Penthouse Top Switch no longer engaging/working

[mariavw]

Saga on the penthouse top installed on my 2011 Ford E-350. Fuse blew three days ago and was replaced. 5am today tried to get an early start and the switch is no longer operable. It was stuck in the up position (top was up from sleeping last night). The only way to engage the switch is to press in and move up and down, but nothing happens. Anyone replace a switch or have this same issue? All wiring is connected to switch and top is getting power (lights still going on).

 

[Scalf77]

So this most likely a bad switch. Being that it was stuck up it might have blown the fuse again. If there is power to the switch . Switch wiring should be either of these two lay outs

 

[mariavw]

Fuse is fine. Lights are turning on/off that are connected to the same power to the main engine battery.

 

[mariavw]

Lights

 

[moorefc]

On my 2008 there is a circuit breaker behind the switch. Is there power to the switch? That switch does not look like the stock rocker in vans that I have seen, but if power and you understand the switch configuration you could try bridging. I once drew a diagram and from memory the terminals connected in a crosswise fashion, but that may be little help with this very different looking rocker. Can you get a part number and look up the switch schematic? It is possible to release the actuators mechanically at the rear of the top. That requires pushing the top higher to disengage......My Sportsmobile book talks about the troubleshooting the electric top, the fuse and ckt breaker.
Cheers

 

[mariavw]

I am by myself. 120 lb female and all information I read says that manually lowering the top is very hard! I found the switch serial number and configuration is 6 connections with hot/neutral in middle row. Attaching pics.

 

[mariavw]

Dumb question, but how to best test power to switch? I have a complete toolkit, but no electric tester. I am stranded in Oregon.

 

[mariavw]

On my 2008 there is a circuit breaker behind the switch. Is there power to the switch? That switch does not look like the stock rocker in vans that I have seen, but if power and you understand the switch configuration you could try bridging. I once drew a diagram and from memory the terminals connected in a crosswise fashion, but that may be little help with this very different looking rocker. Can you get a part number and look up the switch schematic? It is possible to release the actuators mechanically at the rear of the top. That requires pushing the top higher to disengage......My Sportsmobile book talks about the troubleshooting the electric top, the fuse and ckt breaker.
Cheers

There isn’t a circuit breaker behind the switch.

 

[Scalf77]

Power should be the red and white wires. my Sportsmobile had a breaker also. The fuse for the lights is separate branch of the circuit.. I agree it doesn't look like the standard SMB switch but as long as it is a DPDT(on)-off-(on) switch it should be fine. Generally the if the switch position is up, the active connection is from middle to the bottom, so for down it would be middle to upper, the left side and right side are separate circuits.

Where in Oregon?

 

[moorefc]

Check voltage to switch (use a lightbulb or something powered by 12v?)....That will indicate which of Scalfs schematics might be applicable. Then if you have power and good clip leads or similar you could try contacting the down positive wires....You have two actuators as shown in the cartoon schematic.
If all else, you can drive at slow speeds. Where in Oregon (echo)?

 

[mariavw]

L

Power should be the red and white wires. my Sportsmobile had a breaker also. The fuse for the lights is separate branch of the circuit.. I agree it doesn't look like the standard SMB switch but as long as it is a DPDT(on)-off-(on) switch it should be fine. Generally the if the switch position is up, the active connection is from middle to the bottom, so for down it would be middle to upper, the left side and right side are separate circuits.

Where in Oregon?

Looking for circuit breaker. Is it under this panel? McKenzie River Hwy 142

 

[mariavw]

Found circuit. Bussman 710613. Two yellow wires are connected to the breaker. I removed breaker and the lights still worked, so I think this is for the top only. Small black mark on one side of breaker.

 

[moorefc]

Your on 242? Drive to find a voltmeter? Take these thoughts with a grain of salt....
On the stock builds the ckt breaker is either behind the switch, or on older builds in (unlikely) a hard to get to pillar behind the drivers seat. Yours could be anywhere, especially if the vehicle is not a Sportsmobile build....really you should determine if you have voltage to the switch first. If no voltage, then jumper from a source? If voltage, jumper switch leads. Your comment about the switch feeling loose may indicate the issue is in the switch. If mechanical is the only possibility see earlier comment. You are either near Sisters, or towards Eugene there is a Chevron towards Rainbow....
Sportsmobile typically uses a Linak LA31 linear actuator on each side.

 

[mariavw]

Tested connecting each top wire to hot and left side had power (upper left), but upper right did not.

 

[mariavw]

Tested connecting each top wire to hot and left side had power (upper left), but upper right did not.

Anyone have experience lowering top manually and can provide instructions?

 

[Scalf77]

The circuit breaker is traditionally behind switch in a inline fuse holder. From the pictures the my right side schematic is the one being used. This just switches polarity for up and down .

I sent a PM to you with my cell phone.

Here is a new picture of the switch. Your are switching both hot and ground inputs.

 

[Scalf77]

Camping World shows some available in two stores close to me. You will need to check for stores going south. JR Products DPDT Momentary On/Off/Momentary On, Reversing Switch

 

[Twoxentrix]

At this stage I think you are better off working with the very capable Members currently assisting you...BUT, I keep these instructions in my Van in case I'm ever faced with the same dilemma (Taken from a post many years ago, and I've never had to go through the exercise myself so all I can do is share it AND point out the last paragraph should be read carefully since it eludes to taking safety precautions so you're not injured when the top suddenly comes down):

LOWERING THE PENTHOUSE TOP WITH NO POWER

Yes, it is possible to lower a power top manually.
If you ran the batteries down and you have a second alternator, you can jump the house batteries by touching a hot wire to that alternator (e.g., jumper cable or wire from van hot/red to metal on alternator). My second alternator is in front of the passenger side front wheel, accessible from below. You would then need to run the van/drive it or strong idle to charge the batteries.

If that does not work then you have to detach the hydraulic levers in the back of the lift mechanism. It should be in your manual or you can call SMB to walk you through it or send you the process/diagrams. It is a PITA though...says the voice of experience. Good luck

• They are Linak Linear actuators and they are located laying in the roof mech channels at the rear of the roof. Most Linak actuators are custom designed for each customer and the SMB actuators are no exception.
• They are commonly used in electric wheelchairs, hospital beds and loads of other devices.
  
  They look like this......

SMB North walked us through it and the very small cotter style pins at the end of the actuators can be removed freeing up the connection to the PH top...They did warn us that the 'weight' of the PH top will surprise the heck out of you/hurt you if you try to lower it yourself (the helper springs will keep it popped, but grabbing the PH bed holder wires, or hooks to start to pull it down) without looking for that 'surprise' as the spring helpers give way to the weight...especially if you have the EB model/top...

 

[mariavw]

Thank you thank you everyone for the information! And help! Greg was able to walk me through the electrical set up after determining that the fuse/circuit was working. I removed the extraneous wires and tested the main two black wires directly on the hot/neutral and sure enough, one made the top go up and the other made the top go down. So, faulty switch!!!

 

[lchukar]

Great job by the SMB Forum team in solving this problem on the fly. A pat on the back for all of those who helped Mariavw solve her problem, and a pat on the back for Mariavw for hanging in there through what must have been a long annoying ordeal in the field.

But just out of curiosity, where is fuse located? I have a 2010 EB E-350.