Can I Operate Slides With the Engine Off?

[Racorman]

I have a 2012 30' Itasca Class A. It came with (2) Napa 12V 210Ah house batteries (Total=420 Ah) . I replaced them with (6) Interstate 6V 210Ah batteries (Total=624 Ah)
The single chassis battery is 12V 750 CCA Motocract MAX

The owners manual states:

NOTE:
We recommend that you KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE
EXTENDING OR RETRACTING SLIDEOUT ROOMS so the engine
alternator can provide maximum power for proper operation of
the slideout mechanisms.


With the extra battery power I've added, do you think there is any problem in not keeping the engine running when I open up the (2) slides? Any possible damage to slide electric motors?

Thanks

[Big_Katuna]

Correct.

[chuckftboy]

All coaches are a bit different. My FW slide has 3 motors that are powered from the Chassis battery. It will deploy without engine running but the voltage drops from 12.7 to around 11.7 and the amps go up. With the engine running, the voltage stays steady at 13.8 volts and the amps stay steady. Fleetwood says motor running to operate slides. Most will operate either way. Just depends on how soon you want to replace the slide motors I guess.

[fivejackie]

2115 Hurricane 27K slide operation instructions.

Make sure that there is adequate clearance to fully extend the room.
1. Apply the parking brake
2. Make sure ignition is in OFF position.
3. To extend the room, press and hold the ROOM CONTROL SWITCH in the “OUT” position. When the room is fully extended, release the ROOM CONTROL SWITCH.

[dougrainer]

1. MOST slides can be operated without the chassis engine running
2. IF the manual states to have the Engine running, it is ONLY because the OEM wants that extra battery voltage to operate the slides. That way, IF the coach batteries are low(almost ALL electric slide rooms operate off the coach batteries, Hydraulic can be either), the batteries are out of the operation as the chassis alternator will supply the needed volts/amps.
3. A LOT of motorhome slides, you have to have the Ignition key ON (engine not started) to activate the slide rooms. Starting the engine, is just as easy when this is required
4. NEWMAR slide rooms will NOT operate if the engine is ON or the Key is ON. Doug

[J-Rooster]

I always run my engine

[dalerussel]

We always run our engine when moving our slides in and out. The Winnebago manual says to use the extra power from alternator. The slides are powered by the chassis battery.

[Mr_Mark1]

Kayteg1 wrote:

fivejackie wrote:
My Hurricane can drive with slide out.

You have a picture to prove that?

I previous Monaco Dynasty would let us drive with the slides out. I was having it washed once at the storage facility and I was blocking a resident, so I started it up and moved it about 20 ft.

Our manual in that coach stated to put out slides first then level.

Our current coach has the same procedure for slides.... slides out first, then level. The manual states the engine must be running on high idle and be at ride height. There is an emergency release in the rear passenger bay that will allow you to move the coach with the slides out.

A story was told that a coach caught fire next to a guy that had a Prevost and he couldn't move it in time as he had to start the engine to put the slides in. He lost his coach. He didn't have time to start the engine and put the slides in..... the emergency switch will allow movement with the slides out. The release was added to later coaches for that purpose.

MM.

[frankdamp]

I find it interesting that you have an owner's manual that goes into any detail about your coach. The one we got with our Georgetown was good for lighting fires a few times, but didn't tell us a thing about our particular model of coach.

[Busskipper]

Racorman wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:

Racorman wrote:
If you are hooked up to shore power...... will that also charge the chassis battery?

For most coaches, the slides run on the house battery in which case shore power will help.. Reading some of the comments here indicate that Winnibago appears to use the engine chassis battery, (weird), in which case shore power will not help.

I agree it is weird.

So the engine is running and I can drive down the road with my slides open :h

Bro in Law's Newmar 30' gasser will not allow the engine to start with the slides open

Interesting Topic.

My TS will not deploy the slides with the engine running. It will start with the slides out and can be driven, with the slide deployed.

But the really interesting thing is the fact that if you ever have an issue with the connection or the battery on a TS you can power the slide using an 18v Dewalt or Makita battery. these are big slides and I have deployed all and returned all using a Dewalt battery, so it does work.

Generally I have found for ease, I will back in - or pull in - connect the electric (or if dry camping, start the generator) - turn on the A/C - then level the coach and deploy the slides. Just having a routine avoids issues, all this is done while the DW is fixing the Adult Beverage, so my only suggestion is to figure out your routine and stick to it, thus avoiding any issues.

JHMO,

[AllegroD]

Your house batteries do not have anything to do with this. It may be solely your chassis/engine battery. As others have said, the slides have a big surge draw. The alternator will help and that only works when engine is turning that belt thingy.

If I were you, I'd follow the advice of the mfgr as in your manual or call them.

[fivejackie]

Kayteg1 wrote:

fivejackie wrote:
My Hurricane can drive with slide out.

You have a picture to prove that?

On our last trip out the slide was hard to get in. It would move in about 6" and stopped. Ran it back out and tried again this time also pulling on it, tried this 3 times. Then I started the engine and dropped the jacks. I then drove up the side of this hill. With the help of gravity and pulling we got it in. We then cut our trip short and took it to the dealer. They found a electric cable that the slide was running over.

GOT THE PICTURE!!!

[Kayteg1]

fivejackie wrote:
My Hurricane can drive with slide out.

You have a picture to prove that?

[fivejackie]

My Hurricane can drive with slide out.

[Racorman]

Ed_Gee wrote:

Racorman wrote:
If you are hooked up to shore power...... will that also charge the chassis battery?

For most coaches, the slides run on the house battery in which case shore power will help.. Reading some of the comments here indicate that Winnibago appears to use the engine chassis battery, (weird), in which case shore power will not help.

I agree it is weird.

So the engine is running and I can drive down the road with my slides open :h

Bro in Law's Newmar 30' gasser will not allow the engine to start with the slides open