Electrical help needed

[colyboy]

We have a switch near the hab door to retract the step and if we leave the step out you have a loud buzzer go off. We would like to have another switch up by the dash which would do the same, so we would have two switches one near the hab door and one on the dash.

regards

Colyboy

 

[gus-lopez]

Does the step not automatically retract when the ignition is turned on , if you forget?

 

[colyboy]

NO just a loud very loud buzzing sound.

colyboy

 

[PP Bear]

Mine will only sound and retract when I actually start the engine. It doesn’t on just switching on the ignition.

 

[Sue and Rick]

Check the wiring. Normally a 12v feed from the ignition when switched on retracts the step.

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[Sue and Rick]

Mine will only sound and retract when I actually start the engine. It doesn’t on just switching on the ignition.

Our last van retracted when ignition on. The new van does on starting the engine. Maybe there is two options to wire?

 

[colyboy]

Sue and Rick « check the wiring »? Which wiring and what should look out for?
Colyboy

 

[Sue and Rick]

Sue and Rick « check the wiring »? Which wiring and what should look out for?
Colyboy

Find your manufacturer and model of the step. Look up the wiring diagram on the net. Compare with your step. If there is a switch wire, alter the wiring.

 

[Pausim]

Check the wiring. Normally a 12v feed from the ignition when switched on retracts the step.

Not all retract automatically, quite usual to have a warning buzzer instead. Ours has a buzzer and a dash board retract button.

 

[Sapper520]

Just a buzzer on our Thule retractable step, doesn’t auto retract.

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[DBK]

If it's like ours there will be three wires going to the switch. To fit another switch on the dashboard you would need to get what I would call a rocker switch which has a central position and positions either side where it connects to the two outer wires. You then just need to wire this in parallel with the existing switch. I would be cautious about trying to wire it to retract automatically as it may not like being connected permanently. You would need to use a relay in any case otherwise when you retracted manually you would turn the ignition on!

 

[Hoovie]

Depending on the model of Motorhome (as opposed to the model of step), there could well be some settings in the electrics that control the step action.
For example, with the Sargent EM50 module, that is fitted in conjunction with the Sargent EC325 and EC328 (and may well be others), there are some movable jumpers that dictate what automatic functions the step does. Be worth checking that out if you happen to have that module, or checking if there is a similar kind of box installed?
For example, I moved a jumper on my EM50 so the step would not auto-retract and auto-extend on central door locking & unlocking. I left the option to auto-retract on engine start (it has the buzzer as well, but auto-retract seems like a good idea).

 

[Hoovie]

Our last van retracted when ignition on. The new van does on starting the engine. Maybe there is two options to wire?

I would think simply down to how the manufacturer decided to wire it - 12V from Ignition, or the Alternator D+ 12V line. either doable.

 

[stevewagner]

All you need is to change the switch to a two way switch and fit another by the dash then connect the two with strapper wires