HALLMARK 6X12 CONVERSION

[Tommy B]

ok last report on the experiment until cover gets here.
After work yesterday the sun was out full and the controller read 13.1. cooler always 31-37 it seems. The panel was giving 3.00 amps to battery @ that time.
I went into the cooler a few times at intervals to get . Resituated a large water jug over to the freezer/cooler compartment. That's the only compartment where the cold is applied. Others compartments are by circulation only. The temp reading is from the freezer/cooler compartment. That's Important. After that I read the controller one more time @ 730 or so and it read 12.6. I left the maxx air fan on #3 and left it all night.
This morning it was 12.3. The sun was almost going to hit the panel through the trees a bit as I left.

Just info. Almost could run perpetually with full sun but not quite. See what the cover does and then maybe install 2 new batteries but that could wait a bit.

Report back in a week or so on the cover.

[flboy]

Seems like the solar is working well. Definitely an improvement and now your battery will stay healthy while parked.

Keep in mind you have a small quite gen to supplement solar under less than full sun conditions. But this is good.

Careful, solar is addictive. I think that is how I ended up with 5 panels and 3 batteries. :-)

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[Tommy B]

ok next task up. Ordered the replacement awning fabric today. $223.00 free shipping. They seem to last about 5 years or so. FYI.

rv country was the seller. Comes with a vinyl weather guard. I not exactly sure what that is, we shell see. Should be a week or two.

I will show a before and after when I'm done. Should be ready for the season after this.

[pchast]

Could you describe why your awning only lasts 5 years?
Is that typical service?

[flboy]

Could you describe why your awning only lasts 5 years?
Is that typical service?

Based on what I saw, I believe Tommy's awning failure was due to the sun and UV's beating down on the exposed part all day every day. The materiel dry rots and begins to come apart. The is hard on things here in Florida. I'd venture to guess that if it was covered up, it would last much longer.

Tommy, I got that right?

[McDave]

That is what I have seen as well. Also, the 70mph wind during transport probably isn't helpful. There are a number of ways to prevent this, the main idea is to protect the exposed strip on the top of the roll. Makes sense to me. I used a vinyl gutter to cover the roller and so far so good. The fabric is clean and dry and no sign of wind damage, or bird poop.

McDave

[Tommy B]

Hey I was mistaken when I said my fabric lasted 5 years. Now that I think about it this is my THIRD one. Trailer is 10 years and a few months old.

I am going to cover this new one up when in storage but the one that's on there now did not last as long as the original factory one. No surprise as it did not appear to be as thick as the original and they skimped on the fabric on the sides. It is falling apart in many places and is very brittle throughout the fabric but especially along both sides. The heat hear is unbelievable and moister does form in the rolled up fabric. By rain or condensation IDK. Then it bakes in the heat and steam. Will a cover help? Well certainly for the exposed portion.

I got to where I would unroll it once a month to air/dry it out as preventive maintenance but in the end it did not seem to matter. It always holds moister.
So I chose a different seller this time and we shell see. Maybe better quality. Every thing these days is thinner and cheaper than it was 10 years ago. Have you noticed? Yet more expensive .

Mcdave I like what you did and will do something similar!

[flboy]

When I unrolled my awning this weekend to install the LEDs, it was very wet and I put it away dry last time I used it. You may be on to something Tommy.

Maybe just opening it up every so often to let it dry out and etc. would make it last longer, but you did that also? I have to figure out how water is getting in the roll up. That much water has to be rain water and not humidity by itself.


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[Tommy B]

Don, Yes. Always wet. Even it we haven't had any rain in weeks. It has to condensation at least. What to do? 90-100 % humidity.

[Tommy B]

Don did you make a cover?. Mcdave has a sweet looking set up with that vinyl gutter. looks caulked in and dry from the picture. I have a week to come up with something. Not sure when the new fabric will arrive yet.

Maybe $230.00 or so every 3-5 years is the cost of doing business. You can wash and preserve periodically with there commercial products but in the end its just vinyl, fabric and thread and they will wear out

Consider this. As stated by the factory even this new one. Has a VERY short shelf life. 4-5 days in the box. You must not let it set folded or creased beyond that or the creases my become permanent and lead to premature cracks. Sounds a bit fragile right off.

Any Florida C.T folks out there? What are you doing to prevent the deterioration of your awning fabric? How long SHOULD they last?

Thanks!

[flboy]

No, I have not made a cover yet, but plan to and will start using after my trip this month.

I am going to use the vinyl gutter material as others have used. That appears to be as good as anything out there. You just have to remove before flight.

That will cover the uV factor, but wont do much for the moisture or heat if that is contributing as it appears.

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[McDave]

My "gutter cover" is permanently mounted. I now have over 1200 miles at 70mph+, still perfect. The entire roller is inside the gutter and unless the rain is going straight up the roller can't get wet or dirty. Simple to install and free for me. I took that gutter off a overhang when I replaced the roof 18yrs ago. One of the end caps is discolored, but I can live with it. The end cap is what keeps the wind from working on the fabric. I always keep 2 bungees around the roller and cover in flight. Also I found a "splice" or "coupler" fitting that is supposed to splice 2 ends together, but I just snapped it over the gutter in the middle to stiffen that area up.

McDave

[Tommy B]

The only concern I have with any box type cover is hornets and mud dobbers. If its not sealed completely they will find a way up under there. Imagine unrolling that awning and getting swarmed. They love my AC unit. If it sets even two months unused they build a nest guaranteed.

I don't know what I'm going to do. Think I will wait and see what you do Don. From the reviews I have read about the various covers, they all have one thing in common. Great for UV protection but not so for moister. Like you said.

Time to about it.

Hey this would solve everything! Base price $695.00. You can get them bigger and taller. For all the work WE ALL have done, this would be the way to go right here. 6-12 feet in height. just more $$ ALANS FACTORY OUTLET. Free shipping and installation. Never going to happen for me though!
oh here comes the wife, got to gooo

[flboy]

Dont think I want a carport like that. It would become a projectile in a hurricane. I'll do some research... got to be a way to get 5 or so years out of an awning fabric.

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[flboy]

Tommy, I gotta ask. You are not using any bleach or chlorine solution on your awning fabric to treat for mildew are you? Almost nothing would cause fabric to dry rot quicker.

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