Fuses

[maximo]

I read on some post about a month ago about blowing fuses while operating slides and jacks. I have a new 2011 Big sky 3580RL and will be operating the hydraulics on three slides and the Lippet 6 point leveling system. What size extra fuses do I need to keep on hand for the hydraulic system or any other electrical need of the RV?

Frank

[awaywego]

Unless they have changed and I do not think they have, the hydraulics is on a auto reset breaker in the front compartment by the battery. It should be a 50 amp or Keystone told me they were going to make it 80 amp on the newer units.

[Art-n-Marge]

It's not a fuse. You've been reading about "automatically-resetting circuit breakers" when used with slideouts. These are circuit breakers that when they trip to disconnect the circuit from too much current, will then wait a second or two, then automatically reset themselves and reconnect the circuit. This avoids having to reset it manually, and not being a fuse, prevents having to be replaced, too. It is a great invention if used and rated correctly.

These are used in high current circuits like a 5er's landing gear or slideout motors. Since there are so many temporary stresses that could cause a current jump, these breakers are intended to trip, then resume. Many 5er owners report their slideouts will stop and start on their way to extending or retracting them. You DO NOT need to stock these. I'll try to explain further.

I am trying to remember the details correctly but when you read the manufacturing specs from Lippert, the slideout motors can support 40 to 100 amps of current depending on the load. In our trailers' cases the trailer manufacturer installs a 40 amp or 50 amp autoresetting breaker and we find that with the size, weight and number (3, 4 and 5) of slideouts, current surges can occur that will cause these lower rated circuit breakers to break the circuit prematurely creating some inconvenience for us. While they reset and we resume, it can be irritating and time-consuming if they do this often during slideout movement.

There is documentation from Lippert (the manufacturer of these motors) to solve this problem by increasing the amperage to 80 to 100 amps by using dual 40 or 50 amp breakers in parallel or replace the existing breaker with a single 80 or 100 amp breaker. If you do this, there should be no need to stock these circuit breakers. My thought is that if NOW the breaker is tripped there is probably a much more serious problem cause that is occuring.

With a Lippert landing gear replacement I believe there is a new motor and circuit breakers and from what others have posted with these systems, there shouldn't be a problem. This problem is also rare with landing gear motors too. I guess the landing gear has a more appropriately rated circuit breaker.

I don't recall reading that a Big Sky has problems with the slideout motors so they might already have higher rated autoresetting circuit breakers for their slideout motor. You might be okay on this.

Hopefully someone can provide the expectations and statistics for your rig.

[mhs4771]

I only have 2 slides, but do have the Level-Up system. I'm in the process of changing out the 50 amp breaker, works fine when connected to shore power, but if Boondocking and the batteries get down a little, the breaker will keep resetting because of the load on the batteries.

[Carl n Susan]

You have one of the brand new, built on the line, Big Sky Upgrade Package equipped Montanas. The Level Up system replaces the standard hydraulic pump and reservoir as it now drives the six legs as well as the slides. I would hope they also increased the size of the circuit breaker. As others have said (and a Search will show pictures) the CB is on the wall near the battery. You might check it to see what size was supplied.

Personally, I doubt you will have a problem immediately. When you return to the dealer for warranty repair, have them check it and upgrade it if it is a 40 or 50 amp model.