Electric steps.. any requirements re closing (1 Viewer)

andy63

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Another question I'm afraid...:)
Are there any rules or codes that govern the fitting of electric steps...
Again when I did my self build I remember reading somewhere that the there was a requirement for it to close on ignition or engine running..
On the new van the step has to be closed manually.. and it's possible to drive off with it out..
So I'm wondering whether that's a fault or acceptable ?
Andy.
 

MikeD

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Our Autotrail 2012 used to close automatically when u started the engine

Out 2016 IH just beeps at you.

Probably no help :rolleyes:
 

irnbru

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No..it's useless. Get it fixed! You shouldn't have to drive along the road with your passengers listening to bleep bleep when you can't even hear it in the front cab.:LOL:

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Aug 6, 2013
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My Hymer has never had any means of closing other than the switch inside the hab door. Bloody nuisance it is too.
 

icantremember

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Both our previous British motorhomes, Autosleeper & Autocruise, had a warning buzzer and then retracted automatically when engine started. However our new Hymer, being German, has a loud warning buzzer and a button on the dash to retract the step.
 

jonandshell

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Think yourself lucky Andy.

Our Chausson teases us with an electric step switch fitted but no electric step!

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andy63

andy63

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No..it's useless. Get it fixed! You shouldn't have to drive along the road with your passengers listening to bleep bleep when you can't even hear it in the front cab.:LOL:
I can't help been deaf :LOL:.. I can't hear my parking sensors either but don't see that as a fault though it doesn't help that they Bury the speaker under a seat in the hab area instead of the cab:moon2:..
 
Sep 26, 2013
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If fitted properly your electric step should retract when your ignition is turned on. I have just fitted one to the van and even I managed to wire it up okay.
 

funflair

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If fitted properly your electric step should retract when your ignition is turned on. I have just fitted one to the van and even I managed to wire it up okay.
Not on ours it doesn't you get a beeper and light and a switch on the dash to put it in, if it didn't go out with the ignition on how would I get out to put the pads under the jacks and set them down manually with th remote.

Martin

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andy63

andy63

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I'
If fitted properly your electric step should retract when your ignition is turned on. I have just fitted one to the van and even I managed to wire it up okay.
That's what I thought and did just that on my self build ,but it appears that some of the foreign vans don't bother or just fit a buzzer which is about as much use to me as a hole in the head..
As Sandra @irnbru has kindly pointed out my hearing isn't great and I don't hear high pitch buzzers at all..:D
Andy.
 

jonandshell

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Auto retraction must be an NCC thing!

A friend managed to nearly kill himself when he started his Autrotrail vans engine for B2B charging and the step retracted, resulting in a nasty fall!
 

funflair

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That's what I thought and did just that on my self build ,but it appears that some of the foreign vans don't bother or just fit a buzzer which is about as much use to me as a hole in the head..
As Sandra @irnbru has kindly pointed out my hearing isn't great and I don't hear high pitch buzzers at all..:D
Andy.
Hi Andy

I dont imagine its rocket science to rewire yours to what you are used to.

Martin

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Badknee

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Ours retracts with ignition. Autocruise Wentworth.
 
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andy63

andy63

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Hi Andy

I dont imagine its rocket science to rewire yours to what you are used to.

Martin
I suspect not Martin and may well get round to having a look..
At present mine can be operated with the engine running,or if the engine is off the power management system has to be on..
The step would have to have a switch to break the circuit to ground if I fitted an engine run closing relay..
Andy..
 
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andy63

andy63

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Auto retraction must be an NCC thing!

A friend managed to nearly kill himself when he started his Autrotrail vans engine for B2B charging and the step retracted, resulting in a nasty fall!
Dangers either way then... sounds nasty...hadn't thought of that possibility. .. was thinking more of the possibility of kneecapping some poor sod with the step out..:(

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MikeD

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I imagine the relevant recommendations will be in this publication

spacer.GIF

EN Standards: EN1646-1:2004
spacer.GIF



Standard No EN1646-1:2004
Title of Standard Leisure accommodation vehicles. Motor caravans. Habitation requirements relating to health and safety
ISBN 058045917 9
Date of Publication 25/04/05
Approx Pages 38
Description Caravans, Caravanettes, Road vehicles, Motor vehicles, Safety measures, Design, Grades (quality), Bunks, Beds, Strength of materials, Mechanical testing, Potable water, Water supply, Waste-water drainage, Ventilation, Heaters, Fire safety, Doors, Windows,
Cross references EN3-7, EN721, EN1646-2, EN1648-2, EN1949, EN13878:2003, ISO 4649:1985, IEC 60364-7-708
International Equiv (If Applicable ) EN1646-1:2004
Replaces Standards : BS EN1646-1:1999
Replacement Notes
Now Replaced By
Replaced by Notes
Committee Ref B/511

To obtain a quote for this standard, you can email BSI directly via the following email address:
 

Khizzie

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That's what I thought and did just that on my self build ,but it appears that some of the foreign vans don't bother or just fit a buzzer which is about as much use to me as a hole in the head..
As Sandra @irnbru has kindly pointed out my hearing isn't great and I don't hear high pitch buzzers at all..:D
Andy.
Aahh German motorhome engineering makes sure that the step electrics are foolproof..you have to do it yourself . Lol.
 
Feb 24, 2013
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It would appear Hymer don't do it properly, ours beeps (if it remembers ) if the step is out when you start engine, we have a manaul switch by door and next to cab seat. I really don't like the idea of retraction on ignition, we had it on our last MH (Pilote) I (we) nearly had a really nasty accident, Bev was getting into MH when I started engine, the step vanished from under her feet. Bonkers IMO

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andy63

andy63

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Aahh German motorhome engineering makes sure that the step electrics are foolproof..you have to do it yourself . Lol.
Not just Germany lol mines french I think... A chausson...sounds more like a breed of dog... and I'll not go there but have to say I'm not over the moon with the the build quality... but ill not start lol..
Andy
 

funflair

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It would appear Hymer don't do it properly, ours beeps (if it remembers ) if the step is out when you start engine, we have amnaula switch by door and next to cab seat. I really don't like the idea of retraction on ignition, we had it on our last MH (Pilote) I (we) nearly had a really nasty accident, Bev was getting into MH when I started engine, the step vanished from under her feet. Bonkers IMO
I shouldn't really "like" that but I did anyway:LOL:

Martin
 

Zigisla

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No auto retract on my German built Sunlight either, just a really annoying buzzer and you have to get up and use switch by hab door which is at the rear of the MH. After a few times, you get to add "Retract Hab Step" to pre set off list.
clear.png
Step also works after 12V panel switched off, so you can exit the MH, then retract step, lock up and leave.
 

Minxy

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On our previous PVC (Autocruise) the step buzzed and retracted automatically when the ignition was turned on, our current PVC (Globecar) just buzzes so we have to either get up and go round to the switch on the side of the kitchen unit near the side door or, our solution, is to have a metal rod about 2ft long with a rubber bung on the end which hubby uses to 'press' the button until the step is in! I will, at some point, move the switch so it's just behind the driver's seat which makes more sense as it will then be able to be reached from the cab or as soon as the side door is open.
 
Aug 6, 2013
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The ideal arrangement is probably a cab buzzer to warn of 'step out' and a switch on the dashboard to retract it. Auto-retract when the ignition is turned on sounds attractive until one day one of you is fiddling around in the front with the ignition on and your partner steps out of the hab door .............. It happened to a friend of mine and luckily, very luckily I think, his wife didn't suffer serious injury. If he'd parked on tarmac rather than grass it could have been very different.

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Feb 16, 2013
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How do we go on then , manual step , have to pull it out and push it back, no auto, no buzzer, nowt
 
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andy63

andy63

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Auto-retract when the ignition is turned on sounds attractive
I put my last electric step on auto retract but on an engine run switched relay.. but I suppose the same danger exists... maybe a bit less likely than an ignition switched..
Andy.

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Aug 6, 2013
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How do we go on then , manual step , have to pull it out and push it back, no auto, no buzzer, nowt
Rope tied to step lever, through sheave in middle of floor, nice wooden T handle on the end between driver & passenger. easy-peasy & none of this unreliable electrickery :D
 
Feb 16, 2013
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Rope tied to step lever, through sheave in middle of floor, nice wooden T handle on the end between driver & passenger. easy-peasy & none of this unreliable electrickery :D
Yeah like it, but I think this thread started off about the laws of it.
We have gone miles with ours still out(n):)
 

The Dotties

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Got an Autotrail Dakota. Step retracts on start up. Good safety idea, but did think I would look into getting it wired to the handbrake instead.
Save falling out with engine running but going nowhere.
I like to run engine for a couple of minutes first thing while still buggering about outside.
Get a warning lamp to tell the handbrake is still on, maybe utilise that somehow.
Geoff

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