Electric steps and battery draw
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Sep-08-2013 12:46 PM
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?
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Sep-22-2013 06:27 PM
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.
Saldougrainer 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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Sep-22-2013 05:58 PM
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.
Saldougrainer 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
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Sep-22-2013 05:13 PM
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Sep-22-2013 03:34 PM
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.
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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Sep-22-2013 03:27 PM
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.
Saldougrainer 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
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Sep-22-2013 12:32 PM
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
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Sep-22-2013 10:25 AM
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Sep-09-2013 11:09 AM
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Sep-09-2013 09:43 AM
Not sure how it's wired truthfully.. need to trace the wires. The main constant feed is from the vehicle battery and another switched source from the front. But there must be another from the house battery as it didn't work when it was disconnected. Don't think I'll buy another Jayco.
There is no draw after the initial connection to the battery. It started out at 1amp for about 15 seconds then dropped to 0.06 after 15-20 seconds dropped to 0. It did pull 5-7 amps but it is a heavy duty power motor. I'll look at the trik-l-start.. looks like it puts out more amps about it.
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Sep-09-2013 08:25 AM
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Sep-09-2013 08:09 AM
If the power wire to the step is disconnected
from its source and reconnected,
a spark is common. This is caused by the
momentary charging of the control unit
and does not necessarily indicate the
system is staying on, which would cause
a drain on the battery. If battery drain is
suspected, observe the understep light (if
so equipped) while the step is extending.
The power switch must be on for the
understep light to operate.
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Sep-09-2013 06:12 AM
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...
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100 218" WB
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Sep-09-2013 05:05 AM
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Sep-08-2013 07:52 PM
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-BM3B-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B0051D3MP6
Won'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.