Electrical and Hydraulic Questions

[workinonit]

So I thought I knew how all of this worked until I started getting into it to install my EMS today. I have a few questions:

I know I have hydraulic slides on the kitchen and dining slides. I'm not certain about the Schwintek slide in the bedroom if it's electric or hydraulic? Here's a pic of the hydraulic connections. The four are obviously for jacks but I'm confused where the other jack set is if the S1 and S2 are for the two hydraulic slides. So those are the questions here, are S1 and S2 for the two slides? How does the third set of jacks operate? If S1 and S2 are for the third set of jacks then how do the slides function?

The other pic is my panel cover. If the slides are hydraulic then what is the 12 VDC Kitchen Slide fuse for? I'm assuming that may be for 12 VDC lights and devices in the kitchen slide. What are the two 30 amp Bed Lift fuses for? If the bedroom slide is hydraulic where is the solenoid valve for it? If it is electric where is the fuse for it? In Command has three different functions to operate the 3 slides.

And lastly, why is there a 15 amp AC breaker for something Solar? Is that for the solar charger when you are on shore power?

I'm just trying to make sure I understand all of this prior to my trip next week. I'm expecting my hardwired EMS today so hopefully I can get it installed and working.

I think that's it, Thanks in advance.

Randy

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Where are all your breakers and fuses? I have never seen a power center that looked like that.

Anyway, Schwintek slides are electric. Hydraulic slides and levelers still need electricity to run the hydraulic pumps. The actual drive systems for the slides whether electric or hydraulic and the leveling system whether electric or hydraulic have separate fuses that are not in the power center. The 12v fuse for the "Kitchen Slide" is for the lights, not the slide motor.

That looks like you have the Equalizer hydraulic system that Keystone used in place of Lippert during the Covid era. The front landing gear jacks run off the same solenoid and use pressure to equalize and provide leveling. The 4 rear jacks are each independently operable. I can't see it in your picture, but there are typically another set of hydraulic fittings on the end of the manifold.

The breaker label handwritten Solar was originally for the Refrigerator. With a used camper, there is no telling who crossed it out and why. I have a factory solar installation and there are no breakers or fuses in the power center. Everything is in the forward compartment under the front overhang.

Fuse boxes often have locations for fuses not specific to your model and without a fuse inserted. I have a spot for a 30A Bed-Lift 1, but I don't have a bed lift and there is no fuse there. I also have a spot for BCM 15A but I do not have InCommand, so I have no BCM and there is no fuse in that spot. My fuse panel is labeled nearly identical to yours, except in place of Bed-Lift 2 I have my 12v DC refrigerator. Otherwise it is the same.

 

[workinonit]

That's just the cover. LOL. I have it off so I can install the EMS today if it shows up.

 

[workinonit]

It looks like my cable from the service entrance reel is going to be long enough to reach the pass through so I can mount the EMS in there. I hope so.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

I got lucky with mine. My exterior power connection is at the rear, and the power center is in the wall between the rear bedroom and the kitchen area so the back of the power center and the deck mount converter are easily accessible under the L-shaped dinette. All I did is remove two screws from the corner section of the plywood seat base and everything was fully accessible from above.

 

[workinonit]

I just checked and mine will be delivered today. I'll post up the install.

I also just ran my bed slide in and back out and didn't get any hydraulic action so apparently it is electric. I wonder if that's what the Bed Lift fuses are for? If I can't get an answer I will pull the fuses and see what doesn't work. I'm gaining on it.

 

[workinonit]

My EMS arrived. I'm in the process of building a generator and LP tank mount for the receiver hitch and when I'm done with that I will install the EMS.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

One word of advice on the EMS installation; I am pretty sure you already thought of it, but just to be certain, make sure that the EMS/EPO is installed BEFORE anything else in the RV. it HAS to be the first in line from the service entrance to protect everything.

 

[workinonit]

Yea, I'm dropping the line side of my 50 amp breaker and pulling that cable back to the cross over. I've already bought the THHN single conductor 6 to go from EMS back to the breaker. Yea, I'm an electrical guy. I still work for Emerson doing voltage regulator installs and emergent repairs and service work on large commercial generators. Worked as an EE in a 2500 MW power station here in SC.

 

[workinonit]

So I had to move the camper today. Bedroom slide is electric and must have 2 motors. I still cant figure out those jacks.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

The Schwintek and BAL Exact-Slide both use two electric motors, one in the frame rails of each side opening

 

[workinonit]

So that solves that mystery and is probably what the two "Bed-Lift" 30A fuses are for. This is Schwintek as far as I can tell. I think I know know how the jacks work. Not 100% sure but I think the two jacks on the left rear are on one circuit and the two on the right are on a circuit. The front end jacks are separate. This hit me yesterday when I moved the camper.

 

[workinonit]

Installed the EMS this afternoon. When I pulled my feeder cable back I had plenty to get into the pass through. Mounted it on the ceiling in the pass through. Two aluminum floor joists were the exact width apart. That thing is pretty slick. It will educate you on power consumption and balancing loads.