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Old 03-25-2010, 09:49 PM   #1
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Inop Awning Wind Sensor; 2nd Time

Two years ago we replaced the wind sensor and control box on our A&
E / Dometic awning, under warranty. I adjusted the DIP switches per the diagram and found a speed at 17 MPH, which we liked. At the time they failed, we got a beeping sound from the control box in the basement, which required flipping the disable switch and disconnecting the connection from the wind sensor.

This winter after a freeze, I once again obtained a beeping sound from the control box, flipped the disable switch to stop the beeping, and disconnected the connection from the wind sensor. Reconnected/re-enabled and went on our merry way. And once again the wind sensor stopped working. Only once did it bring the awning in the winds of Palm Springs, which have been worse this year than the last couple years. I have the sensor DIP switches set for 12 mph, the slowest wind speed setting, which seemed to me to bring the awning in when one barely breathed on it. It took only our hair dryer on "low" setting, no heat, to bring it in. Now it wouldn't come in even if the dryer were on "high".

So I'm looking at trying to get a replacement sensor/control box again. Dometic gives me name of service people in the area but none of the service people return my calls when I leave them a message stating what's wrong.

My question is whether anybody else has found a permanent fix to this problem. I would like to change the wind sensor from the cross-venturi type air pressure sensor to a rotating sensor, or something like it, which I think is more reliable. I also think that if water gets in these pressure sensitive sensors and freezes, it screws them up somehow. I don't want to pay for the change in sensor and control box and argue with my extended warranty people on it if there's another fix that somebody has found.
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Old 03-26-2010, 12:40 AM   #2
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These winds have been on the rise for some time. I was told by a local meteorological professor that it is attributable to the buildup of whitehouse gasses in our atmosphere.

IIWM I wouldn't hesitate to turn it into my extended warranty company. Just get an estimate on fixing the whitehouse gas emissions and pay the deductible.
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Old 03-26-2010, 04:59 AM   #3
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Good one Mike !!

Richard
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Old 03-26-2010, 07:47 AM   #4
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The A&E manual states that the sensor will not work in cold weather. I have also tried different wind speed settings with no dependable setting. My solution is to retract the awning when we leave the coach.
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Old 03-26-2010, 09:28 AM   #5
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I'll second Wil's suggestion... I have the same awning with the stupid Lighthouse sensor on the roof.. The original failed, it would bring in the awning on a dead calm day.> The new one that replaced it is even worse.. I disabled and don't use it

One warning though.. Disabling appears to disable the ignition interlock as well
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Old 04-01-2010, 07:18 PM   #6
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Wind sensor

My wind sensor doesn't work well either. I have often thought the lighthouse is too short and if the wind doesn't come from curb side it doesn't reach it. Has anyone raised theirs?
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Old 04-01-2010, 07:52 PM   #7
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Mine failed and the sensor and control box were replaced under warranty. The new sensor has silver tape on top and I was told it was more reliable than the old type sensor. That was three years ago and so far it has not failed. But I still don't trust it and every time we leave the motorhome we retract the awning.
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