Posted 2005-11-16 7:47 AM (#33096) Subject: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
I have a small Eby gn, 2 horse with living quarters. I had an electric jack installed when I bought the trailer 2 years ago. The jack works fine except it will only run about 30 seconds and then shuts off. If I wait about 30 seconds I will hear a "click" in the box (where the lever is) and then I can once again use the jack, but again for only about 30 seconds. This happens ONLY when RAISING the trailer - when lowering the trailer it will run continuously without shutting off until I release the lever. My question is - is the jack designed this way so it does not over heat or whatever from stress of lifinging - or is it a defect of some kind?
Posted 2005-11-16 8:44 AM (#33099 - in reply to #33096) Subject: RE: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
paso,
I would say that is the circut breaker you hear clicking. It is there to protect the motor in the jack from overheating. When it cools it resets its self. It could be caused for a couple of reasons. Maybe lube the screw on the jack, a faulty or weak circut breaker, or the motor has some issues. It is supposed to do that, it is protecting itself. Can it be operated in a manual mode (handcrank)? If not you may want to get it looked at.
Posted 2005-11-16 8:59 AM (#33101 - in reply to #33096) Subject: RE: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
XYZ... Thanks for the info. I can manually hand crank the trailer, but would not want to make a habit of it! It's a very hard cranking/heavy front end. I had a suspicion that this behavior was designed into the motor. I will worry less, now. Also, I will check fuses, etc. Thank you for responding.
Posted 2005-11-16 9:29 AM (#33104 - in reply to #33096) Subject: RE: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
Barry - I would not be suprised that the jack does not have "guts" enough. I had it installed at the trailer place when I bought the trailer (used), but the extra cost was maybe $700.00 so I am sure it was the cheapest unit. I will have to check into this further. For now, winter is coming in the northeast and no more hauling/camping for a few months, anyway. Of course I bought the trailer 800 miles away, so going back for service is a moot point.
Posted 2005-11-16 11:20 AM (#33114 - in reply to #33096) Subject: RE: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
Well...I don't think it did this from the get-go. Seems like I would have called the trailer place and protested if it had. When did it start? I just don't know. However, I bought new batteries when I brought the trailer home and they are now 2 years old, which sources tell me is about all you can get out of them before replacing them. So, perhaps a battery issue - but there is still the "click" which makes me think the overheat thing. Now, it does this even when the trailer is "plugged-in" at the house. Or does the jack draw off the batteries exclusively?
Posted 2005-11-16 12:49 PM (#33122 - in reply to #33096) Subject: RE: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
In most cases, these jacks are wired to the batteries. However, if the trailer is plugged in, it should be sending power to the batteries to charge them at the same time. I would check the batteries. We have issues with our electric jack when our batteries are not fully charged. However, we do not experience the same problems you have. I have had times where I would have to hook up the trailer lights to the truck to get the power to lower the jack on the trailer when the batteries were not fully charged.
Posted 2005-11-17 12:05 PM (#33182 - in reply to #33096) Subject: RE: Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Greenbrier, AR
If you have a 2 speed manual jack on the trailer it has to be in the "lo-speed crank mode" before the "add on" electric jack is installed. This could also cause this problem by overloading the electric motor.
Electric Trailer Jack stopping after 30 seconds
