How to Adjust Day-Night Shades in RV (Step-by-Step Guide)


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Day-Night shades in RV are popular because they combine privacy nightshade with a sheer day shade.

The sheer shade decreases the reflection of outside light without blocking your visibility while the privacy shade prevents someone outside from seeing you when your lights are on.

Both private shades and sheer shade can also be pulled up to allow unrestricted views through the window.

With time, these shades can break or need some adjustment.

You can extend the duration of your shade by adjusting the spring tension when you install the shade for the first time, so that will be enough to hold it in place.

This will reduce the wear out on the strings and spring.

How to adjust day-night shades in RV (4-Step Process)

Step #1: Remove and disassemble the Day-Night shade with a screwdriver

Try removing the screws from each end of the upper shade, or the nightshade, and remove the shade from the clip in the middle.

Place the Day-Night shade on the floor and pry the end caps off the rails with the screwdriver and slide out the metal bars.

Remove the spools from the cord and cut the cord from the spring at the top of the shade.   

Step #2: Thread the nightshade

Cut your 20-yard cord in into two 10-yard sections and fold them in half as you loop them over the opposite ends of the spring–one on each side.

Duct tape the spring to the center of the top rail of the shaded center of the cords on each side of the spring and slide the top bar of the nightshade back in without catching the cords as you do it.

Put the ends of the cords on the left and right sides through the eyes of your needles and thread the cords through the holes in the upper shade, the nightshade.

Step #3: Attach the day shade to the nightshade.

Cross the left cords over to the right holes and the right cords over to the left holes in the top of the day shade and thread them through a few holes.

Slide the top bar of the day shade back in without catching it on the cords.

Reinstall the end caps to hold the two bars in place and pull the ends of the cords until the nightshade closes. Thread the cords through the remaining holes in the day shade until you reach the bottom.

At the bottom, cross the cords over to the opposite side and slide the bottom bar of the day shade back in without catching it on the cords.

Feed the cords through the holes in the end caps and push the end caps back in to hold the bar in place. Pull the cords tight to close the day shade.

Step #4: Reinstall the shade

Insert the center top rail of the nightshade into the retainer clip above the window and put the screws back in at each end.

Leave enough cord on each side of the window to allow for three wraps around the spools.

Cut off the extra cord and reattach the cords on each side to their corresponding spool by threading the cords through the holes in the spool and tying knots in the ends to keep them from coming out.

Adjust the spools with your screwdriver until the cords are tight enough to let the shades move up and down smoothly.

How to troubleshoot RV day/night shade

1). RV day/night shade won’t go up and down anymore (how to fix it)

When this occurs, it indicates a problem with the string inside the RV shade. The strings may be broken and need replacement, or it’s frayed.

When the strings are broken, it is time to replace the string. It is recommended to replace ALL of the lifting cords to provide the best results and function of your shade.

Firstly, know the diameter of the string your shade accepts. Most shade uses 1.2mm or 1.4mm string. If your string usually breaks or frays, it is likely the string is being pulled over a sharp or jagged surface inside the shades.

Check the end caps and cord guides that the string passes over for sharp edges and grooves.

There can be a problem with the cord retainers or spring. If the spring in the top rail of the shade is being stretched out,  that means it needs to be replaced.

If there is no proper tension on the cord retainer devices, the shade will not perform its required function properly. You can adjust the tension.

2). Shade usually goes up and down unevenly (how to fix it)

It indicates a problem with the string inside the RV shade. The strings may be broken and need replacement, or it’s frayed.

When the strings are broken, it is time to replace the string. It is recommended to replace ALL of the lifting cords to provide the best results and function of your shade.

Firstly, know the diameter of the string your shade accepts.

Most shade uses 1.2mm or 1.4mm string. Check the end caps and cord guides that the string passes over for sharp edges and grooves.

The cord retainer may be faulty. When the tension is not set evenly, the shade will not go up and down evenly.

The cords should be attached to the retainers. Relax the cord retainers screwed adequately on the wall and reset them correctly.

If this method doesn’t solve the problem, the string is getting hung up inside the shade somewhere.

Inspect all end caps and cord guides that the string passes through. Examine each spring, and make sure it is not stretched out.

3). RV shade seems to catch when I try to raise and lower it (how to fix it)

This is probably a frayed string in the shade. Once the string frays, it gets to hook up in the holes in the fabric.

When the strings are fraying, it needs replacing. It is recommended to replace ALL the lifting cords for better results and function of your shade. Firstly, know the diameter of the string. The standard diameter is 1.2mm or 1.4mm.

If all the strings are in perfect condition, either the cord guide, end cap, or filler strip is faulty. With time, all the pieces can get cut by the string, sharp edges, grooves, and forming gouges.

When working on the shade, the string may get stuck in one of these grooves. Carefully check all of the cord guides, end caps, and filler strips that the string passes over. If anyone is worn down, rotate them or get a new one.

4). Shade doesn’t stay in the right position, or it creeps up or down when positioned (how to fix it)

Just adjust the two cord retainers equally.  Wrap more string around the retainers to provide higher tension.

If it doesn’t give the right tension to hold the shade in place, then get a new internal spring.

Check to make sure the internal spring is not stretched out.

There is a free-hanging string at the bottom of my shade.

In most cases, the string can be detached from the cord retainers.

You can reattach the string to the cord retainer If the cord retainer is intact. If the cord retainer is broken, you have to get a new one before reattaching the string.

Conclusion

There you have it, the simple guide on how to adjust Day-Night Shades in RV.

In summary, the tension adjustment can be made through these simple steps:

  • You have to Hang the headrail of the shade at the top of the valance.
  • Screw the cord retainers properly to the wall.
  • Take up the excess or slack cord
  • After you have removed the slack in the shade cord, identify the spot where the cord exits the retainer hole.
  • Tie the knot in the cord after removing the screw ¼” tighter (higher) than your mark.
  • Repeat the same procedure for the opposite side.
  • Replace each cord retainer and operate the shade slowly.
  • If more tension is required loop one side of the cord around the cord retainer, or lose the retainer screw and slowly rotate the cord retainer to adjust the tension.

If the shade is set properly, you should be able to raise the bottom rail and have the center rail stay in the upper position.

When the shade is placed together correctly and set, it should last a long time.

Friction is the biggest problem, nylon cord through nylon or brass bushings. The faster the shade is raised, the faster it will wear out.

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