteries, to charge the house battery. Notice I said running, not simply IGN energized. Given that, would I be creating any problem by adding an appropriately sized and fused wire as shown by the dashed line in the diagram? I can't think of any issue other than it will, when the IGN is on and the battery switch is on, tie the two batteries together. But once the engine is running, they are already tied together by the solenoid as described above. So am I okay to do this?
