Power awning dead, brand new - Ideas?

[therink]

The power awning on my brand new Keystone fiver is dead. It worked fine during the several times I extended and retracted it during the PDI which was 3 weeks ago. I went to extend it today while washing the rig and nothing. No motor noise, nothing. I pulled the switch out and checked the voltage. There is power to the switch and power past the switch when the switch is activated. This likely means that power is getting to the motor. I will take to dealer is necessary but want to make sure I'm not missing something obvious. Any ideas?
Thanks, Steve

[SlowPoke]

If you power going OUT to the motor, and motor is making no noise; sounds as if the motor has gone kaput for one reason or another.
I would also check the plug connection at the motor where it joins the awning. There should be a "quick connector" there. It may have gotten separated or have a bad connection.

I would have the dealer take a gander at, it if that is the case.
Not much more I can think of to check...if power is making it's way TO the motor as you've said.

[therink]

I have an appointment with the dealer on Tuesday for another issue so I plan on having them look at it. I have had bad experiences with this dealer service department in the past. I find it easier to diagnose my own problems (when I can) to avoid diagnosing and "warranty approval" delays.
I would like to check the wiring connection at the motor but the awning is retracted and the wiring is concealed behind the awning arm. Any suggestions?
Steve

[SlowPoke]

Someone else will beat me to the punch, but I'll go out and grab my manual to see if there is a manual way to expand the awning. On some I know there is a screw near the motor, that when removed will allow the awning to be manually expanded and retracted.
Will let you know if I find anything in my manual...

[therink]

Someone else will beat me to the punch, but I'll go out and grab my manual to see if there is a manual way to expand the awning. On some I know there is a screw near the motor, that when removed will allow the awning to be manually expanded and retracted.
Will let you know if I find anything in my manual...

Thanks. I should check my manual as well.

[SlowPoke]

Ok, yes, if yours (and I think it is) Dometic, there are two screws on the tube near the motor. Those must be removed, and you can use the strap that came with your awning to manually retract and expand it...here's the clip from my manual...


https://www.dropbox.com/s/n146au89wjlqplw/dometicpage.jpg

[therink]

Great. I will give that a try tomorrow. Thanks so much for looking it up.

[SlowPoke]

No problem, hope it helps!

Remember that when you pull that awning down, the tube is spring loaded!!! Don't just let go of that sucker... If you pull it all the way down to leave it open, you'll have to have someone hold it down while you reinsert the screws and tighten them down , otherwise it will not stay down on it's own. You should be able to pull it back just far enough to reach back and grab the connector behind the arm and check it out. Maybe you can stick something between the roller and sidewall to wedge it open temporarily .

[therink]

Great advice. Thanks.

[yeabuddy]

Saw this on another forum.


"Just received this notice from Dometic today at my dealership.
The recall is for the electric motor used on OEM awnings installed from the factory.

If your coach was produced between February 13, 2013, serial #305xxxxxx through April 9, 2013, serial #314xxxxxx and has a Dometic power awning, you may want to check with Dometic.
The issue is that the awning could deploy either standing still or while driving.

This recall may also apply if you had your awning motor replaced around the same time."

The part about deploying doesn't fit your description but thought I'd pass it along any way. Please keep us posted on your situation.

[B&T]

Oh joy! I just realized I have no manual and no strap for mine. Just emailed the dealer to see about getting that strap.

Thanks for the heads up guys :)

Next Morning Update:

Dealer called, sending me a strap in the mail. Painless :)

[therink]

I think mine was manu last year. My fiver rolled off the assembly line 10/12. I should be OK with recall
Thanks

[SteveC7010]

Oh joy! I just realized I have no manual and no strap for mine. Just emailed the dealer to see about getting that strap.

Thanks for the heads up guys :)

Go to: http://www.dometic.com/enus/Americas/USA/RV-Products/awnings/ and select the model of your awning. You will find the operating instructions can be downloaded from that page.

[therink]

Minr came with a strap.I was wondering what it was for.

[therink]

I have diagnosed that power is getting past the rocker switch, but then goes to this black "awning controller" solid state switch inside the wall. Power does not go past it out to the awning motor. Does anyone know what this does and how it can go bad?
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_73827_0_89bb715719c14da0fa1f42a6f98092b0.jpg

[therink]

By the way, I was able to remove the two allen screws on the roller end and pull the awning out enough to check the motor wiring. Fairly easy to do.

[therink]

Oh joy! I just realized I have no manual and no strap for mine. Just emailed the dealer to see about getting that strap.

Thanks for the heads up guys :)

Next Morning Update:

Dealer called, sending me a strap in the mail. Painless :)

I realized today that the strap does no good to manually open the awning if it wasn't put in the slot the last time it was open. Where it helps is when the awningis stuck open and you have to manually close it.
Btw it is fairly easy to remove the 2 Allen screws to manually operate it manually but the roller end has to be held in place by hand as it is being rolled up or unrolled. If not held in place the roller end will fall off and the spring will unwind.

[Jay Pat]

If it is a Dometic, you should be able to inspect plug at motor buy using a ladder and looking down in there.
If it is unplugged, probably, hard to reach in there......
Pat

[therink]

If it is a Dometic, you should be able to inspect plug at motor buy using a ladder and looking down in there.
If it is unplugged, probably, hard to reach in there......
Pat

I got to the wiring by manually opening the awning. No power to the awning. Found a bad relay in the wall behind awning rocker switch behind main control panel.
Steve

[SlowPoke]

Good to hear ya got this far....

I looked at the part you pic'd.... It's where it switches polarity for the motor to tell the motor to go up and down by discerning either 12+ or 12-...How it works, I've never opened it to check, but if it;s a simple relay (doesn't look like any relay I've ever seen) but if it is, try giving it a good tap. Sometimes relays stick and a quick tap can unstick it. Otherwise it's just bad, and of course, the dealer will have to help you out by replacing it. Maybe just ask if they can order you one, and you replace it yourself, like my dealer is allowing me to do with some of my warranty stuff... like you, I don't have confidence in other's work as much as I have in my own....warranted or not ;)

[f6bits]

How does one determine the make and model of an awning? I don't recall seeing any markings on mine.

[therink]

The markings and model are on label on roller visible when unrolled. Most Keystones have Dometic as far as I know.

[therink]

I have diagnosed that power is getting past the rocker switch, but then goes to this black "awning controller" solid state switch inside the wall. Power does not go past it out to the awning motor. Does anyone know what this does and how it can go bad?
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_77865_0_89bb715719c14da0fa1f42a6f98092b0.jpg

Repair update- Camping World replaced the awning controller/relay (photo above) and the awning now works. If your power awning goes dead on you and you aren't getting power to the motor, but have power at the switch, it is likely this black little booger that has gone bad.
Steve

[labs4life]

Glad they got you shaded again;)

[CUFFS054]

So the little black farcus is in the wall near the switch?

[diugo]

Not directly related to this particular problem, but my Dometic 916 power awning often fails to work from the rocker switch---yet works perfectly with the remote control.

In this case, the fix is simply to unplug the socket on the rocker switch, and then plug it back in again (the same way). Repeat once or twice if necessary.

[therink]

So the little black farcus is in the wall near the switch?

Yes, remove control panel from the wall and it hangs inside wall cavity with the rats nest of wires.

[BigCajun]

Not directly related to this particular problem, but my Dometic 916 power awning often fails to work from the rocker switch---yet works perfectly with the remote control.

In this case, the fix is simply to unplug the socket on the rocker switch, and then plug it back in again (the same way). Repeat once or twice if necessary.

This is my issue! I have pulled the panel out, unplugged the three wires from the rocker switch 4-5 times, both with power on and off, but still does not work at switch but does work with remote. :confused: when you say unplug the socket, are you referring to the three wires on the rocker switch? Black, red, white?

[BigCajun]

Yes, remove control panel from the wall and it hangs inside wall cavity with the rats nest of wires.

A rats nest indeed! ;)

[diugo]

This is my issue! I have pulled the panel out, unplugged the three wires from the rocker switch 4-5 times, both with power on and off, but still does not work at switch but does work with remote. :confused: when you say unplug the socket, are you referring to the three wires on the rocker switch? Black, red, white?

The rocker switch for my awning has six terminals (aka DPDT) and four wires. The wires are molded into a single big socket that plugs into all six terminals simultaneously.

If your switch has just three terminals, then the "brains" of your awning are at the remote control receiver---check for any loose connections there.

[Badboy]

If it is new I would take it back to the dealer,it should be covered :(

[BigCajun]

I tested the rocker switch and it tests ok. I guess I need to replace the awning controller. Dometic says its not their part, to contact Keystone. :banghead:

[therink]

If you look at my previous post in this thread (photo), I had the exact same problem. The black awning controller relay had to come from Keystone. I had mine replaced under warranty. In the mean time, you can bypass the controller with jumer wires and open/close theaawning but reversing polarity. I made up a short ser of jumper wires with alligator clips and was able to use my awning while waiting for the part. It was sort of a pain but worked for me.

[skymech66]

Check out Keystones website for applicability to a recent recall on the awning motors.