TSB Number:
Product:
Date:

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

NOTE: This document is applicable to all Solera Smart Arm awnings built prior to 3/1/2018.
NOTE: This bulletin supersedes service bulletin 01-002-18B, dated May 3, 2018, which should be
removed from your files.
NOTE: This bulletin is supplied as technical information only and is not an authorization for repair. No part of
this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without written permission of Lippert
Components, Inc.

Subject

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Sealant correction to mitigate moisture in the Solera® Awning Smart Arm wiring harness splice lines.

Overview
This bulletin involves adding liquid tape sealer around the shrink tubing to block leak paths.

Models
All Solera Smart Arms with date of manufacture earlier than 3/1/18.

Symptom/Condition
The power and ground 16 AWG electrical wires of the connector harness are split to provide signals for
multiple Solera Smart Arm functions. In some cases there may be a leak path that allows moisture past the
shrink tubing (Fig. 1), which may cause a short circuit in the Smart Arm touchpad (touchpad is also known as
Smart Arm controller.)
NOTE: The four areas (Fig. 1) of the electrical harness represent potential moisture leak paths. All
shrink-fit tubed electrical wires must be sealed individually against moisture penetration.

Labor Time Allowed:
0.5 hours
Fig. 1

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 1

CCD-0001992

TSB Number:
Product:
Date:

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

Resources Required
• Scissors or utility knife—electrical tape removal
• Blunt-edged tool—RTV silicone removal
• A quick-curing liquid tape sealer intended for outdoor use that is not silicone or gel/paste material.
LCI recommends using one of the sealants shown below (Figs. 2 and 3).

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

NOTE: LCI recommends transferring the liquid tape sealant in a squeeze bottle or syringe to allow for
greater application control.

Instructions
NOTE: A video of this procedure is available at:
https://www.lci1.com/awnings-/support-solerareg-smart-arm
1.
2.
3.

Open the awning arm to access the Solera Smart Arm touchpad (Fig. 4).
Slide the wire cover up (Fig. 5A), then pull outward to remove.
Remove the connector small wire cover (Fig. 5B).
Fig. 5

Fig. 4

A

Wire Harness
Touchpad
B

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 2

CCD-0001992

TSB Number:
Product:
Date:
4.

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

Pull the snap clip (Fig. 6) outward to free the touchpad.

NOTE: Retain the wire cover, connector small wire cover and snap clip for reassembly.
5.

Detach the touchpad from the connector harness by pressing the release tab (Fig. 7) on the harness.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Snap Clip

Release Tab

6.

Complete a full inspection of the touchpad (Fig. 4) and the wire harness (Fig. 5) before starting
the sealing process. If no corrosion or damage is noted, go to step 10.

If there is corrosion or damage to the touchpad and/or harness, BOTH the touchpad and harness
will need to be replaced.
7.

If corrosion or damage is found, take note of the current harness installation and electrical
connections then replace with a new harness and new touchpad.

NOTE: The moisture mitigation procedure does not need to be performed on the new harness.
8.
9.

Install the new touchpad, then connect the harness to the touchpad.
Reinstall the snap clip, connector small wire cover and wire cover in this order.

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 3

CCD-0001992

TSB Number:
Product:
Date:

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

10. If there is no corrosion or damage, identify the power (red) (Fig. 8A) and ground (black) (Fig. 8B)
spliced lines that require sealing.
Fig. 8

A

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

B

Make sure designated areas are clean and dry. Dirty and wet areas will create unsealed conditions
which can expose electrical components to potential corrosion, resulting in component failure.
11. Remove any material from the topside of the connector that would prevent access to the splice
lines requiring sealing. Depending on manufacture date, the topside of the connector may have
RTV silicone (Fig. 9) or electrical tape (Fig. 10).
Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 4

CCD-0001992

TSB Number:
Product:
Date:

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

A. For RTV silicone sealed connectors, use a blunt-edged tool (Fig. 11) to carefully scrape the RTV
silicone from the wires so it does not interfere with the application of the liquid tape sealer.
B. For electrical tape sealed connectors and wire harnesses, use scissors or a utility knife (Fig. 12) to
carefully remove electrical tape from the connector and wire harness. To avoid cutting through
the wind sensor wires:
I. Feel for a bump (the wind sensor wires) through the tape.
II. Start cutting the tape from the bottom of the harness on the opposite side of the bump.
III. Cut up to the bump, then start peeling away the tape from the harness.

Use care not to nick or cut any electrical wire casing or damage any electrical connections. Such
damage could expose bare wiring, resulting in a potential path for corrosion to occur. Replace
harness if electrical wires become nicked, cut or electrical connections damaged.
Fig. 12

Fig. 11

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 5

CCD-0001992

TSB Number:
Product:
Date:

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

12. Inspect open ends of shrink fit tubing for cleanliness and dryness.
A. Apply liquid tape sealer at the top end of the shrink fit tubing for each of the spliced lines (Fig. 13).
B. Allow gravity to draw the liquid tape sealer into the shrink fit tube cavities and fill all the gaps.
Fig. 13

Sealant

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Sealant

C.

Allow the liquid tape sealer to dry to a tacky substance before flipping the harness to seal
the other end.

NOTE: The liquid tape sealer MUST cure for at least 10 minutes.
NOTE: Do not allow the other wires to come in contact with the liquid tape sealer until it dries. This
may create a void for moisture to enter.
D. Once the liquid tape sealer has cured, flip the harness upwards and apply the liquid tape
sealer to those ends of the shrink fit tubing. (Fig. 13).
E. Allow gravity to draw the liquid tape sealer into the shrink fit tube cavities and fill all the
gaps.
F. Hold or clamp the harness in that position and allow it to cure for at least 10 minutes,
making sure the other wires do not come in contact with the liquid tape sealer.
NOTE: Examples of correct and incorrect liquid tape sealer applications are on the next page.
13. Allow the liquid tape sealer to cure an additional 10-20 minutes before connecting the harness to
the touchpad.
14. Reconnect the connector harness to the touchpad.
15. Reinstall the touchpad, snap clip, the connector small wire cover and the wire cover in this order.

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 6

CCD-0001992

TSB Number:
Product:
Date:

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Correct Liquid Tape
Sealer Application

01-002-18D
Solera® Awning Smart Arm
August 29, 2018

Incorrect Liquid Tape Sealer Application

The silicone sealant is interfering with the
application of the liquid tape sealer.

The liquid tape sealer
is completely covering
the wires as they extend
from the shrink tubing.
There are no gaps or
holes in the coverage.

The liquid tape sealer is not completely
covering the opening of the splice line.

Adjacent wires came into contact with the ground
wire application before curing, making the seal
ineffective.

Lippert Components Inc.
lci1.com/support
Phone: (574) 537-8900
Email: [email protected]
Plant 39
Customer Service & Aftermarket Sales
1902 West Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46619
Rev: 09.17.18

Page 7

CCD-0001992