Girard awning pre-recall info

[Calpop45]

When we were in service at Nappanee (in late August) with a few warranty concerns we were told that there is an ignition interlock to prevent the Girard awnings from deploying while the ignition is “on”. Ok, that’s good. We had a concern with intermittent deployment/retraction while parked with the ignition off, so asked them to check the system, and they did. They had several Girard techs in the shop investigating a number of coachs with complaints. They knew then that a problem existed and I’m glad they have continued to investigate.

[smoore11]

I reported this problem over a year ago. The two times that my awnings extended were when I had just come to a stop and set the parking brake. The first time was at a rest area, no problem. The second time was at a fueling station. I set the parking brake and then realizied I needed to move up a few feet. I did not hear the awnings extend and I released the parking brake and moved the coach. The front awning scaped the roof column, taking black paint off of the awning. Later I learned about unplugging the the 110v plugs.

[rcleaver]

Our coach was in service at our dealer mid-September. As the coach was being brought into the service bay, the front awning deployed and impacted the exterior wall of the service bay door entrance. The impact caused severe damage to the awning assembly. It has taken almost six weeks to get the parts in and installed. Although quite disruptive to our travel plans, better to have learned about this issue in the dealer's parking lot than on the highway. We have a 2016 DSDP.

[Ernie.]

Dave have you learned anything from the Newmar techs about the awnings opening?

[timekeeper]

In speaking to Newmar customer service this afternoon I mentioned this to them and was told if I wasn't using the NA to pull the plugs on the controllers.

[3xbear]

Can someone clarify where this plug is? Maybe take a picture of what it looks like?
Thanks

[BuckyII]

Originally Posted by timekeeper

In speaking to Newmar customer service this afternoon I mentioned this to them and was told if I wasn't using the NA to pull the plugs on the controllers.

Thanks for the post...not sure if the problem is relevant to the NA 3341, but because my coach is parked for awhile and the awnings are not needed, decided to unplug them. I found the two white plugs on the wall in the compartment behind the external TV on my 3341.

[redbaron73]

Since the risk of this awning deployment is most likely going to be a long term issue, I wanted to come up with a solution that would allow me to still easily enjoy the use of the awnings.

I explored several automation options, and decided that simplicity was the primary goal.

I have ordered a relay switched outlet. This unit has 4 outlets. 1 always on, 1 normally on, and 2 normally off. The girard awnings will be plugged into the 2 normally off plugs, and the relay contact will be run to a toggle switch that I will install on the dash.

[ARD]

I realize that this is a pre-recall post regarding a grounding issue; however, I'm just curious if any of you who are having issues with your Girard Awnings have a little circle beneath the 1 on your overhead display. I ask because last year I had issues with my awnings as they would deploy on their own. After the rear awning extended in a Cummins bay, I unplugged the awnings until I could have someone look at them. I happened to meet Mrs. Girard at the FMCA rally in Perry, GA last year and she sent a team over to look at my awnings. It turned out that a timer that should never had appeared on the display was the cause of my problems.

[redbaron73]

It has not happened to me, but according to Newmar the grounding issue is a real concern. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me as to what exactly is causing a deployment.

Newmar may be guessing at the grounding issue, as their is not yet an official fix.

[DaveDS4018]

We were at Newmar Oct 29 thru Oct 31 for warranty work.

One of my questions to the tech was about the awnings. He said he had fixed a short on one coach that would retract without any input. He was not aware of any problems with extension. Neither did anyone else I talked with in service.

After I mentioned about the info posted here they did not want to talk about it anymore. So I did not get a good feeling about what they are doing to solve the problem or if they are going to realize there is a problem.

I am leaving mine unplugged while in storage this winter and see how things go next season.

Dave C.

[redbaron73]

I have been doing some investigating on this circuit. It appears to have a precision circuits power cutout relay installed, but I do not understand how this is wired. I believe it is wired wrong, but cannot tell for sure.

The incoming wire has 4 wires, a red, black, white, and ground. The outgoing to the electrical outlet has 3, the white, black, and ground.

The neutral (white) and ground are tied together.

The red incoming and black incoming are connected to the first 2 relays on the NO side, and the outgoing black is in the NC side.

The common (COM) of all 3 relays are tied together, but no external connection to those relays.

The input signal wires at the top are 12v all tied together to the same ignition cutoff signal.

Attaching pictures and the pdf manual.

Can anyone explain to me how this is working?00-10026-000-Relay-Module-RevE.pdf

[redbaron73]

To clarify, I do not understand the red wire...what is its purpose, and why is it tied in with the other black wire?

[redbaron73]

I just tested my lockouts, and discovered the middle is not energized. Taking apart the wire bundle, the 1st and 3rd triggers are connected directly to the parking break cutout signal.

This means the output hot wire is now disconnected if the relay is working.

The middle relay remains non energized, and is connected to another signal wire, not the parking brake cutout.

This appears to have no affect, because the relay for output to the awning now has no hotwire connected.

Still digging