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Xtreme steps again

August 05, 2012, 12:02:12 pm

Question.  On my coach I can override the steps so they stay out when parked with the door closed.  Obviously when parked in a parking lot as opposed to a campground I want them closed.  BUT if I turn off the 12v power at the master disconnect just inside the door the steps won't retract when I close the door.

Any workarounds I am not familiar with before I start wiring things?

Thanks

Keith

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Re: Xtreme steps again

Reply #1 – August 05, 2012, 12:08:37 pm

Keith,

Sometime between 2003 and 2011, Kwikee changed their step logic so you cannot easily force the steps to stay retracted.  It's a "safety feature", if you look at the brochure/manual, there to keep someone from exiting without realizing the steps aren't extended.

An easy work-around is to experiment with the location of a magnet on the fixed portion of the entry door sensor.  On ours, putting a magnet towards the upper end would allow us to force the steps to stay in (yours may be different).  Since then, Steve wired an additional switch so we now have 2 override switches.  One keeps the step extended when the ignition is off, the other keeps it retracted.  If the magnet works and you don't want to get into the wiring, you could just rig up something simple with velcro to hold the magnet in place when needed.

Michelle

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Re: Xtreme steps again

Reply #2 – August 05, 2012, 12:40:00 pm

That's what I like Horizontal Thinking.  Considered the magnet and will try tomorrow. 

Thanks, Michelle

Keith

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Re: Xtreme steps again

Reply #3 – August 05, 2012, 01:18:07 pm

Keith,

Basically what you're doing with the magnet is fooling the step into thinking the door is closed, even when it isn't.  One of Steve's creative solutions.

Just remember that when you actually do want the steps to extend/retract, you'll need to remove the temporary magnet so you're not overriding the one that normally controls the step behavior.

Michelle

ETA the magnet trick should work with other Kwikee automatic steps, too, not just the series 42 that Xtreme uses in their step conversion.

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