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Installation Operation Maintenance/Service A&E-related questions  Installation PowerPlus systems come with mounting brackets that are either welded or bolted to your frame near the natural suspension points of your coach. Then the PowerPlus jacks are bolted to the brackets, the cables (included in every system) are run from the jack to the central control system, and the control panel is mounted inside the unit at your preferred location (frequently near an exit door so you can access the system from inside or out). We generally recommend welding the mounting brackets to the frame because of the possibility of damaging unseen items behind the frame when drilling (such as accidentally poking a hole in the gas tanks when mounting the rear jacks). We do have bolt-on brackets available for an additional fee. How long does it take to install? Depending on the type of system that you buy, average installation can range anywhere from two to eight hours. Experienced dealers can generally plan about one hour per jack, plus one hour for a Basic control system, or two hours for the Automatic or Standard control systems. How much lift does each jack have? This varies based on the type of jack best suited to your unit. Measurement charts are available which list all relevant measurements for each jack. The PowerPlus Swing Jack has a capacity of 8,500 pounds, and is available in both 6" stroke and 8" stroke (21.75" and 25.75" fully extended length, respectively). The PowerPlus Vertical Jack has a capacity of 8,500 pounds, and is available in both 13.5" stroke and 20" stroke (33.5" and 46" fully extended length, respectively). The PowerPlus Scissor Jack has a capacity of 5,000 pounds, and is available with 17" stroke (21 1/2" fully extended length). How much does the system weigh? Again, this depends on the number of jacks in a system, but the average 2-jack system adds only around 75 pounds installed, and a typical 4-jack system weighs under 170 pounds installed. Operation How does the Automatic system work? The PowerPlus Automatic control system provides the simplest operation in the industry. When you press the auto-extend button, the computer extends the jacks to within a few inches of the ground, then it allows you to check the area beneath the vehicle. When you press auto-extend again, the computer takes over to level and stabilize the unit automatically. The automatic system for 5th wheel units also includes a step to separate the unit from (and when retracting, to reconnect to) the tow vehicle. PowerPlus Automatic systems are available in 4-jack system configurations. How does the Standard control system work? The PowerPlus Standard control system offers the best of both worlds. The user can operate two jacks at once to minimize twisting of the frame, or can use a single jack to raise a corner of the frame to neutralize a twist in the frame. How does the Basic control system work? The PowerPlus Basic control system provides a cost-effective entry method of controlling the levelers. This system has a central control panel with one switch for each jack. The PowerPlus Basic control system is available in 2-jack, 3-jack and 4-jack systems, and may be upgraded to 4-jack Automatic or Standard at any time in the future. Won't running one jack at a time twist the frame? First, a word about twisting frames on RVs. Your RV frame is designed to allow a certain level of twist, otherwise it would not be possible to drive on many roads. Frame twist will only pose problems for you if the twist is extreme, or if you try to open doors or put up awnings when the unit is twisted. When your unit is off level with just one corner low, your frame is naturally twisted. Use your leveling system to neutralize this twist before setting up the rest of your camp. PowerPlus systems avoid frame twisting in several distinct ways. The PowerPlus automatic system evaluates the position of your unit, and gently brings the unit to a level position, then stabilizes the unit by operating each jack just 3/16 inch at a time, all the way around the unit. Upon retraction, PowerPlus gently retracts all jacks at once, allowing the unit to gently settle back onto its suspension. Most hydraulic systems allow the jacks to retract rapidly without adequate respect for frame twist or shock to the suspension. The PowerPlus Basic or Standard independent systems allow you to operate a single jack to lift an individual corner, neutralizing any frame twist caused by the terrain. In addition, the PowerPlus manual systems allow you to operate two jacks at once (up to a preset power limit) to eliminate the chances of twisting a frame that is flat, but low on one side or end. All jacks can be retracted at the same time, allowing the unit to gently settle back onto its suspension. PowerPlus jacks are designed to extend and retract at optimum speed yet still lift the vehicle gently with the greatest leveling. An average automatic sequence on a motorhome lasts about 2 minutes. What if I can't get the jacks to retract? In the unlikely event of a motor failure, PowerPlus jacks have built-in emergency retract features. PowerPlus control panels also come with an emergency retract plug that allows each jack to be plugged into a direct battery power source, bypassing all system electronics. PowerPlus swing jacks are designed to allow the owner to gently drive off the jacks with little to no damage to the jack. The end of the PowerPlus scissor jack drive shaft is shaped so it can be retracted with a socket wrench. Maintenance/Service Can I leave the jacks down when the unit is in storage? Unlike hydraulic systems, PowerPlus can be used to relieve pressure on your suspension while the unit is in storage, extending the life of your tires and suspension parts. What kind of maintenance is involved? PowerPlus is designed to be a very simple, low maintenance system that you should seldom have to think about. We recommend spraying the jacks with water regularly to remove road debris, mud, and salt. We also recommend keeping the external pivot points of the swing jack and scissor jack lubricated with dry silicone spray, and lubricating the exposed screw of the scissor jack with motorcycle chain lubricant two to three times a year. Finally, we recommend that each jack's gears be re-packed with Lubriplate 1200-2 lithium based lubricant every three to five years depending on use. What kind of warranty does it have? Every complete PowerPlus leveling system comes with a three year limited warranty (three years parts, one year labor) assuring you of the highest standard in quality and service. In addition, our PowerPlus Mark II and Mark V Replacement Kits, as well as all system replacement components, come with a one year parts warranty.
A&E-related questions I hear Mechanical Systems bought the Mark II or Mark V from A&E (or - Are you guys A&E?)? A&E Systems was purchased by The Dometic Corporation (of refrigerator fame). The Mark II system was manufactured by A&E from the late 70's through the mid-80's, then was discontinued. The Mark V system was manufactured from the mid 80's to 1990. In 1990, the Mark V was discontinued in favor of the stronger, tougher PowerPlus system. In 1993, Mechanical Systems purchased the PowerPlus system from Dometic. I have an A&E jack that I need parts for, and they sent me to you. A&E Systems manufactured and sold many different types of jacks before they were purchased by Dometic. First, is your jack hydraulic? A&E Hydraulic jacks are being handled by HWH Corporation in Moscow, Iowa. If your jack is not hydraulic, is it on a motorhome or a trailer? Manual (hand-crank) and electric A&E Trailer jacks are being handled by two different companies: Le-Sure Lift, Rear Roller, Super Step, and Trailer Master Control are being handled by Liftco, Inc in Elkhart, Indiana. A&E Tongue Jack, Power Twin, 5th Wheel Jack, and Tire Hoist products are handled by Ultra Fab in Elkhart, Indiana. If your jack is electric, and mounted on a motorhome, it should be a Mark II, Mark Vor PowerPlus jack. How do I tell whether my system is Mark II, Mark V, or PowerPlus? Mark II jacks had a round foot pad, with a round leg tube, and a plastic composite gear housing. The Mark II control panel had a wood grain finish on the front, and a fuse is visible on the front of the control panel. Mark V jack had a rectangular foot pad, with a square leg tube, and thin, spring-type retraction arms. The Mark V control panel had a black finish, and had four green lights near the power switch to indicate the position of the coach. PowerPlus jacks have a rectangular foot pad, with a round leg tube, solid silver-toned retraction arms, and a rubber accordion boot at the base of the jack. The PowerPlus control panel has a black finish, and a button for "Auto Extend/Auto Retract" next to the power switch. I'm looking for parts for a Mark V or Mark II jack. Do you have those? When Mechanical Systems purchased the PowerPlus system in 1993, Dometic/A&E Systems had already discontinued the Mark II and Mark V product lines, and had stopped manufacturing replacement parts for those products. Unfortunately, they had no parts available for us to purchase. We can provide individual PowerPlus replacement jacks for the Mark II or Mark V. The jacks supplied with our PowerPlus Mark II/Mark V Replacement Kits are specially modified to be fully compatible with the Mark II or Mark V control system, and the kits contain wiring adapters to connect to the existing system wiring. They are available in both the standard (8-inch stroke) and low profile (6-inch stroke) sizes. I'm looking for a control panel for a Mark V System. Do you have those? When Mechanical Systems purchased the PowerPlus system in 1993, Dometic/A&E Systems had already discontinued the Mark II and Mark V product lines, and had stopped manufacturing replacement parts for those products.Unfortunately, they had no parts available for us to purchase. We do manufacture a control panel that operates each jack individually, and is compatible with Mark II and Mark V jacks. The PowerPlus 4-jack Basic Control Panel connects directly to the existing jack wiring and allows full control of each jack from a single control panel. I'm looking for a relay unit (box) for a Mark V system. Do you have those? Fortunately, the relay unit that is currently manufactured for PowerPlus is compatible with the Mark V electronic system, but there are a few variations. The early Mark V relays were housed in a box that was long and narrow-about the size of a cigarette carton. Later Mark V's had a shorter, wider box holding the relay circuits. If you have the short, wide box, the PowerPlus relay circuit board will fit into your existing housing. We do also have the new housings available for those replacing the longer, narrow relay units. I'm looking for a level sensor for a Mark V system. Do you have those? The PowerPlus level sensor is compatible with the Mark V control system. |
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