Having just purchased a new Kwikee Sires 28 step for our class C, I dug it out of the box and read the directions. Gee, easy! Right.Wire colors:Red - powerGreen - groundBrown - to magnetic door switch, then to groundWhite - to switch, then to powerYellow - to ignitionI tied red, green to my battery, positive and negative. Step opened,I expected I could touch yellow or (edit) white to power and have it close. Nope.So... I thought it was broken, out of the box. I then set up all wires with switches to power/ground per the directions. Here's the setup:Power - RedGround - GreenBrown - switch - groundYellow - switch - powerWhite - switch - powerHere's how it works:Connect Red to power, Green to ground, with all switches off - Steps Open. (Door open, Ign off, Override off)Close the door - Brown grounds - steps close.Open the door - Brown opens - steps open.Close the door - Brown grounds - steps close.Flip override switch on - White to power, Step stay closed. (yep, closed)Open the door - Brown grounds - steps open.Close the door - Brown opens - step stay open because White is tied to power.Open/Close door, step stays extended because override is on, White is tied to power.Door closed - Brown grounded, Override on, White to power, steps extended.Turn Ign on - Yellow to Power - Steps close.Turn Ign off - Yellow open, Steps remain closed.Open door, steps open.Close door, steps stay open because override is on.The basic logic - No matter the other switches, anytime the door is opened, the steps open, if not already open.If the door is closed, steps stay open if override on, if ign turned on, steps close.Interesting logic, but it all works. I can see how it's supposed to work now...

Great post. I think maybe it will help me with a problem given enough time to study your analysis.Here's our problem. We had to have new steps installed on the road a couple years ago. Ever since then those new steps come out any time the door is opened. Switch position does not matter.Quite often we don't want the steps coming out due to a sidewalk curb being right there to jamb them. So our only solution is to use the driver's door getting in and out.Any thoughts?

That's what I found - if the door is opened, the steps extend. A workaround - add another switch to disable the door switch.

More To See wrote:Great post. I think maybe it will help me with a problem given enough time to study your analysis.Here's our problem. We had to have new steps installed on the road a couple years ago. Ever since then those new steps come out any time the door is opened. Switch position does not matter.Quite often we don't want the steps coming out due to a sidewalk curb being right there to jamb them. So our only solution is to use the driver's door getting in and out.Any thoughts?If your steps hit anything while extending, they'll just stop the same as they do when fully extended. The rise in current when the motor stalls signals the controller to turn off the motor.

If your steps were changed from the old to the new style andthe reed switch in the door was not replaced this could be your problem.After changing mine I had to replace this switch. It made the park switchon the wall work backwards. Get the number off your controller and call kwikee and they can send you the proper reed switch. I don't remember if the new switch is normally open or normally closed. It will make a difference of how yousteps operate.Hope this helps

I cant imagine it working any other way. Why would you open the door and not have the step at your disposal. If the door is open you are either going in or out. If the ignition is on and the door is open the steps should stay extended so you don't fall out the door. Close the door and the steps retract. How often do you drive with the door open?I installed my own steps didn't see any problem with the setup.

Kwikee step logic | Good Sam Community

dougrainer
Nomad
Jan 07, 2014
The "logic" is nothing new. Kwikee steps have a Last out feature. That means regardless of what you have done, emgine OFF/Engine ON/wall switch Off or On, the last out feature means when the door is opened, Brown wire magnetic switch/ the steps extend. This is to prevent the steps from NOT extending and you fall out of the RV. Doug
KJINTF
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
Bruce,

Your 1st post "logic" is the same way my steps functioned when new

To stop the steps coming out we have a frig magnet handy that I stick to the door switch (actually to the wall very close the switch) - it completely stops the steps from coming out. The system thinks the door is closed.

Itasca / Winni wired mine
Door switch power from ignition switch and main power from the Engine battery before the disconnect solenoid. The disconnect switch had no effect on the operation of the steps. The Engine battery always had a unwanted drain.

I changed the wiring by moving the main power to the house batteries after the disconnect switch leaving alone the ignition switch connection. Turn off the house batteries and the steps do not function. Nice when getting access to the batteries which are located inside under the stairs

We always dry camp with solar charging the house batteries
No need for an extra load on the engine battery which is most of the time isolated from the House battery bank
The step lamp and the motor plus a small parasitic load from the controller were draining the engine battery unnecessarily
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
I promised myself I would stay out of Kwikee step discussions but I can't help myself. First I have to say Kwikee as an independent company no longer exists, it is now Power Gear. They do not deal with end users, they deal with distributors and dealers only!

They do however have a great library of manuals and part lists on line. I think you should download and print out Owners Manual #888. On pages 7 thru 11 inclusive is the trouble shooting section. You will need at the minimum a DC volt meter with a 12 volt scale.

The mechanics and electronics are simple and easy to trouble shoot if you read and follow the manual. Page 3, is especially important so you know what the proper operation should be.
BruceMc
Explorer III
Jan 07, 2014
D.E.Bishop, Agreed! I have the #888 Owners Manual that came with the step, of course. Once I read the info and followed the troubleshooting guide, I then understood the theory of operation, as simple as it is. The thing that threw me off was:
If the ign is energized, then I thought the steps should retract. They do ONLY if the door is closed.
If the steps are closed, and the override switch is turned on, then I thought the steps should extend. They do not until the door is opened. Then they stay extended when the door is closed.

Subtle nuances...
JimM68
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
Great post Bruce!

The system is designed so you cannot open the door without the steps being out.

It won't hurt the system if the steps hit something and do not go out all the way. (it might hurt that corvette you parked too close to)

The steps ALWAYS run 100% off chassis power, and are not affected by any power disconnect switches.
The door opens, the steps are out, period.
SteveRuff
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
The suggestion to call Kwickee is not a good one. Over the past several years of RV ownership I have never been successful getting an answer or a call back from them.
burlmart
Explorer
Mar 26, 2014
This thread deserves a 'sticky'

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