Awning Wind Sensor

[OldForester]

The wind sensor on our '06 Limited WeatherPro awning has stopped working. It used to bring the awning in too quickly and now it just doesn't bring the awning in when the wind's very heavy.

I've checked to make sure it's not disabled on the control box and I haven't adjusted the DIP switches for speed in the control box. My guess is the sensor on the roof.

Has anybody had issues with this sensor, and if so what should I look for? Plugged vents, whatever? I don't like getting on the roof, so when I get up there I want to be loaded with experience and make it a one-time trip if possible.

[OldForester]

The wind sensor on our '06 Limited WeatherPro awning has stopped working. It used to bring the awning in too quickly and now it just doesn't bring the awning in when the wind's very heavy.

I've checked to make sure it's not disabled on the control box and I haven't adjusted the DIP switches for speed in the control box. My guess is the sensor on the roof.

Has anybody had issues with this sensor, and if so what should I look for? Plugged vents, whatever? I don't like getting on the roof, so when I get up there I want to be loaded with experience and make it a one-time trip if possible.

[EngineerMike]

Old- Supposably the control box has an LED that shows if the sensor is attached & working, & if lit then it is the perception of not working (per the awning guys @ the Redmond rally).
Maybe the sensor is working perfectly but a bat has made its home inside the sensor's plastic housing, thereby obscuring the wind?

[OldForester]

EM--Thanks for the tip. I will open the box again and see if I can find a lit LED. The wind sensor plastic housing was not plugged when I looked at it yesterday. And I get a beeping sound when I disconnect the telephone - like cable from the box and have the sensor enabled. No beeping when I do this and disable the sensor. So I think the problem is probably in the control box circuit board but I will go look for the lit LED tomorrow.

[EngineerMike]

Now that you mention it, the beep is the indicator I was thinking of. That's what the tech said indicates a positive function check on the sensor. There may be an LED, or may not.

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

Try going to the sensor and use a blow dryer to test it. It has to be a sustained wind to activate. With the newere models you can just replace the sensor. A&E will determin this by your serial and product numbers. Earlier models you had to replace the control box and sensor, that is what I had to do since the two were married to one another.

This might help Weather-Pro

[Jim&MaryJo]

I recall someone saying it's not a wind sensor, but a temp sensor (calibrated to determine wind speed based temp changes).

The manual doesn't say this though.

In either case, the blow dryer should still work.

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jim&MaryJo:
I recall someone saying it's not a wind sensor, but a temp sensor (calibrated to determine wind speed based temp changes).

The manual doesn't say this though.

In either case, the blow dryer should still work. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are correct. It is totaly by tempeture, that is why the wind needs to be sustained. At the A&E school that is what they told us to test it with. Let us know how you make out.

[OldForester]

Thanks for the tips.

EM - I didn't find an LED inside the control box; just the beep when I disconnect the cable to the sensor. The sensor was totally clean. We've had a lot of wind for me to try it, and it's not working.

I'll try the blow dryer trick, with and without heat, and see if will cause the wind sensor to work, and let the group know what happens.

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

Do it WITHOUTthe heat! There is a chance the sensor went. Did you look at the diagnostics in the book I posted? That should get you started in the right direction.

[OldForester]

Lenny,

I couldn't make a link on Weather-Pro as you suggested; got a DNS error. I did go to Dometic's site, found the awning, but didn't find any technical material.

I'll look some more on the web tomorrow and see if I can find the diagnostics you mention. I'll also try the hair dryer trick (heat off).

[OldForester]

Thought I would provide an update on this problem.

I washed the coach and hit the sensor with some water from the hose while I was washing the roof. I heard a click-click, like it was trying to close the awning.

I then dried everything off, and noted some residual water in the sensor. I blew the water out as best I could, but everytime I opened the awning it would come back in, unless I disabled the sensor.

I waited a day for everything to get really dry, then used the hair dryer trick to see if it would bring in the awning, and it did. And the awning stays out when there's no wind. Now we haven't had enough wind in Palm Springs since i did this to see if it works naturally, but it does work with the hair dryer.

So I'm guessing I had some dirt or other foreign material blocking the sensor, where I couldn't see it from the side, and when I hit it with water, it blew that material out, and then had to dry out to work properly.

Thanks for your tips on this, we will see if it now works in the wind.

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

Glad it is working now. With all the electronics a little leave cold be all the trouble.

Enjoy your camping, I wish I was in Palm Springs!

[J.S.Eddy]

Thanks to all. Sometimes it's just peachy-keen to read the postings. This timne was very interesting. My sensor was working too good. If you breathed, it would come in. So, I switched it off. Had the A&E tech look at it (at Perry), and he said there was not a connection from the sensor to the "box".
After reading these bits of info, I think I'll try the water hose approach. Nothing to lose at this stage.

Thanks to one and all.

J. S. Eddy, Douglas, GA
'03 38' FDTS, '00 Saturn S/W tow-goat.