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Girard Wind Sensor Testing
I have a wind sensor that is not doing it’s job. It’s the front awning sensor, the rear one works fine. I can open and close the awning with the remote or the manual button inside and everything works great. I want the sensor to work and have a new one, but I’m not convinced it’s the sensor, could be the board. When I spin the spensor with shop air, nothing happens.
So, here’s the question. How would you test or measure the sensor using the two wires to determine if it’s working? Does the sensor generate current like a mini generator or how does it send a signal to the controller? It’s a standard Somfy sensor.
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7 Replies
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Tom Call Girard Systems talk to Andre Bouscary he will talk to you about it (949) 259-4000
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Hello, the wind sensor has a fixed reed switch that is operated by a magnet. A magnet is attached to the rotating portion of the sensor. I would venture the signal is an on and off pulse stream.
I test my wind sensors by climbing a ladder and blowing on the cups. Currently, I have 3 sensors and all rotate at different speeds in the same wind. I adjusted the trip speed pot on the control boards at different levels for each sensor.
The oldest sensor has metal cups and it has much less friction, it appears to spin significanly faster than the new sensors with plastic paddles.
I would like to find a splitter that would take a signal from one sensor and operate all 3 control boards.
Thanks, Milo
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Many of those are set with winds must maintain speed for extended period of time(1 full minute) Blowing on it with a air line you must hold it at a pretty good speed for extended time….
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As usual Jeff was right, you have to kind of have a sustained wind for 10 to 15 seconds before the controller closes the awning. My wind sensor checked out OK, but it didn’t spin as freely as it should, so I replaced it.
How to check the sensor – You put a meter on the two wires coming from the sensor and you’ll see zero ohms. As you spin the sensor, if the ohm reading increases with speed, it’s good.
There are two versions of the wind sensor, one has paddles (the later model) and the other has cups. According to Girard, I can use either sensor with my vinatge G-2000 awnings. The paddle sensor lets you replace just the plastic paddles by removing a nut on top and lifting off the paddles. With the cup sensor, you have to replace the entire unit. I elected to use the cup sensors, for some reason they seem to spin easier. The cup sensor is 630 at Amazon, but the supply is limited, otherwise they’re about 150 bucks at Girard. If you have the cups, you mght want to snag a spare.
Anyone needing a paddle, let me know, my take off is in good shape.
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Tom is there a part number for the cup sensor that you found on Amazon ? Thx
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You have two posts going, look at the other one.
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got it and 3 subassembly coming, thx
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