Hi Sam,
Just a note of CAUTION here. The arms on the awning are spring "loaded" and it is the tension in the arms that extends the fabric. The motor unwinds the fabric and the arms extend it. When you retract the awning, the motor is working harder because it has to fold the arms and wind the fabric. Follow the instructions in the manual or this awning will toss you off the ladder.
Blessings, Fred Brooks