If your coach is equipped with a Girard automatic awning, you already know the list of wonderful features it offers, including automatic retraction, should the wind come up. It doesn’t matter if you are home or not, the wind sensor mounted on the roof of your coach measures the speed of the wind conditions and once it reaches a predetermined set point, the sensor retracts your awning protecting it from potential damage.

Experienced RVers know that from time-to-time there are unforeseen low hanging obstacles (primarily tree limbs), which can, if undetected, wreak havoc upon the fixtures (one of which is the wind sensor), which are mounted on your coach’s roof. So it may become necessary to replace the Girard wind sensor in order to maintain protection for your awning. This task is easier than you would think following the steps listed below.

We start by locating the low voltage control panel for the Girard awning. Ours is located in the overhead cabinet above the entry door. Remove the panel’s cover and trace the two wires (in our case blue and brown) from the terminal inside the panel to the penetration in the ceiling leading out to the roof. With the location of the wires established, we went to the roof of the coach and pulled back the excess roof sealant on the damaged wind sensor, exposing the two mounting screws. We removed the two screws and slowly pulled the old sensor up from the roof. Once the old sensor is removed from the roof, we cut the wires at the base of the old and damaged sensor, leaving the wires to use as a “pull cord” for the new sensor.

Using black electrical tape, we taped the end of the new sensor’s wires (Girard part number 9800151-01) to the end of the old cut wires protruding from the coach’s roof. Be sure to wrap the tape on at least six-inches of each wire end, providing sufficient strength to pull the new wires through the roof and to the panel.

From the inside of the coach we then pulled the old wire through the roof penetration and along with it the new sensor’s wire. You may want to have an assistant on the roof as you pull the wire through to help keep the new wire from tangling, and to stop you once the new sensor is in position.

Using a small screwdriver, we replaced the two wires from the old sensor with the wires from the new sensor matching like color for like color.

Back on the roof, we positioned the new sensor and secured it in place using the two screws removed from the old sensor. Be sure to apply a small amount of roof sealant on the screw threads before screwing into the roof. The last item is to seal the roof using an approved sealant. We applied the roof sealant around and over the entire new sensor base, providing a waterproof barrier.

The replacement can be accomplished in less than an hour with the proper tools and ensures your awning will be able to take full advantage of the protections that are designed to keep it safe and operational for years to come.

Source:
Girard Systems
1361 Calle Avanzado
San Clemente, CA 92673
800-382-8442
www.girardrv.com

The material in this article is intended for information and discussion purposes only and should not be relied upon as substitute for qualified technical assistance. Monaco Coach Corporation, its employees and contributors to Holidays are not responsible for damages, however caused, arising out of your use of the material contained in this article.