Awning has a mind of its own

[jillie]

I put the awning out this morning as we're packing for the trip. The awning has a wind sensor set to 18 mph. It's a calm wind day. I came back out an hour later and the awning was retracted. Put it out again. Stopped to talk to hubby in the garage and heard it going up. I checked the setting and it's at 18 mph. We've used the awning numerous times before and this is the first time something like this has happened. Gremlins? Other ideas?

I hope it's not something stupid like I laid something on the remote button.

[Norm4015]

In addition to wind - moisture, heat and cold will make it retract. Did you have any of those conditions?

[jillie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015 In addition to wind - moisture, heat and cold will make it retract. Did you have any of those conditions?

It's sitting on our concrete driveway in full sun today. Temp now at 83 degrees.

Can these be operated by other remotes like some garage doors can? The code thing?

[jillie]

BTW, what does the wind sensor look like and where do I find it?

[Norm4015]

There have been several different wind sensors. The first was a whirly-gig on the roof and then there were two types of electronic roof sensors. I believe you have the latest model which has a wind sensor at the end of the awning arm (arm closest to entrance door). The sensor is near the motor and can be seen on page four of this document. The sensor must be kept clean and free of dust.

http://www.dometic.com/39ddef5d-f22c...b38c2008.fodoc

[jillie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015 There have been several different wind sensors. The first was a whirly-gig on the roof and then there were two types of electronic roof sensors. I believe you have the latest model which has a wind sensor at the end of the awning arm (arm closest to entrance door). The sensor is near the motor and can be seen on page four of this document. The sensor must be kept clean and free of dust. http://www.dometic.com/39ddef5d-f22c...b38c2008.fodoc

Thanks, Norm. That's a handy bit of information. I'll have to climb up on the roof to check the sensor, my ladder won't reach that high.

I also found out we didn't get this strap.
"Slide the pull strap (provided) into the utility slot of the FRTA."

[Renden]

My Dometic sensor just monitors my passenger door Awning, not the big Carefree of Colorado one and I keep it SHUT !! hate those retractables - I close it myself (am not dumb !)

[GaryKD]

Hi jillie,
My comments are about the A&E Brand awning. The sensor has a thermistor included in it. This is for low temp retraction. The thermistor will retract the awning at 32 degrees F. Unfortunately, there comes a high temp limit with the thermistor. This is around 115 degrees F. Being from south Florida, I know my awning will not stay out when it gets warm. I turn the auto retract feature off when the sun is out and I know the temp will be quite high on the coach roof or on top of the awning.

[footdoc]

My Girard awning does have a remote...I dont think other brands do

[Norm4015]

My A&E awning has a remote and I think all A&E's have remotes. We keep the remote in the car and if we arrive home in rain we extend the awning and drive the car under it. Keeps us from getting wet.

[tims52ford]

The A&E wind sensors are junk. Put two on so far

[Rodneykrantz]

Bump the sensor up to 25mph it is a jumper on the board

Footdoc I just broke my monitor trying to kill that bug

[jillie]

Our awning is a Dometic with a remote.

I think Norm4015 might have nailed it. This morning before sunrise while still cool I put the awning out and it stayed out. Either it was the cooler temp at the sensor this morning or the thunderstorm last evening washed the dirt off of it.

Learn something new every day.

[jillie]

I believe my awning is haunted. Put it out in the sunshine one afternoon last week. It went back up. Tried again. Same result. Yesterday morning put it out early before the sun was hot, it stayed out all day. No brisk winds either day. Think I need an exorcist.

I'm thinking that the sensor gets hot when the awning is retracted against the side of our black coach, therefore it won't stay extended. If the awning is extended before the sensor gets the sun on the black coach paint, it stays cooler. Think I'm on to something?