Electric awning - Carefree
Hello,
I have a 2010 Dutchmen with a Carefree of Colorado electric awning. The awning started giving me some trouble last year. It extended just fine, and then when I attempted to retract it, it would only close half way and then stop. Wait 15 minutes and try again would allow it to close all the way. It does this this consistently.
To do some additional troubleshooting this year, I read a lot and finally opened things up for a closer look yesterday. I extended the awning and then attempted to retract it immediately. Nothing... I waited and again, it would close, this time all the way. I am thinking it must be either overheating or drawing too much current and tripping a safety somewhere. I removed the switch from the wall and the cover from the electric motor to look at both a little closer. All of the connections seem sound. When operating the awning, neither overheat, they do not even get warm. I also checked the fuse panel, it does not feel warmer than any other circuit not in use.
Does anybody know if there is a resetting breaker somewhere in-line? If not, maybe this is something in the motor itself? I learned through researching, the motor is a power window motor used in GM vehicles. I confirmed this by removing the plastic motor cover yesterday. Easy to remove and fairly cheap if needed.
Any other suggestions? I have several years of experience working with 12volt systems in automobiles, so this does't scare me. Seems like such a simple system, a switch and a motor, I will not be defeated by this thing!
Thanks!
Dan
I have a 2010 Dutchmen with a Carefree of Colorado electric awning. The awning started giving me some trouble last year. It extended just fine, and then when I attempted to retract it, it would only close half way and then stop. Wait 15 minutes and try again would allow it to close all the way. It does this this consistently.
To do some additional troubleshooting this year, I read a lot and finally opened things up for a closer look yesterday. I extended the awning and then attempted to retract it immediately. Nothing... I waited and again, it would close, this time all the way. I am thinking it must be either overheating or drawing too much current and tripping a safety somewhere. I removed the switch from the wall and the cover from the electric motor to look at both a little closer. All of the connections seem sound. When operating the awning, neither overheat, they do not even get warm. I also checked the fuse panel, it does not feel warmer than any other circuit not in use.
Does anybody know if there is a resetting breaker somewhere in-line? If not, maybe this is something in the motor itself? I learned through researching, the motor is a power window motor used in GM vehicles. I confirmed this by removing the plastic motor cover yesterday. Easy to remove and fairly cheap if needed.
Any other suggestions? I have several years of experience working with 12volt systems in automobiles, so this does't scare me. Seems like such a simple system, a switch and a motor, I will not be defeated by this thing!
Thanks!
Dan
