Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Go Pack Go on April 24, 2022, 09:13:32 pm

Title: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Go Pack Go on April 24, 2022, 09:13:32 pm
Hello, I am having trouble with my auxiliary air compressor. After leveling my unit,  it won't run to keep the tanks full or the unit level. I have checked electrical connections and the F6 fuse in the HWH control box. Is there a circuit breaker that I am missing? After 48 hours my air tanks were under 50 lbs. of air pressure, the HWH leveling system would exhaust air to keep the unit level but would not add air as the compressor would not run.
Thank you,
John Zick
2003 U320
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Jim Frerichs on April 24, 2022, 09:21:19 pm
John,

Check for excessive mechanical friction of the pressure switch. It can stuck on or stuck off. Lubricant it and move it numerous times to loosen it up.
Jim

2002 U320
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Go Pack Go on April 24, 2022, 09:53:03 pm
Thanks Jim, I will check that.
John Zick
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: dsd on April 24, 2022, 11:14:16 pm
Does the compressor come on when the level buttons are pushed? It is commanded on when you do. Slide key off ignition on and in manual. You also have a fairly large resettable circuit breaker on the hot battery buss. In May be tripped or open. Resettable with red button on side. It's with all the circuit breakers in the basement, but not in the HWH box. The extend/retract key should be in the off position.
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: WagonWheels on April 24, 2022, 11:28:22 pm
A while back I noticed my Thomas air compressor was not running.  I have a on/off switch on the pump and when I would switch it off and on several times I could hear the pressure switch latching meaning the pump should be coming on.  I tested the voltage going into the solenoid (black looking device at the end of the pump where the wires attach to the pump). I then noticed some burning on the positive wire so disconnected it and found the wire connection at the pump was loose.  Tightened all the connections and things were good for a while.  Then I started having the same issues.  The loose wires had damaged the solenoid (melted/burned it) so I replaced the unit.  Got it from MOT.  Pump runs fine now.  :)  During this process I noticed the purge valve on the water trap will get really hot if the pressure switch is calling for the pump to come on and the pump doesn't come on and the circuit just stays activated for a long period of time. 
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Go Pack Go on April 25, 2022, 10:50:19 am
DSD,
I will take a look at the circuit breakers, are they in the electronics bay? I haven't seen any circuit breakers except for the ones in the bedroom. I will see what I can find.
Wagon Wheels
I will check the wires and make sure I have the voltage there and the wire connections are not loose.
Jim Frerichs
I checked the pressure switch and the "plunger" moves, went ahead and lubed it. Thank you everyone for the suggestions, I will be diving in further today, to see what I can figure out.
Thank you, John Zick
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Tommy D on April 25, 2022, 11:13:33 am
DSD,
I will take a look at the circuit breakers, are they in the electronics bay? I haven't seen any circuit breakers except for the ones in the bedroom. I will see what I can find.

Mine are behind white fiberglass panel with 3 wing nuts on it in first bay on drivers side
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: dsd on April 25, 2022, 11:33:51 am
Mine are behind white fiberglass panel with 3 wing nuts on it in first bay on drivers side
Mine too but think his is located in a different location
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: rbark on April 25, 2022, 11:36:49 am
Nope, same place, least that's where mine is. Except my cover is covered with same material as the floors are.
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Elliott on April 25, 2022, 12:28:56 pm
You don't have a switch on the compressor itself that accidently got knocked to "off" do you?

Also check for an inline fuse on/near that switch if it exists.

Also, go Vikings.
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Go Pack Go on April 25, 2022, 01:03:39 pm
Thank you all for the suggestions, the circuit breaker was in the first bay, behind a panel that was covered with same material on the walls being held up with three wing nuts like Tommy D. had mentioned, There was a tag with HWH Comp, Pressed the red button and the compressor came to life. Thank you all for the recommendations and help.
Thank you,
John Zick
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: rbark on April 25, 2022, 07:33:41 pm
Do you have a switch on the dash that you don't know what it's for? Might be for the 12VDC pump. Just a thought.
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: Peter on May 22, 2022, 12:08:30 pm
My aux compressor does not operate either. I currently am at a level gravel pad at the site I am staying at and when I arrived I leveled, no issues, then left the system on with the red light on the HWH always on. I know I have an air leak but.... My brake pressure when from 120 to about  50 in about 72 hours and the coach has ,according to the HWH stayed level although the coach is now resting on the tires all around. I would have thought air compressor would have kicked in to keep the tires off the coach but it has not  My compressor does not have a fuse in close proximity to it that I can find and the breaker in the bay looks ok. Suggestions?  Is this normal for the coach to rest on the tire instead of levels above them?  On another note the coach just looks "funny" being that low.... So much the air step is almost on the ground!

Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: WS6_Keith on May 22, 2022, 12:15:32 pm
A quick test is to turn the ignition on, press the AIR button once to turn on the HWH system and then press one of the up arrows at one of the corners.  If you have a yellow light at one spot, that's the low point, so press the up arrow there.  When raise is commanded, the HWH pump should run despite the pressure switch.  Does it?

If not, do you have 12V at the hot wire going into the solenoid?
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: craneman on May 22, 2022, 12:49:45 pm
When I push the auto level twice the high side will rest on the tires before raising the low side. Don't see any issue with that.
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: oldguy on May 22, 2022, 01:03:02 pm
Mine does the same as Chuck, It keep lowering until it hits a tire. I have never heard
my compressor running but it stayed level for almost 2 weeks. I know my compressor
works as used a jumper wire to get it going. As it has never been an issue I haven't looked
into it any further.
Title: Re: Auxiliary Air Compressor
Post by: WS6_Keith on May 22, 2022, 05:52:02 pm
I'm not sure how much different your system is than mine, but with the air light on solid, the system is active but not in auto-level mode.  On mine, you press the air button twice and it will level.  Once level, the air light goes to flashing very quickly and much dimmer, indicating the mode to maintain level.  At that point, if it determines one area is high, it will dump air.  If one area is low, it will add air AND the pump will run, regardless of the pressure in the tank.