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FF Rain Sensor; was Painting Vent Co

Yahoo Message Number: 15388

Quote
the Maxair covers designed for Fantastic fans on all of our RV's for > the last 8 years and never had a problem with the fan.
Although we had the large MaxxAir covers installed over our Fantastic Fans, the FF's cover still closes when it rains or heavy nighttime humidity (we're right on the Gulf) gets on the sensor. Does anyone know how I can easily disable the sensor?

Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

FF Rain Sensor fix

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15389
Hi Dick -

Since your fix for my jumpy voltmeter worked so well try this:
Take off the MaxxAir covers (4 nuts as I recall) and simply wipe off the rain sensor. FF told me to try this when I asked them how to disconnect the sensor. Worked like a charm and I had exactly the same dew problem you have. BTW, they said I could simply cut the wires to the sensor if I wanted to but it hasn't been necessary.

Dave

'98 Allure 36 #30187 (currently for sale)

FF Rain Sensor; was Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Painting Vent Co

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15392
"Dick Campagna",

I too had the problem. I cleaned the sensors with steel wool.
Undo one screw & clean both sides. That solved about 90% of the opening & closing. When I'm in an area like you are in I only open the cover about 1-2" that totally solved the issue for me. Been working 2 years since the cleaning.

Hope this helps.................
Steve

Intrigue #10673

FF Rain Sensor; was Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Painting Vent Co

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15397
The good news for us is that our fans have a switch for turning off the rains sensor. The bad news is that I forgot to turn it back on last week and we had a little water on the kitchen floor. Once I get the covers on we should be good to go. I think I'll put up with the white ones and find a boat paint shop in Seattle who can do a professional job of painting them. With all the yachts in Seattle there must be somebody who can get the Sikkens paint.

FF Rain Sensor; was Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Painting Vent Co

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15403
Dick, isn't there a disabling switch on your fans? All of the ones I've had do have such a switch up on the fan. It has red paint on it.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: FF Rain Sensor fix

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15467
Quote
Hi Dick -

Since your fix for my jumpy voltmeter worked so well try this: > Take off the MaxxAir covers (4 nuts as I recall) and simply wipe off > the rain sensor. FF told me to try this when I asked them how to > disconnect the sensor. Worked like a charm and I had exactly the same > dew problem you have. BTW, they said I could simply cut the wires to > the sensor if I wanted to but it hasn't been necessary.
While I believe you, I don't understand how wiping off the rain sensor will make it LESS sensitive. On the other hand, I don't understand how faucets work, either (just kidding). I guess I'll clean the sensors and report my results.

(Now if I only didn't have to get up on the roof to do it :-)

Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: FF Rain Sensor fix

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15468
Hi Dick -

I had the same question - the folks at FF explained that with the MaxxAir covers the volume and velocity of the air is less so dirt accumulates on the sensor. Once there, the dirt attracts the dew like a magnet - which causes the sensor to start acting funny (in a bad way!).

I confess to being so skeptical of this explaination that I took my wire cutters up on the roof along with a rag. I was very close to just cutting the wires because the sensors (a 1x4 inch printed circuit board) didn't "look" dirty. In the end I just cleaned them. That was a year ago and since then we've taken two multi-month trips and both fans have behaved.
Dave

'98 Allure 36 #30187 (currently for sale)

Re: FF Rain Sensor fix

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15469
Dick,

The rain sensors measure electrical resistance between a couple of teeth-shaped conductor pins on a small board. If it rains, the moisture makes the resistance smaller, and triggers the control logic into assuming it is raining (the flow of electrical current will increase with lower resistance).

When those conductor pins have grime between/on them, there is a tendency to report a higher level of moisture sooner. Keeping them clean prevents this.

Sorry, but you'll have to explain how a faucet works :-)

paint

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15654
My question is painting the satellite dish. It was installed on our coach when we bought it and sticks out like a sore thumb. Our coach is biege and maroon.
Is it simple just to get a spray can of paint for plastic and spray it, or is it more complicated? Thanks, for the info
The Livelys, 04 Allure

Re: paint

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15659

We custome ordered a 2006 Affinity and faced the same issue. Call it vanity but I thought the white dome stuck out like a sore thumb too.
Carolyn Gsell at Country Coach said under no conditions would they paint the dome. They said the dealer could but they would not be held responsible. They said they have had too many issues with the domes being painted and that once it is painted the warranty is voided.
Something to do with the metallic paints interfering with the reception. I have yielded to their expertise and have decided that like it or not I will keep the dome white so that there are no issues with the reception or the warranty.
Todd and Carolyn
Evan and Price

2006 Country Coach Affinity #6559

Re: paint

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15666
Painting a satellite dish will cause no problems. Also,I sure see a lot of painted domes.
Don

'02 Intrigue #11427
'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: paint

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15677
I have a dome covering my satellite dish and when it rains hard, I lose my signal. When I talked to King Dome personnel, they suggested rain-x and NO paint of any sort.

Carol

04 Inspire 51046

paint

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65488
Does anyone know where I can obtain the colors for my 2005 Inspire. We need to repair a damaged basement door. Thanks Tom

2005 Inspire # 51177

Re: paint

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65507
Did your coach come with an expandable document folder? If so then the paint colors should be listed on that folder on the inside top flap. At least that was the case on my coach.
Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: paint

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65511
Quote from: boxerdude3

Does anyone know where I can obtain the colors for my 2005 Inspire. We need to repair a damaged basement door. Thanks > Tom

2005 Inspire # 51177
Your coach paint is made by Sikkens with stores nationwide. There are 4 separate colors which you can find listed in the Country Coach information box or in the 3 ring binder.
If you can't find your list of colors then you can go to a Sikkens store and they have a book with cards of all their colors that has a punched hole in each color sample. Take this card and hold it up to your coach and you will get a perfect match.

Bob

2005 Inspire 51394

Re: paint

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65518
I have 2 grey binders and a box with numerous pamphlets and manuels. No paint colors are in any of them. Thanks

Re: paint

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65526
Tom, if you're unsuccessful finding the black Country Coach box containing the system files, send to the group your best description of the colors on your coach. There were only a couple (few) paint schemes for the 05 Inspire. Someone out here has the identical paint scheme and can send you the Sikkens numbers.

Jay

05 Inspire 51457 (Green and Grey)

Re: paint

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65530
When I bought my coach (third owner) I got the two large binders, but not the folder - there was a file system in one of the drawers that had some brochures and information, but no paint codes. Body shops have color matching equipment that can come close enough you cannot tell the difference, and it will help if you tell them Silken (spelling?) paint, with a clear coat. I had my rear bumper repainted, and you cannot tell it was repainted, in any light. The only drawback is that now I need to wax the rest of the coach again.
I took one of the diesel cap doors off for them to send off and match.
Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue 11527

Re: paint

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65544
I wish someone could do that for me. There are 5 colors on my 2004 Allure and I have the 5 touchup bottles that came with the coach that have what CC told me was the Sikkens point codes. They have long since dried up. I also had the box and verified at one time that they were the identical numbers to the touchup bottles.
Unfortunately they are not Sikkens paint codes. No one at Sikkens could recognize them as point codes. The closest they could guess was that they might be Book and Page numbers in a Sikkens sample book or some looked like they might be fleet codes.
The net result is that I have never been able to cross reference the paint codes and repainting is a hot or miss adventure. On my 2003 Allure the codes on the bottles were Sikkens paint codes and when a fast moving rock bit a rear panel door I got the paint from Sikkens and it was a perfect match. Oh well.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: paint

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65550
Don

Guaranty in Junction City did not have any problem matching my paint colors. I would think that any of the paint shops that did contract painting for Country Coach would be able to match the colors. An ex CC painter is working for Oregon Motor Coach in Eugene and they do paint repairs.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: paint

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65552
Dan,

Appreciate the idea, but I have thrashed this out with Sikkens themselves as well as two people on the group that work for Sikkens and no one could identify the number provided by CC as paint codes. As I mentioned I had no problem matching the numbers as long as they were Sikkens paint codes but the ones with my 2004 Allure are not. I mention it only as a caution for those that find the codes but have trouble with them. They may have a similar situation as I have.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: paint

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65553
A reputable paint facility will have no problem matching your paint, I recently had paint repair at Creative Coach in Lakeland, Florida and they told me that they actually match it, to be sure it is done right, rather than accept a paint code from someone else. Their match was perfect on my repair and there is no difference between the repainted area and the surrounding paint.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040