Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

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Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

June 27, 2015, 01:33:14 pm

I need some help identifying the air supply line. Am attaching a couple photos, can someone point out the supply line where I should put the added solenoid?
Also, what is the rectangular device with two air lines entering or leaving it?
Thanks, Dick

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #1 – June 27, 2015, 01:51:07 pm

Dick, do you havean electrical step as I do not see any airline going to another valve> Wht I did was remove the air guage out of valve and put the NC solenoid into valve then put the gauge back in the "air in" side of solenoid. This way you cna change the pressure easier if needed as the air is not controlled by NC Solenoid. ie with it closed no air can be read so you would have to open the solenoid to see pressure. Search my posting on it as I put in a couple pics showing it all clearly
JohnH

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #2 – June 27, 2015, 01:58:13 pm

http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19752.0;attach=18908
Dick I think this is the link. This one is from Barry and Cindy, I will try again to get my pics uploaded for you.
JohnH

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #3 – June 27, 2015, 02:09:00 pm

Pic
JohnH

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #4 – June 27, 2015, 03:25:16 pm

Quote from: Dick S – June 27, 2015, 01:33:14 pm

Also, what is the rectangular device with two air lines entering or leaving it?

Dick,

That is your shuttle valve/air control valve. In simple terms it gets an electrical signal which moves a piston hid inside. This directs air down different ports causing what ever it is attached to (air cylinder), to move one way or the other. If it goes bad the new style looks different but works the same.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #5 – June 27, 2015, 05:47:36 pm

Air supply looks to be the nylon line going into the brass Tee that is attached to the pressure regulator.

I think you will find the two other air lines go to opposite ends of the step slide air cylinder.

The rectangular device looks to be a 4-way pneumatic solenoid, probably with 1/8" NPT ports, setup with 1 supply air line, 2 cylinder air lines and 2 exhaust ports.

With 12-volts applied, air flows into the 4-way rectangular solenoid and out to one end of cylinder. Movement of the cylinder piston causes the other end of the cylinder to exhaust its captive air into the other air line on the 4-way and out the exhaust port which is covered by an adjustable exhaust muffler. When the 12-volts is turned off, the 4-way solenoid reverses ports to send air to the other end of the cylinder and exhaust cylinder air to the other muffler.

Removing, cleaning and adjusting the exhaust mufflers will control how fast the step slide moves and can eliminate very slow movements and slamming open or closing.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #6 – June 27, 2015, 06:45:47 pm

Have replaced this one before just make sure the air pressure is low as it will pop when you loosen the air line. Don't jump and bump your head. DAN

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #7 – June 27, 2015, 08:57:24 pm

Quote from: Dick S – June 27, 2015, 01:33:14 pm

Also, what is the rectangular device with two air lines entering or leaving it?

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – June 27, 2015, 03:25:16 pm

That is your shuttle valve/air control valve.

P&M is that what is also known as a "Norgren valve"?

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #8 – June 27, 2015, 09:30:09 pm

Michelle,

Norgren is the manufacture so yes. There are several companies that make them but Norgren is one of the more well known. Mike groups them all together no matter the manufacture.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #9 – June 28, 2015, 07:30:11 pm

John, thanks for Barry's pic. Got the solenoid installed. Got the wire up through the floor behind the panel that is behind the steering column. Will go to NW RV in Eugene to see if I can find a switch switch that will fit the knock-out by the steering column. I'd like to find one that is lit when ON.
Where do you recommend getting a fused 12 Vdc in the dash?
I noticed the white wire on that four way solenoid is always 0 volts when the step slide is retracted and 12 volts when it's extended. I was tempted to just wire the new solenoid to that white wire. Then the solenoid would be OFF when the side is retracted, which is most of the time. But, it would be ON all the time the slide is extended and during the time I was testing it with a small battery, I noticed that little solenoid got pretty hot. So I don't know how long it would last if it was ON for a four or five hour trip.
Sure appreciate the advice. Dick

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #10 – June 28, 2015, 08:30:50 pm

If adding a shutoff solenoid to reduce cylinder seal wear and tear, it is important to add a 3-way solenoid to vent the pressure when the new solenoid is off. When the original 4-way solenoid is powered or not powered position, original air pressure is pushing against the cylinder seal. We turn on our new solenoid shut-off when changing the slide in or out, then turn our new solenoid off, so it only on for a moment at a time.
4-way solenoid does not turn air off, it just shuttles the air pressure from one side of cylinder to the other side.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #11 – June 28, 2015, 11:56:15 pm

Yes Dick this is the way we use ours too. Flip the switch for power to solenoid so air is allowed to operate then once it is in the position you want it flip the switch off. This will also make sure that should you turn ignition off for a few hours you will NOT loose any air thru this cylinder. This is the main reason for doing this change as that cylinder end seal behind step is the caise of major air loss. Just go to any auto store and look for a toggle switch that iluminates when powered. I could not find a plastic rectangular one to fit hole so just drilled a hole in a spare one and fastened the toggle switch to that. Works fine for me!! All you need then is a source of 12v when either switch is on or one that is powered all the time. Your choice. Hopefully you got a NC ( normally closed solenoid) as you want it to close air supply untill activated.
JohnH

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #12 – June 29, 2015, 05:52:33 am

John,
I would consider wiring the solenoid to the circuit switch that operates the step cover so whn you push the switch to open/close it also opens the solenoid. My version of KISS.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #13 – June 29, 2015, 12:18:18 pm

John,
Did you put a fuse in the power supply wire or did you find something in the dash that is already fused?
Dick

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #14 – June 29, 2015, 07:21:47 pm

All done! I opted for a momentary switch. That was I can't forget to turn it off.

Works great! Another item off my list.
Thanks again all.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #15 – June 30, 2015, 12:14:54 am

Congratulations Dick and that switch is actually a good idea, just need to hold it while slide is moving.
JohnH

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #16 – June 30, 2015, 07:35:38 am

Did the switch come pre-labeled "Switch Cover" or did you add the label? If you added the label, then how did you do it? Thanks!

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #17 – June 30, 2015, 10:11:44 am

Got the switch from NW RV Supply in Eugene, OR. It came pre-labeled "Aux Start", but they had a bag of extra labels. pried out the old and after a lot of fiddling pressed in the new.
Dick

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #18 – August 22, 2015, 04:00:19 pm

On my 97 I have the momentary rocker switch on the left side of the dash that goes to the ether injection canister at the engine. I have never used it and plan to remove the canister anyway, so I am going to use the switch to operate the solenoid for the step. Will also name it for the new use.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #19 – September 11, 2015, 12:43:32 pm

How do I get my pneumatic step to retract when the coach is sitting unused for a period of time?
I've tried to use the switch by the front door but no-go.
I do not want the step in the extended position exposed to the rain while I'm not using the coach for a week.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #20 – September 11, 2015, 01:01:44 pm

When my air pressure drops to about 50psi I can manually close the step.

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #21 – September 11, 2015, 01:40:32 pm

Steven, there is a topic in Beamalarm page under "Modifications" that shows the simple wiring to do to make the step stay up while parked with Ign off. Modify outside air step wiring to allow step to retract when ignition is off...
JohnH

Re: Adding solenoid to step slide - need a little help

Reply #22 – September 11, 2015, 02:17:56 pm

Quote from: StevenOrlando – September 11, 2015, 12:43:32 pm

How do I get my pneumatic step to retract when the coach is sitting unused for a period of time?

Year/model of coach? (might want to put this info in your profile signature - it helps folks answer questions more easily since not all coaches are the same)

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