Re: Replacing a step switch

by Sally Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:18 pm

Spospe wrote:Sally, just to dot the I's and cross the T's. My present day step works exactly like yours and Paul Mold's.

Press to extend.

Press to retract

Retract on engine start

All you need is a simple bell-push type of switch

I suspect that a quick clean and a squirt of WD 40, or Thetford toilet maintenance spray will fix the switch for you. If the push button is not coming out flush with the surround, it is sticking a bit, due to plastic on plastic friction, then all you will need is a spot of plastic lube (the above mentioned WD 40 or Thetford spray)

That does seem to be the standard method of operation. Which confused me when the man at Magnum said you specifically have to hold it in during the operation.

The push button I’ve got isn’t sticking in any way, it’s still as smooth as a baby’s bottom. It just stopped working one day. But the contact cleaner is worth trying. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned just by asking on here (and knowing my limitations).

by rogerblack Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:45 pm

I'd carefully remove each of the connectors before spraying to ensure the problem isn't caused by corrosion on the contacts.

by Kemerton-bath Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:22 pm

The Magnum guy is correct in his description of the switch operation but probably doesn’t know how the step actuator works. All the actuator needs is a momentary impulse of power, achieved by a brief push of the switch, to either deploy or retract the step. You don’t need to keep the button pressed, one push is enough to operate it.

You can think of it in terms of those door chimes that play Beethoven’s 5th (other tunes are available). Just a brief press of the bell-push is enough to wake up the electronics and bring joy.

My advice is to buy the Magnum switch, especially since AS can’t be ar**d by the sound of it.

Tim

by Slow-Lane Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:30 pm

Sally wrote:
Paulmold wrote:Mines exactly the same. It may of course only need some contact cleaner spray before you actually replace it.
Yes, that’s step 1. The replacement switch is step 2. I’m assuming I just take the switch out, spray the contact spray all over and replace.

Yes, switch cleaner spray works best if you can see inside the switch and direct a squirt into it, so take the switch out first then give it a generous squirt and vigorously work the switch on and off. As I've mentioned before, I would not use WD40 or other similar sprays as WD40 is intended to be an insulator, so the last thing you want to squirt into your switch. If the switch is stiff, so not moving enough the switch cleaner will help lubricate it.
Fingers crossed you get it sorted out without too much hassle!

by Gollum Tue Oct 27, 2020 11:14 pm

Kemerton-bath wrote:Sally, I checked our switch this morning and it's just as you describe on yours with the button flush to the surround. Ours is definitely a CBE switch, as it's one of a cluster of CBE switches and a 13A socket as shown in the picture below. I've also shown the rear of the switch (circled); its technical term is a "momentary push switch" as the contacts are only closed momentarily on pushing the button, rather than being latched on or off.

I agree the switch advertised by Magnum looks different, but I've gone through the CBE product range (it's a wet morning and sadly I'm into switches) and there's nothing else, so maybe it supersedes the version on our vans. Magnum may be able to confirm or deny if AS can't help you, or alternatively you could try this place, that advertises itself as the UK's CBE centre (though in fact it's just another motorhome parts centre) ...

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Tim

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Hi Kemerton. Looking at your pictures especially the lower one showing the rear of the switches. The mains one at the bottom shows the cable outer sleeve outside the protective casing. This means that the electric carrying cables only have there own casing to protect you from them!!! Please for your own safety take this unit apart and get that outer sleeve inside. If this would not pass a mains electric safety check.

by Kemerton-bath Wed Oct 28, 2020 8:06 pm

Thanks Gollum, I rarely go to that area of the van so hadn’t spotted it. It’s now on my job list.

by Sally Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:40 pm

Well, the saga continues.

Against his better judgement, I persuaded my brother (who is helping me) to purchase the switch from Autosleepers. One of the reasons I gave him was that by specifying the details and the build number, they wouldn’t send the wrong switch.

They’ve sent the wrong switch!

My brother specified the circular press in switch that’s for the step and is listed on page 18. They’ve sent a rocker switch that is not for the step and is not on page 18. To say he’s miffed is an understatement. hugegrins

He is now trying to get a replacement. Apparently me laughing at him wasn’t helpful hugegrins

by Sally Mon Nov 09, 2020 4:51 pm

Having finally got the new switch, I’ve tried it and the step is still not operating. So it’s not the fuse and it’s not the switch, I can only assume it’s something on the step. I’ll have to get someone to look at it in the Spring.

by Dave 418 Mon Nov 09, 2020 5:26 pm

Not the same step system or fault as yours but the biggest problem with our step has always been the micro switch on the side of the step bracket. If the step is out it sounds the buzzer when the engine is running and powers the step back in.
Ours sticks quite regularly due to it being in line with the front wheels and any road muck that gets thrown up. The worst case being when we ran over a branch and tore the wiring off the switch and the motor.
Ours is playing up at the moment. The buzzer sometimes sounds but the step stays out. I have sprayed the switch with contact cleaner and WD40 with limited success. Until the habitation check in January I will try to remember to retract the step with the switch.
We have a cheap folding step in case all else fails to help muttly climb in.

by Sally Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:52 pm

Dave 418 wrote:Not the same step system or fault as yours but the biggest problem with our step has always been the micro switch on the side of the step bracket. If the step is out it sounds the buzzer when the engine is running and powers the step back in.
Ours sticks quite regularly due to it being in line with the front wheels and any road muck that gets thrown up. The worst case being when we ran over a branch and tore the wiring off the switch and the motor.
Ours is playing up at the moment. The buzzer sometimes sounds but the step stays out. I have sprayed the switch with contact cleaner and WD40 with limited success. Until the habitation check in January I will try to remember to retract the step with the switch.
We have a cheap folding step in case all else fails to help muttly climb in.

Trying to diagnose a micro switch is beyond me, it took all my time to try a new push button.

Until I can take it to someone, I’ve bought a small folding step from Dunhelm. It gave me the opportunity to purchase 2 new bedroom lamps in crystal and blue allthumbz

In the meantime, I now have 3 switches I don’t need. The wrong one from Autosleepers (rocker), the correct one from Autosleepers (push button) and the alternative push button that my brother sourced while annoyed with Autosleepers hugegrins

by marbarsymbol Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:03 pm

Sally
If you google search for "em50 wiring" you will find a pdf diagram of wiring of the step and fuses etc that control it. It may be of help if the problem is not in the switch.
Might be an idea to check fridge still works on 12 volt.

Martin

by marbarsymbol Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:57 pm

This thread may help from another forum

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Martin

by Sally Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:46 pm

marbarsymbol wrote:This thread may help from another forum

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Martin

It’s very interesting that, although a little beyond me. It’s not the fuse (checked and replaced) and it’s not the switch (checked with new ones, I now have 3 spare!!!). The fridge works as it should.

The rest of the checks are beyond me I’m afraid. So it will be a trip to an engineer.

Sally.

by inspiredron Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:47 am

Not your problem, Sally, but I had a related problem which surfaced the day before my first hab service at Willersey. The button would put the step out but I had to retract it manually. When the step is retracted it hits a small button that sits somewhere behind and below it. That is the mictoswitch that decides whether the motor should drive the step out or in. That little pimple was covered in road crud and was stuck in the depressed position - it thought the step was in when it was out so didn't try to retract it, even when the engine was started. A/S gave it a squirt of cleaning fluid plus a small blob of grease - no problems since! I'm guessing that the pimple on yours is stuck in the up position so that the step thinks it is out. Or maybe itsb contacts are dirty.