Genuine Trombetta dual-polarity reversing solenoid -- the electrical heart of Lippert hydraulic slide-out and leveling systems. Reverses pump motor polarity on command, enabling both extension and retraction from a single motor. Rated at 150A surge and 75A continuous carry (5 min), with silver/bronze alloy contacts designed for high-cycle reliability. No assembly required; drop-in replacement for failed or intermittent solenoids.
When a Lippert hydraulic slide-out or leveling jack stops responding -- or only moves in one direction -- the polarity reversing solenoid is one of the first components to suspect. The 118246 replaces the OEM Trombetta unit used across a wide range of Lippert PowerGear hydraulic systems. It handles the heavy current demands of reversing a 12V DC hydraulic pump motor while holding up to the vibration, heat, and intermittent-duty cycles common in RV use.
This is a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) design, meaning it switches both the positive and negative motor leads simultaneously -- necessary for true polarity reversal. Silver/bronze alloy contacts resist welding and pitting under high-inrush conditions, giving this solenoid a significantly longer service life than economy replacements.
Switches both motor leads simultaneously for true polarity reversal -- required for hydraulic pump direction control on Lippert slide-out and leveling systems.
Handles high inrush current at motor startup (150A surge) and sustained pump operation up to 75A continuous for 5 minutes -- matched to Lippert hydraulic pump demands.
Four 5/16"-24 stud terminals for heavy power and motor leads, plus two 6.4mm blade terminals for coil activation -- matches OEM wiring harness without modification.
Designed for high-pressure hydraulic pump applications exceeding 2,200 PSI -- appropriate for full-body slide-out and multi-point leveling system loads.
Hydraulic slide-out and leveling systems use a single reversible-polarity DC motor to drive the hydraulic pump in both directions. The pump pushes fluid one way to extend a slide or raise a jack, and the other way to retract or lower it. The polarity reversing solenoid is what makes that direction change happen -- it sits between the controller and the motor, switching the polarity of the 12V supply when it receives a signal from the Lippert control board.
A failed solenoid typically presents as a slide or jack that operates in only one direction, or a system that is completely unresponsive despite having power and a functioning control board. Welded contacts (solenoid stuck on) or an open coil (solenoid never activates) are the two most common failure modes.
The 118246 is manufactured by Trombetta, the OEM supplier to Lippert for this application. Trombetta solenoids are used throughout the heavy equipment, marine, and RV industries for motor reversing and high-current switching. Silver/bronze alloy contacts are standard on Trombetta reversing solenoids to resist contact welding under repeated inrush-current cycles.
The 118246 mounts in the same location as the original Trombetta unit on Lippert hydraulic power units. The six-terminal layout -- four 5/16"-24 studs and two 6.4mm blade terminals -- matches the OEM wiring harness directly. Always disconnect the 12V battery before removing or installing the solenoid. Label or photograph the existing wiring before removal; reversing the coil activation leads (blades) will not damage the solenoid but will swap the direction of motor operation relative to the control board commands.
The four 5/16"-24 stud terminals carry the heavy battery and motor leads. The two 6.4mm blade terminals are the low-current coil activation inputs -- typically connected to the extend and retract outputs of the Lippert control board. Coil draw is low (typically 1-3A), so the blade connections require no heavy-gauge wiring.
Verify the control board is actually sending a signal to the solenoid coil before replacing the unit. Apply 12V directly to the blade terminals -- you should hear a distinct click and be able to measure continuity change across the stud terminals. If the solenoid clicks correctly on the bench but fails in the system, the issue may be with the control board output or wiring, not the solenoid itself.