Power Gear Slide-out System is failing
Whoa! I just hauled my Fleetwood Flair 2004 down for new tires, getting ready for a major trip. Got back and went to open the slides and 'nothing' - I can't find the controller for the slides. The boo...
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Update: I was successful in getting my circuit to work using a winch controller and a relay to switch the controller's output to the other slide out. With the main slide selected, the relay is off. That is the switch side off too. So switch off is 'Main' Switch on is 'Bedroom' Leave switch in Main position for travel.
I finally located the slide out power source and it runs off the coach batteries not the automotive system. Or does it? The power from the batteries comes from the front of the coach and has a relay - disconnect system that allows power from the batteries or the engine, but the relays on the power side force the user to start the engine to establish power even though it is being supplied from the 12 vdc coach batteries. Then the disconnect solenoids automatically (it cannot be stopped without rewiring) switch the two systems together. So the fuse is in the back and is 20 amp
My new system still uses that fuse, and does not require that the engine be started - only that the key is on - so best to go ahead and start it. It gets the alternator output voltage that way. I considered to not do that so that the slides could both be operated from the coach batteries and you could run directly off the batteries or start the engine - either way.
I waffled a bit and decided - nah, why go through all the trouble of adding another 40 feet of wire to hook the battery up so that the engine can be used when it already is automatically used if I start it?
The only thing that my new system does not have is some kind of automatic shutoff of the motors when the end of travel is reached. Before the motors were shut off by the travel stops, now I have to shut them off. That is easy. When the motors are running, I can actually go out the door and watch them reach the limits or stay inside and listen to them hit the limits and then stop pushing the button on the remote controller.
Works great!
I finally located the slide out power source and it runs off the coach batteries not the automotive system. Or does it? The power from the batteries comes from the front of the coach and has a relay - disconnect system that allows power from the batteries or the engine, but the relays on the power side force the user to start the engine to establish power even though it is being supplied from the 12 vdc coach batteries. Then the disconnect solenoids automatically (it cannot be stopped without rewiring) switch the two systems together. So the fuse is in the back and is 20 amp
My new system still uses that fuse, and does not require that the engine be started - only that the key is on - so best to go ahead and start it. It gets the alternator output voltage that way. I considered to not do that so that the slides could both be operated from the coach batteries and you could run directly off the batteries or start the engine - either way.
I waffled a bit and decided - nah, why go through all the trouble of adding another 40 feet of wire to hook the battery up so that the engine can be used when it already is automatically used if I start it?
The only thing that my new system does not have is some kind of automatic shutoff of the motors when the end of travel is reached. Before the motors were shut off by the travel stops, now I have to shut them off. That is easy. When the motors are running, I can actually go out the door and watch them reach the limits or stay inside and listen to them hit the limits and then stop pushing the button on the remote controller.
Works great!
