Resolved FWS not responsive

[newmarokie]

All, my FWS in not responsive. It is retracted in my storage facility. It has been sitting for about two months. Both door side slides extended as expected. I am going to turn off the salesman switch for a reset. If that doesn’t fix it I am thinking a fuse or connection. Where do I start that search?

 

[DennisT]

Happened to us when in for warranty work. They pushed the out button and nothing happened - was the controller that failed.

 

[Neal]

All, my FWS in not responsive. It is retracted in my storage facility. It has been sitting for about two months. Both door side slides extended as expected. I am going to turn off the salesman switch for a reset. If that doesn’t fix it I am thinking a fuse or connection. Where do I start that search?

Turn off salesman (12v) switch for at least a minute. Turn on and see if that works. Causing the controller to power cycle.

If no luck go to your OASIS area and find the controller on the ceiling. Disconnect/reconnect connectors.

See how that works then we can go from there.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

It wasn't my full wall slide; my kitchen slide wouldn't come in. I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Newmar doing all sorts of things and finally, I turned the salesman switch off for at least 5 minutes when I turned it back on everything worked. Be patient, it takes those electrons time to de-energize. Good luck.

 

[flyboy013]

Did you turn off the 150A breakers in the coach battery service bay when you put the coach into storage? Or did they somehow trip? The HWH system is powered by one of those two breakers.

 

[newmarokie]

Update. The coach was plugged in when this happened. I thought to myself "self we are told it is better to run the slides with the engine running". I tried to start the engine. Chassis batteries were dead. I jumped the chassis batteries with the house batteries. Since the coach was running, I started the generator to exercise it. With everything running, I got the coach out and drove about thirty minutes to a fuel stop. Fueled the coach up and put back in the barn. with the generator running and the engine running I tried all the slides and they all worked. I guess I am confused. Where does the coach get power to operate the slides? I thought it was the house batteries. They were at 13.2 during this.

 

[J&JD]

It is my understanding that all slides are powered from the chassis batteries. That is why it is recommended to operate the slides with the engine running as the alternator is charging the chassis batteries before it will switch to the house batteries.

 

[newmarokie]

That is what I am thinking at this point.

 

[Neal]

Chassis batteries were dead.

Why were they dead? This is what you need to resolve. Don't know if you need to replace them now, or maybe they were already due to be replaced. But why are they not being charged?

 

[team bradfield]

I've never read engine running to operate slides, i usually do all my hook ups with the slides in to save my back. that would mean restarting to do slides? I plug in first so thought that would charge the chassis batteries, No problems to date, but sure don't want to cause an issue.

 

[jaydee325]

I just lived through the kitchen slide being inoperative stuck in the closed position.

Did all the reset stuff, no joy. It would click and try but not move. Dealer said probably motor. There are two. If one fails, the controller will sense that and shut it off. Took it in and it was a failed motor.

 

[J&JD]

I've never read engine running to operate slides, i usually do all my hook ups with the slides in to save my back. that would mean restarting to do slides? I plug in first so thought that would charge the chassis batteries, No problems to date, but sure don't want to cause an issue.

If your chassis batteries are fully charged and you are plugged in it probably doesn’t make a heck of a lot of difference. You might be surprised, however, how much faster the HWH FWS will come in with the engine running. My coach will not allow me to operate the bedroom slide at all with the engine running. The kitchen slide will come in but not go out with engine running. The FWS will operate both in/out with engine running. Go figure.

 

[Neal]

My slides are 12V and powered by house batteries.

 

[J&JD]

My slides are 12V and powered by house batteries.

Are you sure? Maybe it’s different for the DS because of the HWH hydraulic FWS? If you turn off your chassis battery disconnect will your slides still work?

 

[newmarokie]

I don’t have an answer for charging. Last early Summer, Spring, and Winter when were using the coach we had no issues. This is the longest it has since we owned it. As near as I can tell, these are the batteries that came in it six years ago next month. We haven’t had any issues with the slides. Generator running/not running, engine running/ not running, plugged in/not plugged in. I think we have done all of the combinations.

 

[newmarokie]

I busted disconnected my chassis batteries. The door slides continued to work. The hydraulic pump and the FWS did not

 

[newmarokie]

Just disconnected

 

[Neal]

Are you sure? Maybe it’s different for the DS because of the HWH hydraulic FWS? If you turn off your chassis battery disconnect will your slides still work?

All of my slides are electric, non HWH. After getting my LiFePO4 house battery upgrade and harvest hosting a night I did a test on the amp draw of running slides off of house batteries. Surprised to see how little power they do draw when running. If it was running off of chassis batteries I would not have seen the amp draw on the Victron display.

 

[Richpatty]

I agree with Neal….I have watched the meters when operating slides on fully charged lithiums and they don’t change much…

 

[FLSteve]

It is my understanding that all slides are powered from the chassis batteries. That is why it is recommended to operate the slides with the engine running as the alternator is charging the chassis batteries before it will switch to the house batteries.

I agree ... I always have the engine running when slides go in and out.

FLSteve