DAY/Night SHADES....how do they work??

[bamaboy473]

We have a lazy day/night shade in the BR, and from first glance I'm stumped about how to remove the surrounding valance....about what the strings do, and about how when one side's string is missing; where it went?

Anybody have a link to how these things are put together?

Anybody know how American installed them and the valance?

For people like me, having horizontal lines not be...drives me nuts.

[Rambow]

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

We have a lazy day/night shade in the BR, and from first glance I'm stumped about how to remove the surrounding valance....about what the strings do, and about how when one side's string is missing; where it went?

Anybody have a link to how these things are put together?

Anybody know how American installed them and the valance?

For people like me, having horizontal lines not be...drives me nuts.

As it happens, I watched a YouTube video on this just the other day. Just put RV blind repair in the YouTube search block and you'll find a bunch of them.

[dons2346]

Yup, do what Rambow said

[Dutch Star Don]

Rick......When working properly, you have a string on both sides that attaches to a bobbin on both sides of the valance or wall. Tightening these strings makes the shade harder to move up and down. If set too tight you'll break strings and it will be very difficult to move the shades. If set too lose, they will fall by themselves. If you're missing a string, it means it broke and you need to remove the shade and buy another or restring it. There are great YouTube videos on how to do this.

TIP......Many people think that you tighten the strings by taking a screwdriver to the bobbin and turning it......this is not correct. The tightness is adjusted by grabbing the string, either side and looping it around the bobbin to tighten or remove a loop to loosen.

Here is why they get loose. Often, people grab the bottom of the shade and while pulling downward, unknowingly pull them outward. When they get close to the bottom, this outward pull accidently unwinds a loop from the bobbin. This is why people keep finding their shades are loose.

[Rocky Larson]

Our day/night shades do not require removing the valance. It does take some strong finger pressure to snap them out of the clips several inches from each end. Snapping them back in is also a chore. You need a large surface to work on. After watching the videos and printing out a how to article you will need to buy a kit or some line. We have done 3 to date and one repeat. Each string can take up to 12-15 feet. Yep its alot but they zigzag back and forth in the blind. We are still working on our 100 yard roll.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...sm=93&ie=UTF-8
RV Day / Night Shades Parts | DIY Blind Repair | FixMyBlinds.com

[bamaboy473]

Thanks for the guidelines, everybody. First thing will be to do a couple of loops on some other shades and observe. Then, I'll try to work these sausage fingers up into the valance and try to remove the broken one.

Nice to know that repairs can be done on a flat surface, rather than in place.

[70ChevelleSS]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

...TIP......Many people think that you tighten the strings by taking a screwdriver to the bobbin and turning it......this is not correct. The tightness is adjusted by grabbing the string, either side and looping it around the bobbin to tighten or remove a loop to loosen...

I just finished removing, cleaning and reinstalling all of our shades. There are at least 2 types of bobbins that hold the string. Ours are 2 piece clear bobbins. If you loosen the center screw, pull the outer piece of the bobbin out, it can then be rotated 1/4 turn at a time. Adding or removing a loop works as well but rotating the bobbin 1/4 turn allows for a finer adjustment of the tension. Worked well for me when reinstalling 8 shades.

[thunderjet]

My shades didn't snap in and out.
I found lowering shades to see 2 or 3 Philips screws holding the shade to the top of the valance.
no need to remove valance.
I have restrung 3 so far. Finding the right string at a fair price is the hardest part.
also keep an eye out for tiny guides in the holes of the channel with out them the string will wear faster.

good luck
TJ

[Nana25K]

In our 5th wheel the had clamps holding them up. In the MH the darn things are screwed up there.

Any great ideas in cleaning them. Ours our dingy

[gemini5362]

I totally did away with the day night shades and replaced them with Hunter Douglas cellular powered shades. So much better than the day/night shades. WE did not want day night shades but those are an option as well as top up bottom down.

Hunter douglas is lifetime warranty on strings. One breaks take it to Hunter douglas and in about a week comes back fixed.

[70ChevelleSS]

Originally Posted by Nana25K

In our 5th wheel the had clamps holding them up. In the MH the darn things are screwed up there.

Any great ideas in cleaning them. Ours our dingy

Ours have both, a clip in the center and a screw at each end.

I soaked ours in the bathtub, hot water, a little carpet/upholstery cleaner and little oxyclean. What a difference, they came out nice and bright. Couldn't believe the dirt in the bottom of the tub after soaking them. Sloshed them around some in the solution then in clean water to rinse them out. Hardest was the dining and living room shades, too wide to lay flat in the tub so did 1/2 at a time. I let ours soak for a couple of hours before rinsing.

Drain the water out of them then close them up tight. I laid ours on some towels in the basement, closed tight, until they dried. The creases came out nice and crisp/sharp.

[vettenuts]

I have one that is at an angle, does this need to be re-strung? Is there some type of adjustment?

[Elf111]

Just a heads up if you need to replace the strings (and you will) Jo Ann fabrics carries string that is real close to the same size for a lot less money. Make sure you buy more than you think you need it disappears fast when you start using it. I also rubbed white candle wax on the strings to act as a lubricant wow what a difference.


Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum

[Rich-n-Linda]

Originally Posted by vettenuts

I have one that is at an angle, does this need to be re-strung? Is there some type of adjustment?

Just grab it at the bottom and move it until it's straight again.


'06 Mandalay 40E