Big Foot

I have a 2011 36MAX1. I am having intermittent problems with Bog Foot. I start a trip with normal operation. Arrive at destination and it will not extend. Have to jump direct from battery to solenoid to lower stabilizers. Then emergency retract to raise. Travel 150 miles, normal operation again. Suspect loose ground somewhere. I checked voltage at batteries, solenoids, and control panel today, all reading 13.4 volts. Next time it may be 9.4 volts at the solenoids. Is there a wiring diagram available? I have talked to a tech at Big Foot, tried a new control panel, no positive results.

Topic

[JohnD222ParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

Dad…,

Ideas but nothing definitive for you.

what does control panel battery level on screen say?  Turn on unit, use up arrow to see voltage.

Are you sure the voltage variability is not being caused by a poor battery?  Are reading always taken when on shore power?  Shore power to your charger/converter can mask a bad battery during high amp draw pump action. As soon as shore power is removed, a weak battery will drop from 13.5 to almost no voltage if you pump(s) are drawing 24 amps each.  I tell folks to try to never run pumps without shore power -it puts way too much stress on even brand new batteries, and the more such stress the shorter the battery life. And an idling truck puts out very few amps IF the truck even sends power to the camper when in park.  If indicated voltage drops simply because you tap a leveling arrow, it is a good sign the battery is weak or low on water.

A 6-month old deep cycle battery can be killed if voltage is drawn down to 9 volts a dozen times.  Any battery over 2 years old is very suspect particularly if an inverter is involved (residential frig etc) or water levels have not been meticulously maintained.

Intermittent voltage could be a bad ground or power connection, but each piston pump has its own power line and ground. So you would have one or more non-responsive pumps, but not all of them. If it affects all pistons, if the screen is not responsive or if screen does not turn on it could be the circuit breaker to pumps or the fuse to the control panel.  Both of those on mine are in upper driver’s side of forward storage area. My square circuit breaker to pumps is labeled 125 amps. It cannot be operated manually, but if you see low voltage,  you could temporarily bypass the breaker to test its function by connecting both cables to one post.  Of course if you are showing 13.5 volts this won’t test anything. If all pistons run they can collectively draw 96 amps. Most pumps I see being used simultaneously is 2 so 48 amps. The breaker is usually either on full or off completely so voltage should not be varying because of the breaker.  However. You can pull the fuse to the control board and try reversing terminals before reinserting. A bad connection there could cause variable voltage to panel, but not piston pumps.

Also check the main battery ground to chassis.  big foot master ground is also on this lug that is located lower down on drivers side of forward storage

About your vintage there was a controller that had a second level sensor that caused all kinds of problems. The solution at the time was remove that 2nd sensor.

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[Author]

Replies