Community Forums

NowGo · 02-17-2023, 12:49 PM

I have searched the forum and it appears it's my turn. Last night while attempting to lower the bedroom night shades one of them would not lower. Upon testing today I discovered the day shade on the same window is doing the same thing. If I manually pull the shades down part way (using the fabric) either motor will raise the respective shade, but they cannot be lowered.
The other shades in the bedroom all function properly.
Yes, after removing the valance it appears I have the dreaded yellow motors. Searching the various posts this morning I have located the MCD replacement motors part # 50.338.
I did try cycling the salesman switch off then on, to no avail.
I am ready to order some new motors but I can't help but feel it is very strange that both motors would fail at the same time? I can't say for sure that it was exactly the same time (we don't use the day shades in the bedroom very often), but it sure seems that both motors failed at the same moment.
BOTH motors will lift the respective shade but will not lower them... weird.
Any thoughts?

Gary.Jones · 02-17-2023, 01:02 PM

Have you tried re-programming the shades both up and down before replacing them? You set both of the start and stop points separately. If there really is a "raise" failure, then it wont program up, but I agree, motors usually fail both directions and not just one direction.

Gary

NowGo · 02-17-2023, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

Have you tried re-programming the shades both up and down before replacing them? You set both of the start and stop points separately. If there really is a "raise" failure, then it wont program up, but I agree, motors usually fail both directions and not just one direction.

Gary

Hi Gary,

Do you mean programming as the MCD shade motors program with the button?
These are the old yellow United Shade motors with the mechanical limit adjustment, no program button.
First tried pulling the shade fuse, wait 30 seconds then plug fuse in, then tried salesman switch, neither method had any effect.
Just seems so strange that both motors would fail in one direction at the same time - coincidence ?

RayandWendy · 02-17-2023, 01:21 PM

Also try unplugging the switch panel and plugging it into the net port in the bathroom and try cycling the shades. Sometimes it will reset things. Has worked for me before.
Later...
Ray

NowGo · 02-17-2023, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayandWendy

Also try unplugging the switch panel and plugging it into the net port in the bathroom and try cycling the shades. Sometimes it will reset things. Has worked for me before.
Later...
Ray

Hi Ray,
I haven't yet removed/unplugged a panel. I am assuming from your comment that we just have a regular CAT 5/6 plug on a stub network cable that plugs into a network port that is behind the switch panels?
If so I am then assuming each switch function within a switch panel actually sends a different signal to the controller, using common conductor/wires?
The only other way I could see that working is if their are different wire configurations to/from each switch panel?
Craig

RayandWendy · 02-17-2023, 02:18 PM

It's not a CAT 5/6 plug, but it does plug right into the test port on the fuse panel. As for the details of how it works, I'm not sure but each switch panel is built on its own circuit board.
Later...
Ray

brobox · 02-17-2023, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayandWendy

Also try unplugging the switch panel and plugging it into the net port in the bathroom and try cycling the shades. Sometimes it will reset things. Has worked for me before.
Later...
Ray

This^^^The wall panels on the classics are also great for shorting out from static electricity, common in the dry winter months.

There is a test port on the bathroom fuse cabinet in the lower right corner. Plug the panel in and see if it test good

NowGo · 02-17-2023, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

This^^^The wall panels on the classics are also great for shorting out from static electricity, common in the dry winter months.

There is a test port on the bathroom fuse cabinet in the lower right corner. Plug the panel in and see if it test good

So, if they short out due to dry winter weather (I am ion Yuma at this time), does this mean a replacement wall panel ?

bevandtomH · 02-17-2023, 06:14 PM

I’ve replaced a couple of those wall switches for that very reason. Static is a killer on our Classics.
Firefly is easy enough to work with if you determine it’s the all switch. There is a control number on the back of each switch that they will need when confirming switch layout.

Gary.Jones · 02-17-2023, 10:58 PM

Its been 4.5 years since I owned my 2015 Anthem, and my memory is getting worse in my old age, but I'm pretty sure I was able to program my 2015 Anthem shades, wasn't I? I had to replace red motor and yellow motors while I owned the coach and I replaced a bunch of them. I thought I had to program my shades to start - stop with each direction?

Am I having a memory problem and '14 shades can't be programmed at all? Did my new STEM cells erase that part of my memory?

Help me kids ....

__

Gary

voltdoc · 02-17-2023, 11:19 PM

I don't know the switch panel layout you have but I believe you should have a Shade Master button somewhere, or something like that, that runs all the shades up or down? If the master runs the suspect shade up and down but the individual shade buttons don't then it is a strong possibility the switch panel partially failed.

The purpose of plugging a suspect switch panel into the NET port on the Firefly panel is to separate a switch issue from a wiring issue. However if other buttons on the suspect switch panel are working OK, it is highly unlikely to be an issue with the wiring.

We had nine panels fail within 6 months due to static discharge one year.

BTW, the switch panels, lights and shades run on a CAN based network called RV-C. I'm not sure if your year uses RV-C shade controllers or another method. Just mentioning this as the shade controller or other device is another potential item that could have failed to cause your issue.

If you contact Firefly with your VIN they should be able to provide you with a network "map" that shows the approximate location of all the RV-C devices including shade controllers.

If you do have a suspect shade controller, you can swap ports on it to see if the problem follows the controller or the shade.

RayandWendy · 02-18-2023, 04:31 AM

I actually had the 2 bed day shades that would not work from one panel, worked from others. Plugged it into the test port and it worked. Put it back in its original location and has worked fine ever since.
Later...
Ray

Ambetter · 02-18-2023, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

Its been 4.5 years since I owned my 2015 Anthem, and my memory is getting worse in my old age, but I'm pretty sure I was able to program my 2015 Anthem shades, wasn't I? I had to replace red motor and yellow motors while I owned the coach and I replaced a bunch of them. I thought I had to program my shades to start - stop with each direction?

Am I having a memory problem and '14 shades can't be programmed at all? Did my new STEM cells erase that part of my memory?

Help me kids ....

__

Gary

Red motors yes, with the buttons for programming. Yellow motors no, just had adjustment screws for upper and lower settings.

Gary.Jones · 02-18-2023, 08:03 AM

Ahhhhh YES, the old adjustment screws.... I had forgotten them until last night late when talking with a college buddy about a used coach that was what I had forgotten, adjustment screws were the way that we adjusted travel. Thanks for the confirmation. I actually adjusted many as I had to replace a big percentage of the motors on my 15.

I'm even more convinced that the motors have to be operational and there is another explanation.

Gary