Quick answer: If a power awning will not close, make the area safe first, then check the battery, the switch or remote, and the fuse. If it still will not move, many power awnings have a manual override. On a Lippert Solera Power Awning XL, you remove a rubber grommet and turn a nut on the motor counterclockwise with a 7/16″ socket and a drill. On an older Carefree Eclipse (model years 2008 and earlier), you feed 9V to 18V DC to emergency terminals, never 110V. Awnings can move suddenly and pinch, crush or cut, so keep people clear. Your manual comes before this page.
This guide covers motorized (power) patio awnings. We read two manufacturer manuals for it: the Solera Power Awning XL owner’s manual and the Carefree Eclipse owner’s manual. We did not read manuals for other awnings, so the brand table below says “check your manual” for them. Fabric cleaning and replacement are outside this guide.
Secure first: wind, people, and what not to force
Do this before you touch the override.
Stop and call a technician if any of these is true (our safety judgment, not a manufacturer list):
- The arms are bent or broken, or a gas strut is broken.
- The awning has pulled away from the roof or the wall, or the mounting looks torn.
- The motor smells burnt, smokes or is hot to the touch.
- The awning still will not move after the override.
- The fabric is holding a heavy load of water.
- You cannot get the awning fully closed and the weather is turning.
Keep people clear. Lippert’s Solera manual warns: “Moving parts can pinch, crush or cut. Keep clear and use caution.” Carefree’s Eclipse manual says the awning “may move abruptly” when you retract it with the emergency terminals. Nobody should stand under the roll tube or between the arms. Keep kids and pets away. A second person helps.
Ladders. Lippert says “a step stool or ladder may be required” to retract the awning completely. A ladder is a fall risk. Use firm, level ground and have someone hold it. This is our own safety judgment, not a manufacturer statement: do not use a ladder in gusty wind.
Wind and rain. Both manufacturers say to retract in high wind or heavy rain. Lippert advises retracting completely “during incidents of high wind, heavy rain or extended time away.” Carefree says the effects of wind and rain are unpredictable and can cause severe damage, so “roll up the awning and secure.” The manuals do not tell you to put yourself in danger. Our own advice: if wind is strong enough that you cannot stand next to the awning safely, leave it. A damaged awning can be fixed.
Why power awnings stop
Most stops fall into four groups. This is a short list, not a full diagnosis.
- Power supply. Low or disconnected house battery. Lippert says to verify the battery “is fully charged and connected to the electrical system” before retracting. If you suspect the battery or converter, check those first.
- Controls. A switch left in the wrong position, a dead remote, or a lockout. On Carefree Eclipse multi-switch systems, the interior power switch must be ON, and in the mode-switch version the OFF position means the awning “cannot be extended or retracted.”
- Motor protection. Carefree says its motor has a thermal protection circuit. Repeated use over a short time can shut the motor off. Wait about 15 minutes for it to cool, then try again.
- Mechanical. Bent arms, a jammed channel or a broken strut. These are not DIY fixes.
One more quirk on a Solera: if the extend button is held too long or hit by mistake, the fabric can roll up backward. Lippert says this “is not a defect” and that pressing RETRACT brings the awning back to the correct orientation.
Quick checks before the override
- Is the house battery charged, connected and not tripped off?
- Is the awning switch, or the power switch on multi-switch systems, in the right position?
- Remote battery fresh? Does the inside switch work?
- Is the awning’s fuse intact? The manuals we read give no fuse location, so use your RV’s fuse chart.
- On Carefree systems with the optional ignition lockout, note that Carefree says it disables extending while the ignition key is on. It does not stop retracting, so it is not the cause of an awning that will not close.
- Has the motor been cycled a lot just now? Wait about 15 minutes.
If the awning still does not move, go to the override.
Which override do you have?
On the Solera, Lippert says the drive head is “always located on the right side of the awning as it is viewed from outside of the unit.”
- Is there a rubber grommet on the drive head, with a nut under it? Yes: Solera-style override. Go to “Manual override, step by step.”
- No grommet: are there two bare 12V terminals on the back of the motor head, or a plug on the cable (Carefree Eclipse style)? Yes: go to “Emergency 12V terminals.”
- No, or not sure: stop. Find your model’s manual (brand and model are on the awning label) or call a technician.
Manual override, step by step (Solera example)
This is from the Lippert Solera Power Awning XL manual, revision dated 10.09.20. Other Solera models, including those with different drive heads, may differ. Use your model’s manual.
Lippert says that “in the event of power loss or motor failure” the awning can be retracted manually. The procedure:
- Remove the rubber grommet from the drive head assembly. This exposes the manual override nut on the motor.
- Fit a 7/16″ socket on a cordless or power drill.
- Spin the manual override nut counterclockwise to retract the awning.
- When the awning is fully retracted, remove the socket and put the rubber grommet back.
Lippert also says the awning’s locking latch should be locked after retracting, if the awning has one. It notes the latch is optional and may be on one or both arms.
Our own note, not from the manual: use a slow drill speed so you can stop at once if something binds.
Emergency 12V terminals (Carefree Eclipse example)
This is from the Carefree Eclipse owner’s manual. It covers model years 2008 and earlier and was printed January 2009, so it is an old edition. We could not open a newer one. Your awning may differ. Check Carefree’s site for your model.
Carefree says the Eclipse has emergency override terminals (12V) that can run from a 9V to 18V power source, “such as a cordless drill battery or car battery.” Its warning is in capitals: do not connect the terminals to a 110V power source. Doing so “will permanently damage the awning.”
Carefree also cautions that the motor circuit acts as a dynamic brake by shorting the motor leads, so you must follow the steps below to release it:
- If there is an external plug, disconnect it, then skip to step 3.
- If there is no external plug, remove the front cover of the motor head (six small screws; do not remove the larger center screw), disconnect the input cable wires from the terminals (not the motor wires), leave them off, and reattach the cover.
- Attach the provided jumper leads to the terminals on the rear of the motor head.
- Connect the other ends to a 12V source. If the awning does not move, reverse the leads.
- Keep contact throughout the retraction.
Carefree warns that the awning may move abruptly. Step 2 means opening the motor head. Our own advice, not from the manual: if your system has an awning power switch, set it to OFF before you remove the cover. If your awning has no plug and you are not comfortable with that, call a technician. Carefree also says repairs not described in its book should be done by trained technicians at an authorized dealer.
Brand differences at a glance
| Awning | Override type | What we read |
|---|---|---|
| Lippert Solera Power Awning XL | Grommet, then nut on motor, 7/16″ socket and drill, counterclockwise to retract | Owner’s manual, rev. 10.09.20 |
| Carefree Eclipse (model years 2008 and earlier) | 12V emergency terminals, 9V to 18V source, never 110V | Owner’s manual, printed Jan. 2009 |
| Other Solera models (3000, Smart Arm and others) | Not confirmed | Not read. Check your manual |
| Dometic / A&E and other brands | Not confirmed | Not read. Check your manual |
| Manual crank or spring-assisted awnings | Not confirmed | Not read. Check your manual |
“Without damaging it” checklist
Before: people and pets clear, helper in place; battery, switch and remote checked; override type confirmed from your exact model’s manual; safe weather; ladder stable.
While working:
- Solera: nut counterclockwise only, to retract.
- Eclipse: 9V to 18V only, never 110V; do the plug or cover steps first.
- Do not push a pitch arm joint past straight. Lippert says this puts tension on the gas strut, which “can cause the strut to break.”
- Expect sudden movement. Keep hands and body out of the arms.
- Stop and call a technician if anything binds, bends or makes a loud noise (our judgment).
After: replace the Solera grommet, or reconnect the Eclipse wiring per your manual; lock the latch if there is one.
After it is closed: lock it down and decide
Once the awning is closed, do not extend it again until you know why it stopped. Leave the power switch off on systems that have one. Carefree says this is strongly recommended during transport to prevent accidental opening.
Then decide. If the cause was low battery, a switch or a tripped motor protector, fix that and test the awning once with someone watching. If the override worked but the motor will not run on power, the motor, control or wiring needs a technician. If the awning damaged the roof or wall, check for leaks soon: see water damage signs and roof replacement cost. Check warranty terms before paying; see Is an RV extended warranty worth it?. We give no repair prices because we found no source we could verify.
A slide-out that will not move is a different system. Do not use the awning steps on a slide-out; see RV slide-out stuck: what to check and where DIY ends.
Prevent a repeat
- Retract before wind, heavy rain or leaving. Both manuals say so. Carefree says that if you leave the RV unattended, retract the awning.
- Rain pooling. Carefree says water on the fabric can stretch or distort it, and suggests retracting in steps of 8″ to 12″ to dump it. In rain, it says to set one arm at minimum pitch and the other at maximum so water runs off.
- Keep the arms clean. Carefree says dirt in the channels can stop the arms sliding.
- Dry fabric before rolling up. Lippert says to extend and dry a wet awning before retracting, to prevent mildew.
When to call a technician
Use the stop list at the top. Also call if the awning does not move after the override, you cannot tell which override you have, or opening the motor head is more than you want to do. Give the technician the brand, the model on the label and what happened just before it stopped.
FAQ
Can I close my RV awning by hand?
Many power awnings have a manual override, but it differs by brand. A Solera XL uses a drill on a nut. A Carefree Eclipse uses 12V terminals. Use the manual for your model.
What do I do if it starts to rain or blow while the awning is stuck out?
Retract it if you can do so safely. If wind is strong, keep yourself and others clear and leave it. This is our own advice. In steady rain, Carefree says to set the arms at opposite pitches so water runs off.
Can I plug the awning into 120V or 110V power?
No. Carefree says never connect its Eclipse terminals to 110V.
Why did the awning stop after I used it a lot?
Carefree says its motor has thermal protection and may shut off after repeated use. It says to wait about 15 minutes.
Sources
Read 2026-10-20. Manuals change, so confirm against your own model’s manual.
- Lippert, Solera Power Awning XL Owner’s Manual, Rev. 10.09.20, CCD-0001978, a copy hosted by Forest River.
- Carefree of Colorado, Eclipse Owner’s Manual (model years 2008 and earlier), printed January 2009.
General information, not a substitute for your manual or a qualified technician. RVFixWise Editorial drafts with AI assistance and checks claims against the sources above.
