ZipDee Awning & Control Board questions

[Gunta10]

We hit some rough roads in Nova Scotia with lots of bumps. Afterward our automatic ZipDee awning would not operate properly. We hit the "unlock" buttons and then the Extend button. Nothing. Turn off the power. Turn it back on. Repeat the unlock and extend. It worked! Then hours later went to close it. Same issue: no response. turn off power again. Unlock and Retract. Success.

I checked AirForums. First, check the fuses. All good. Then forum suggested bumps could mean that a connection is loose or off on the control board. How to find the ZipDee Awning Control Board? I called Airstream and was informed that for the Classic 33, 2021 model, it was behind the cabinet directly behind the toilet. (picture attached)

There are four screws in the cabinet, which I removed, and found that one circuit board on the outside of the plastic housing unit had fallen off. So I replaced it with sticky tape. Found a connection was falling off that circuit board (in the middle of the photo, of those two green connectors, the one on the left was falling off) so I plugged it back in. I turned off the power one more time to reset everything. The awning opened as normal.

Went to close it. No response. Back to turning off power. Unlock. Retract. It works.


1) Any other suggestions about what else might be going on?

2) When I look at the control board, though I can see everything is green lights, but a few of the green lights are blinking. Is that normal? Or does "blinking" mean I have another problem? Two blinking lights are on the bottom of the photo when the awning is extending or extracting, between the green and red cords: just beneath the white sticker. Once the awning is open, all the lights go out. Assuming that is normal until I engage it for the retract.

Am contacting ZipDee as well. Thanks.

Jim

[Pete B55]

I’ve had it “forget” what is the open or more often what is the closed position. Suggest you try this: 1- cycle the power. 2- press the unlock button. 3- Press retract (even though it is closed). 4 - then press extend.

After opening then check if it works as normal.

Everything I’ve read is zip dee suggested always pressing retract before extending.

[Vesuvius2]

I was told to power it on then hit "close" so it knows what the fully closed position is, then hit "open"


Works for me

[Fungus]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius2

I was told to power it on then hit "close" so it knows what the fully closed position is, then hit "open"


Works for me

^This.

And call Zip Dee support. They have been very good, in my experience.

[majorairhead]

In your photo, the cable connector on the left doesn't seem to be seated correctly. If you can unplug and inspect the pins, and the 'receivers' where the pins plug in to, make sure they're not bent out of shape...it's important to have a good solid connection there.

Check all wires and connectors/screws to make sure they're secure.

And, try and tape up that main cord so as to alleviate the stress, or 'pull' on the main connector.

[dsatwork]

i have had lots of issues with the zip dee awning and found that the wires going into the connectors can get loose too. Also he may have you look for the wires going to the arm motor which aren't easy to access. Please post fix I save all these post given the issues I have had. It's not if you are going to have a problem it's just a matter of when and how hard it will be to fix.

[digB]

I've just been through this issue as well with my 2020. Intermittent issues are the worst but are typically the result of a loose connection. Your 6 pin connector on the top is definitely not seated. Push it in so it is flush. Tighten all of the screws on the green terminal blocks and then tug on each wire to make sure the are snug. Also take a look at the connections on the cables that are spliced together to make sure they are all good.


I now use my smart app exclusively to open and close my awning.


Lastly but most importantly, If you don't have it already, call Zip Dee and order their emergency kit for the awning so you're able to manually retract.


Good luck!

[RickyNelson]

@digB -

Thank you for pointing out there is an emergency kit available. I often wondered the “what if” that happened.

Can you elaborate why you only use the app for the awning?

Thanks again!

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

In your photo, the cable connector on the left doesn't seem to be seated correctly.

Good eye!
I wonder? That's a heavy harness that goes off to the right with no strain relief. I wonder if bouncing pried the connector that way? Can't hurt to reseat it. I'd add some clamp or line to support it.

[digB]

Originally Posted by RickyNelson

@digB -

Thank you for pointing out there is an emergency kit available. I often wondered the “what if” that happened.

Can you elaborate why you only use the app for the awning?

Thanks again!

The app knows where the control board "thinks" the awning is (which isn't always where it is with my awning). It also displays motion when it is moving between open and close. I've found it handy for troubleshooting and now use it instead of the connect buttons.

[JDG]

I had same issue with 2018. It was a loose connection and YES to the hit the retract button each time before you open the awning up. After plugging the connectors all back firmly in and hitting retract each time before opening I have never had an issue. Fingers crossed.

[Gunta10]

I did contact ZipDee and they have been helpful. In the middle of this we moved yet again over some bumpy roads, and when we landed in our next spot the control board was not working at all. Going back now to recheck all connections.

[Gunta10]

Thank you for pointing that out. I am in the process of checking every single connection. I've taken off the plastic cover over the control board and am currently going through all the connections. I had no idea there was so many junctions of wires connected. I will continue to move forward and update if and when I have success.

[Gunta10]

As soon as I get power back to the control board I will give it a go.

[Gunta10]

I will definitely update you when the issue gets resolved.

[Gunta10]

Awning is working again! Yippee!
After contacting ZipDee and reading through all these replies (thank you everyone!)
I went through every wire connection I could find near the control board.
There are about 20 that I could see. I pressed each one in, pressed the connection tight.

Secondly, on the control board I removed the three green plugs, unscrewed the wires partially (boy these screws are for tiny fingers!), pushed the wires in, and retightened all the screws, then plugged all the green plugs back into the control board tightly.

There is also a red plug from the control board to another circuit board. I detached and reattached that cord as well.

I powered up the rig. Unlocked using the two tilt buttons. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I followed the advice of those who responded and said to press the retract button first, even if the awning is retracted.

OMG. It worked. The awning is working again. I learned that although I am not an electrician and don't understand every wire in the rig, I can do the basic disconnect and reconnect and, gladly, that is all this needed. As Tom Hanks says in Polar Express: "Lesson learned."

[Fungus]

Originally Posted by Gunta10

I learned that although I am not an electrician and don't understand every wire in the rig, I can do the basic disconnect and reconnect and, gladly, that is all this needed.

Success is a big confidence builder. I once spent a full day looking for someone to repair a brake. Finally decided to remove the brake drum and strip the brake guts myself. Surprising easy job that could be done with just two tools I didn't already carry. Airstream sold me a brake assembly but couldn't install it for three days. So...two campgrounds later, I replaced the brake assembly. Once you remove a brake drum once, it is no longer intimidating. Same is true of the electrical experience you just gained. YouTube is your friend.

[majorairhead]

This is awesome! I've arrived at the conclusion that the relax awning that is misbehaving often is a result of a faulty connection in that circuit board. Not always, but, it's the first place I always tell folks to look.

That main cable, and the other cables too, depending on how they're situated, can pull pretty good on the connector, add to that some I95 potholes, some dipsy doodles at 70 mph, and the rumble of rough roads throughout various regions of the world, and stuff can wiggle loose for sure. I've used zip ties to situate the wiring cable(s) in that area so as to relieve stress on the connectors.

I had a water pump that was working fine one morning, but when we got to our destination....nothing. Sure enough, a wire connector had separated on the road.

Same with door hinges, and cabinet screws, etc. It's routine for me to check 'em all, tighten stuff down.

Thanks for coming back on in here and telling us how things worked out