How to turn off auto retract awning

[droberts12378]

We have a 2017 Thor Hurricane 29M with a Carefree wind sensor awning. We want to add an EZ Zip awning shade. I was told we should also purchase support poles for the awning. But the main question is how to turn off the auto retract function. Carefree shows an on/off button in their videos, but Thor installed a Lippert control system on ours, and there is no on/off button. Only in/out. How can we turn off auto retract?

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by droberts12378

We have a 2017 Thor Hurricane 29M with a Carefree wind sensor awning. We want to add an EZ Zip awning shade. I was told we should also purchase support poles for the awning. But the main question is how to turn off the auto retract function. Carefree shows an on/off button in their videos, but Thor installed a Lippert control system on ours, and there is no on/off button. Only in/out. How can we turn off auto retract?

Auto retract works because the patio awning's control module is always powered by the coach's power center through the inhibit relay located on the cab control board down by the driver's left foot. Breaking the power at any point will stop the patio awning movement. Best way to do this is to buy the CofC recommended control panel (with the on/off switch) and rewire the control module. This is what plant 750 should have done.

[droberts12378]

I don't have the electronic skills to do that and I'm guessing it would be rather expensive to hire it done. Would it be feasible to extend the awning and then pull the fuse that controls the awning? I'm sure that's not the best option, but what would be the dangers of doing this?

[ducksface]

The forum software won't let me thank Beau behind the scenes until I thank someone else.

Thanks Beau. I do a screen capture and I keep them in a folder. Pictures of words....
You're always the best at this sort of stuff.

[Laco]

Originally Posted by droberts12378

I don't have the electronic skills to do that and I'm guessing it would be rather expensive to hire it done. Would it be feasible to extend the awning and then pull the fuse that controls the awning? I'm sure that's not the best option, but what would be the dangers of doing this?

Guessing the awning fuse circuit controls more than just the awning, so you may wind up disabling more than just the awning. Contact Thor for an electrical diagram. They will send it on request, at least they did for me.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by droberts12378

I don't have the electronic skills to do that and I'm guessing it would be rather expensive to hire it done. Would it be feasible to extend the awning and then pull the fuse that controls the awning? I'm sure that's not the best option, but what would be the dangers of doing this?

No danger. Find the wire going to the awning and install an inline switch at a, convenient to you, location. Easy to do.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Beau388

Auto retract works because the patio awning's control module is always powered by the coach's power center through the inhibit relay located on the cab control board down by the driver's left foot. Breaking the power at any point will stop the patio awning movement. Best way to do this is to buy the CofC recommended control panel (with the on/off switch) and rewire the control module. This is what plant 750 should have done.

In my coach there is a five wire harness coming down the wall chase to the patio awning control. Three wires terminate at the extend/retract switch. The other two disappear into the floor. The colors are brown, gray, yellow, red and black. Red is power and black is ground. Yellow is the common for the movement switch with brown being the retract signal and gray being the retract signal. All drawers next to the sink have to be removed to access the wall chase. The only thing on my awning circuit is the LEDs in the roller.

[VNrver]

do not by pass the auto retract... it is there for the reason. if the wind blow hard and it can destroy the awning.... and cost you few thousand buck

[Badmanrick]

I have a 2019 Hurricane 34j and was advised there is no on/off switch with the Firefly control system. The dealer advised me do not attach anything to the Awning because of the auto retract system. They advised to retract the awning when it gets windy or heavy rain. I will study this and see if an on/off switch can be added. I will need to connect to the Firefly control module and tap into the awning wires with a switch. Should be available on the Firefly but it is not.

[Laco]

I would not disable the auto retract. Like the vast majority of RV'ers if it got windy, I retracted the awning. Often I could just pull it in halfway, still get some shade, and much less awning surface to react to wind.

[dbcassidy]

Originally Posted by Laco

I would not disable the auto retract. Like the vast majority of RV'ers if it got windy, I retracted the awning. Often I could just pull it in halfway, still get some shade, and much less awning surface to react to wind.

A word of caution concerning the auto retract. We became overly dependent on this feature. Many times over the past 3 years, this feature would work correctly: wind picks up, awning retracts. All was fine until recently, it did not retract, the wind destroyed awning arms, roller, motor drive, struts. We are blessed that no damage was done to the RV side nor roof. Called Carefree and it was explained to us that the auto retract has it limits. Once the wind gets under awning, all bets are off on the auto retract rolling up and saving the awning! We never receive any instructions from either Carefree nor the rv dealer we bought the Gemini from. The bad news, the awning is not covered by insurance (looking at other insurance companies in Mass.) The good news is no one got injured, and as mentioned above no damage to the rv. We decided to order directly from Carefree for a complete new unit. waiting for the package to arrive and will install ourselves. we already carefully remove the old, damaged awning. once the new unit is installed, adjusted, we we only use the awning when we are only in the rv. If we are out walking, driving, slight wind, at night - the awning will be retracted. We learned that from talking from other campers the destroyed awnings are pretty common. It happens a lot.

Sorry for the long story,

DBCassidy

[Pete'sMH]

X2! We only use our awning when we actually are under it. Ours has auto retract with 3 levels of sensitivity. It seems pretty sensitive even on the medium setting.

[lwmcguire]

We like the auto retract feature as well

the new style awnings are just to light weight to stand much of a wind. always a good idea to retract them if you are going inside for very long or leaving

We see a lot of them tore up in this area as it normally isn't windy but when it does gust it comes up in a hurry and usually is swirling making it a real nast deal for awnings

[2PsInAPod]

I have this same question on my 2015 Miramar 33.5. I NEVER rely on the auto retract feature because frankly if wind gets under the awning the feature does not work. If we're not using the awning it's retracted. I've spoken to both Thor and Carefree of Colorado, and learned that neither one of them understands the issue. For us the Latitude Awning is pretty useless. If it's noon and the air is still we can use it. The only way to apply tie downs is to use CoC's awning stabilizer kit, which at $80 bucks is a deal, BUT... my awning is close to 12 feet off the ground and the stabilizes only reach to 9 feet. I'm going to try to adjust the pitch, but even if I can get the roller tube down to the height I need, Thor has chosen to not have an on/ off switch for the awning. I'm gonna try and trace down the wiring and if I find it I'll add my own switch. Carefree of Colorado has assured me that their EZ Zip two piece shade will work on the Latitude awning as long as only the top two feet are rolled up into the awning.