Anyone else have this issue? It's been over a month since our last trip in our Class C. We have to close the step due to how much space it takes up on our driveway. I'd say on average it's used twice a week. Went to open it today and nothing. Checked the battery and it was only putting out 4.5 volts. Got it recharged and tested and it's ok.. it was new this year. Checked for parasitic draw and nothing.. maybe .06 amps on occasion. The steps took 5-7 amps whenever it was used. Of course the start from the rear battery didn't work.. doesn't surprise me with how screwed up everything else has been.Has anyone rewired electric steps to the rear battery? Doesn't seem like a hard task... I'll probably put it out a switch so I could run it from either. It's seem like it is getting some power from the rear battery because it won't work when that battery is removed also. Anything I'm not thinking of?

A simpler solution would be to add a trik-l-start or similar battery maintainer on the chassis battery. That would compensate for the the occasional use of the step and the usual draw (radio memory etc) on the chassis battery. Ours is permanently wired in and plugged in to a MH 120v circuit, keeping the battery charged when camping as well.This cured our problem of a dead chassis battery after two weeks similar parked/stored usage like yours. Our c-class is plugged in 24/7 when it stored a home. Beverley and Kenedit to correct grammer/spelling

Excellent suggestion! Not sure why I didn't think of that. I'm going to try getting something similiar to this:http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-BM3B-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B0051D3MP6Won't have to put it under the hood and there's 2 12v outlets in the dash. Looks like the cords are long enough I can put it close to a outlet.

A correctly functioning Electric step will NOT draw any current when retracted or extended. Doug

Your step motor's a Ford power window motor. You should be able to run it many many times before it drew the battery down. The step controller shuts the motor down based on current draw. In other words, the motor should stop when the step can't move farther, up or down. But I'd still be sure the steps are lubed so they fully retract with ease.Our Escapade has a house battery switch right by the door. Are you turning the house battery OFF while parked? If you aren't, your battery's being drawn down "parasitically" by the LPG Detector and other stuff that's powered unless you turn the battery off.EDIT: Oh, Wait! Your steps are wired to the Chassis Battery? Odd that Jayco would wire one Escapade one way and the other another way. I can see their logic in Chassis Battery. However you manage to get the engine running, alternator power would close the steps. If I started the engine and had a dead house battery, I guess they wouldn't close...

This is from the kwikee manual and explains why some think the step could cause a draw. It cannot if functioning to specs. DougIf the power wire to the step is disconnectedfrom its source and reconnected,a spark is common. This is caused by themomentary charging of the control unitand does not necessarily indicate thesystem is staying on, which would causea drain on the battery. If battery drain issuspected, observe the understep light (ifso equipped) while the step is extending.The power switch must be on for theunderstep light to operate.

Electric steps and battery draw | Good Sam Community

dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 22, 2013
Salvo wrote:
I believe my step controller draws 23 mA continuous (parasitic) current. It's my largest chassis battery parasitic draw.

It's a bad idea to rewire house battery to power steps. You'll lose your steps if house battery is dead and you take off with steps extended.

I use my solar controller's secondary output to keep the chassis battery charged. It's time to think about solar.

Sal

dougrainer wrote:
A correctly functioning Electric step will NOT draw any current when retracted or extended. Doug

READ my second post and it is direct from the manual. Doug
pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 22, 2013
Hi,

I would add the trik-l-start's big brother Amp-l-start

I'd also look at solar. Your batteries will love it and return the kinder treatment with exceptional life span.
ericsmith32
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
If your seeing 23mA you must have something wrong.. perhaps a stuck relay etc. We're getting solar all around eventually. Right now due to financial restraints it's either modify or use.. I'm choosing the use!
Salvo
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
Then the manual is wrong. I stand by my measurements! My chassis battery quiescent current is 37 mA. That breaks down to:

Fuse #1 (Espar heater) = 7 mA
Fuse #3 (Instrument panel) = 5 mA
Step Controller = 22 mA
Unaccounted = 3 mA

Measurements are from '07 Navion (Sprinter based class C MH)

Sal

dougrainer wrote:
Salvo wrote:
I believe my step controller draws 23 mA continuous (parasitic) current. It's my largest chassis battery parasitic draw.

It's a bad idea to rewire house battery to power steps. You'll lose your steps if house battery is dead and you take off with steps extended.

I use my solar controller's secondary output to keep the chassis battery charged. It's time to think about solar.

Sal

dougrainer wrote:
A correctly functioning Electric step will NOT draw any current when retracted or extended. Doug

READ my second post and it is direct from the manual. Doug
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 23, 2013
Salvo wrote:
I believe my step controller draws 23 mA continuous (parasitic) current. It's my largest chassis battery parasitic draw.

It's a bad idea to rewire house battery to power steps. You'll lose your steps if house battery is dead and you take off with steps extended.

I use my solar controller's secondary output to keep the chassis battery charged. It's time to think about solar.

Sal

dougrainer wrote:
A correctly functioning Electric step will NOT draw any current when retracted or extended. Doug

I AM electrically challenged on what your draw means in real time. HOW long will that 23 mA take to draw a 800 amp CCA battery dead????
I ask because we have LOTs of motorhomes on our lot and NONE ever have the chassis go dead even after months on the lot. Doug

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