Electrical Issues

Hi Roachie
Mate there is a plug near the steps but you have to see it to believe it?? the rocket scientist has sikaflexed it to the body work of the steps and whatever else he or she could find to stick there.
What concerns me the most is that if I take a sharp knife to the glue I just might be able to have two lots of wires and not necessarily two pieces I would be hoping for!! in other words I can just see me slicing the whole lot in half by my enthusiasm.
The sikaflex has set very hard as you can imagine.

I appreciate that the Sikaflex is going to be a pain to remove or slice away from the steps.

However, I still maintain that that is what is really needed as a starting point.

I would use an old kitchen knife (I have several old bread'n'butter knives that I've sharpened up on the bench grinder....ideal for slicing that muck away without cutting the wiring itself).

Once you have access to the end of the plug (on the side that goes to the steps), I would imagine there would either be 2 or 4 wires (operated by a DPDT switch). If you can get it pulled apart and the socket/plug separated; then post a pic of what the pin-out looks like, that'd be a good start.

Like I said, we need to ascertain whether it's a problem at the steps themselves (eg: motor seized/rusted or steps bent preventing the motion from moving). Once we can be satisfied that is all working correctly, then we can look further afield.

But, before you do anything else, check the fuse/s.

Roachie

Hi Roachie,
I bit the bullet and pried the plug and wires away from where they were stuck onto the metal work. I then separated the plug and tried to put a fuse back in but no go!! I can only think now that it might have something to do with the door switch? I disconnected the two way switch inside the door and still blew the fuse.
The little black switch towards the bottom of the door which resembles a magnetic switch could this possibly be the cause? stupid question I know, but the wires for it go back to that eagles nest under the MH.

It could be many things, even a self tapper through a wire, is the motor home newish or had anything fitted to it recently?
I agree with the other answer, try powering it up totally separate from the vans own wiring.

Hi PhilD
From what I can see they are Kwikee, does that sound right?

Yes, that is very likely. I suggest you talk to the Australian distributors who are Nordens in Melbourne and get a wiring diagram, and they may be able to give some guidance for you to trace the wiring back. If you are blowing fuses it seems there may be a wire earthing out as it is frayed or worn through on something. I have Kwikee steps but they can be wired a couple of ways, depending on whether you have reed and rocker switches, or just one of them.

Hi Phil
Does your steps have a open and close circuit activated by the little switch towards the bottom of the door? could this be the issue if it's playing silly buggers? That is the only part I haven't been able to isolate and check as the wire for it goes into that heap of wires tied to the chassis.

Bruce, I have two sets of steps. The ones into the camper do not have a reed switch, but just a on-on switch to open or close them. I can't remember the wiring on this as an auto electrician did the last bit of it for me as he was working on other parts of my build at the time. The steps for my wife to get into the cab are opened when the door opens and close when the door closes. They work off the reed switch on the door frame which from memory is just opening and closing the negative, and the positive remains a constant.
I am thinking you have a short circuit if you are blowing fuses, and this may mean your positive is chafed and earthing somewhere.

Hi RMD
Mate I thought yep blown fuse just take the old out and replace, I couldn't even get it just past touching the fuse holder and it blew a couple of times, I have taken the door switch off and disconnected it and blown the fuse, I disconnected the step light underneath and blew the fuse, so something sinister is going on there but like a lot of these things might be very small but a pain till located.

I thought he may be asking TIC too, but answered above just in case he was serious.

The fact he hasn't been back to comment again tends to make me think you're correct.

How did we suddenly begin to talk about escalators????
Many vehicles have steps/perhaps called stairs, which are electrically driven UP or DOWN.
I presume he means those.

Kennell, where did you see escalators on a motor home? was it after a red or three?

Sorry, I thought that was what electric stairs were. You apparently are more worldly than me and can assist with my education. My humbly little camper is walk in / walk out so I am inexperienced with this electrical stuff.

Pardon you for thinking that my post might be influenced by 2/3 reds. Especially at 7.08 am - I never open a bottle before 8.00am !!

Kenell

Kennel

A Myers store has escalators,ie, moving stairs. Hardly what you would get in a motor home. Ground floor to 1st floor and beyond.
They even have moving stairs, escalators, going down too, stand still on them and down to street level again.

Here endeth the lesson..

Hi Gramps
I don't have a diagram, do I try to get them off google? I have one option left at the moment and that's the little switch inside the door which resembles a magnetic switch, have you heard of these giving problems?

Sorry Bruce, I only supplied the link with examples of Kwikee step wiring in case it could help you figure it out. There seems to be several PDFs covering the subject and possible fault finding in the link as well.

Yes, you'll have to print them (diagrams or PDFs) from the link I supplied.
I'd never heard of the steps previously.
Regards