Powering Rockslide step sliders off of factory Aux switch?

[Jeffro22]

I've got a set on order and just setting a game plan for the install. Thinking of utilizing one of my factory aux. switches to power the steps instead of adding their switch inside the Jeep. I can set one of my aux switches to be powered direct from the battery giving me the same ability as their switch. Only question I have is what kind of battery draw can I expect keeping that switch on constantly? I ordered the new gen 3 steps that now have a built in sleep mode to help mitigate battery drain. Just looking to get anyones insight on this. I reached out to Rockslide to get their input but haven't gotten a reply yet. Thanks for your time.

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[AggieJeep]

I've got a set on order and just setting a game plan for the install. Thinking of utilizing one of my factory aux. switches to power the steps instead of adding their switch inside the Jeep. I can set one of my aux switches to be powered direct from the battery giving me the same ability as their switch. Only question I have is what kind of battery draw can I expect keeping that switch on constantly? I ordered the new gen 3 steps that now have a built in sleep mode to help mitigate battery drain. Just looking to get anyones insight on this. I reached out to Rockslide to get their input but haven't gotten a reply yet. Thanks for your time.

I power mine from Aux 1. Both 1 and two have the rated amp capacity to drive the steps so either would be fine. Aux 3 and 4 are only 15 amps, the steps need 20 IIRC, so don’t use either of those.

An advantage of the Aux switches is that the will be disabled if the battery voltage gets low. I’ve run mine this way now for a couple of years and like it. Clean install with no extra switch needed.

 

[AZCooWhip]

i assume you are talking rock slide engineering RSE? What’s the concern with installing/using their on/off switch?

Its a tiny rocker switch that is hidden up on the driver side with no issues. The only time I ever use the switch is when I remove my doors.

It may just be me, but I would rather have the AUX switch spot for other stuff.

 

[Jeffro22]

I power mine from Aux 1. Both 1 and two have the rated amp capacity to drive the steps so either would be fine. Aux 3 and 4 are only 15 amps, the steps need 20 IIRC, so don’t use either of those.

An advantage of the Aux switches is that the will be disabled if the battery voltage gets low. I’ve run mine this way now for a couple of years and like it. Clean install with no extra switch needed.

 

[Jeffro22]

Perfect, You answered the other question I had in regards to a low voltage safety.

 

[AggieJeep]

Perfect, You answered the other question I had in regards to a low voltage safety.

My truck was in the batch where Jeep got a bad run of batteries. A few times, the steps did not deploy because the truck had disabled all Aux switches until the charge got replenished enough. Nice to know the Aux gear won’t be allowed to suck the batteries dry. You have enough draw from other onboard electronics to do the rest of the job

 

[MAI77]

I power mine from Aux 1. Both 1 and two have the rated amp capacity to drive the steps so either would be fine. Aux 3 and 4 are only 15 amps, the steps need 20 IIRC, so don’t use either of those.

An advantage of the Aux switches is that the will be disabled if the battery voltage gets low. I’ve run mine this way now for a couple of years and like it. Clean install with no extra switch needed.

Reviving an old thread here. I'm having a heck of a time trying to wire to Aux 1/2 and just wondering what I am doing incorrectly. I feel it's a grounding issue. If I power and ground to the RSE supplied switch the steps trigger fine. However, if I connect power to Aux 1 or 2 and ground to any grounding point on the chassis I get nothing.

The reason I feel it's a ground issue I'm not understanding is because if I connect red/black wires direct to rocker switch, no problem. If I connect red to Aux switch 1/2 and black anywhere else...I get nothing. Wish I could find the ground wire used by the switch panel to test out my theory but that's just too much of a PIA.

Any advice from someone who has already done it is greatly appreciated.

 

[elliott9000]

Reviving an old thread here. I'm having a heck of a time trying to wire to Aux 1/2 and just wondering what I am doing incorrectly. I feel it's a grounding issue. If I power and ground to the RSE supplied switch the steps trigger fine. However, if I connect power to Aux 1 or 2 and ground to any grounding point on the chassis I get nothing.

The reason I feel it's a ground issue I'm not understanding is because if I connect red/black wires direct to rocker switch, no problem. If I connect red to Aux switch 1/2 and black anywhere else...I get nothing. Wish I could find the ground wire used by the switch panel to test out my theory but that's just too much of a PIA.

Any advice from someone who has already done it is greatly appreciated.

Did you ever get to the bottom of this @MAI77 ?

 

[MAI77]

Did you ever get to the bottom of this @MAI77 ?

Yep wired in a relay to take the place of the switch.

 

[elliott9000]

Meaning you got the RSE steps to be controlled by the OEM AUX switches? I tried black wire grounded to the chassis and red wire to AUX connection, but as you mentioned before that doesn't work.

If you got it working please elaborate on what I need and how to wire it if you don't mind.

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