Awning wind sensing

[Shanevrr]

Im curious, how sensitive are they supposed to be? Mine are retracting with not much wind. Is there an adjustment for this?

[voltdoc]

More info needed. Assuming you are referring to the Girard, there are a few variations of the Girard units themselves as well as the motion sensing technology depending on year and model. Do you know which model Girard you have?

Early units simply measured wind speed with an anemometer. Later, electro-mechanical motion sensors were employed. My 2017 has an accelerometer type motion sensor. There may be others. Some are adjustable.

Generally, given the fragility of the Girards, more sensitive is proabably a good thing. The manual for my unit states that 8-10" of motion should trigger a retract.

[RVFunlovers]

Following because I likely need to test mine.

I have seen someone test their Entegra automatic awning retract by getting on a step ladder and shake the awning. I don’t remember the coach or year.

I don’t take chances with my awning. Not after seeing one flip on an Entegra and all the damage that was done to the coach and awning.

I bring mine in when not outside and long before the weather gets bad enough to make it come in automatically. But I still want to understand how this system works and how to test it.

Hopefully an expert will come along here and let us know how these work and how to test them properly.

[voltdoc]

For the motion type sensors, when extended, push or pull up and down about foot on a corner of the leading edge, it should retract. You don't need a ladder, a broom, window awning hook, or similar will do the job.

I have the Vision model. IIRC the connectors that provide power to the sensors (mounted in the lead rail) get corroded causing the sensor to fail and need regular cleaning. Each awning has its own motion sensor.

Girard likes to do everything with RF signals. The motion sensors on my Vision model have wired 12v power, but send the close signal by radio. As long as your remotes work, theoretically the motion sensor will work. Unless of course it has no power or has lost its programming.

At the moment mine are currently not working again, and I need to have a look at the sensors. I don't leave them unattended anyway. As RVFunlovers said, I have heard of too many catastrophic events even from just a brief gust. The wind gets underneath and flips them up and back. Even if the sensors worked, it just takes too long for them to close.

[Arch Hoagland]

I've had two automatic electric awnings and I disabled the wind sensors on both. I always retract the awning whenever we leave the coach and never leave it deployed overnight.

Over the years I've had two blown off and have seen many others blown away.

[voltdoc]

This photo album has some photos of the motion sensors on my Girard Vision, their location and a couple of videos showing how you can test them. Mine are set at the factory sensitivity which should be level 3.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wszEowAaPrmF91s1A

This document describes how to change the sensitivity of the 98GC779 sensor which is the model with the accelerometer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hpu...w?usp=drivesdk

BTW, the comment I made earlier about the connectors not being very robust was in reference to my 2013 which had Carefree awnings and RJ11 connectors. The Girard connections were still clean when I opened them up.

[d23haynes57]

I miss awnings with robust arms and brackets that could actually be used to keep bad weather away from the picnic area and also out of the mid entry door. You know, the ones that could even have sides added to make the RV space larger.

[Shanevrr]

Sry it's 2022 cornerstone. So I can turn that feature off?

[voltdoc]

Originally Posted by Shanevrr

Sry it's 2022 cornerstone. So I can turn that feature off?

Depending on your model awning (mine is a 2017 Aspire with the Vision awning, I think Cornerstone may use something else), and if it uses the same or similar sensor, you could just unplug the power connector for the sensor up on the lead rail. Or maybe there is a fuse somewhere. First tho, I would try reducing the sensitivity, some protection is better than none. How to do that for the 98GC779 sensor is described in the document I linked previously.

[shepardmike]

Originally Posted by voltdoc

First tho, I would try reducing the sensitivity, some protection is better than none.

Totally agree, some protection is better than none. I quick dog walk could end up with a trashed awning.

[DSL417]

Periodically, I’ll repost this perspective, based upon my remote sensing background. Steady winds can certainly ruin your day with Girard, but it is the wind gustiness that’ll get you most often. That is because wind gusts are almost instantaneous, but the wind sensors take time to initiate bringing in the awnings; then there is the time it takes for the awnings to retract. There is your risk.

So, besides being careful with winds, I NEVER leave them deployed while inside or while away from the coach; further, I use the window awning “hook” to hold the leading edge of the awning if I am outside and it gets gusty.

I learned this lesson in the Big Bend when at 5:30 PM the wind was calm and at 5:31 PM it was blowing at 30 mph (mountain wind initiation). I had my hook out and saved the awning. And they only cost $4k to replace then. My understanding is it is more like $8k per awning now! Most insurance policies don’t cover.