I did not like the fact that my last post was vauge so I did a bit of research and found out that the reccomended charging voltage for a gel cell is usally 14.1 volts. Charging at a higher voltage is bad for the battery. I would check the votage output of your univolt and see if it is at 14.5. If so you may want to see if it can be adjusted to a lower max output. There, now I feel better!
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
Hi Brett,
Thanks for all the research. I'll finish my water heater installationa and then go on to the battery project. It looks like a rats nest where the Univolt resides, and i alrady know it's going to be the proverbial can of worms, like everything else I did so far on this trailer. That's what I get for loving this old trailer. We'll havo to increaso the ratio of camping time/work on it time in favor of the camping time. Maybe by next year.....
This forum has shed quite a bit of light on things.
Uwe
UWE if you need to know where any of the original wires go or what its supposed to look like , I can send you photos of my univolt and wiring . mine is orginal and in very good shape. Tom
Hey TOM, pictures would be great. It really looks suspect down in there. I 'll take some before and after shots, if I can get in there with the camera.
I am measuring 13.06 Volts at the battery terminals, and 13.04 volts at the ceiling fan wiring and at the ceiling lights. 13.04 Volts also at the tongue jack wiring, furthest from the battery and Univolt. My battery is supposed to have a charging voltage of 14.6V. Hmmm.
I am going ot wait a few hours and see if after charging the battery my voltage will increase.Sometimes the voltsge drops a little bit on a partially discharged battery.
Maybe the Univolt has seen better days, or maybe the rats nest is getting in the way of a good charge.
Uwe
Uwe,
I agree with Tom about NOT locating batteries to the front of the Trade Wind. Not because of the line loss but because it would make an already heavy front even heavier. That and 70's frames have a history of not being overly stiff.
My battery compartment has a plastic liner, on the door as well as in the compartment. The door liner acts as a shelf when the door is open so the battery can be slid out onto it and it acts as a big spacer block when the door is closed. Are 72's different from 71's?
I am in the planning stages of remodeling my electrical/battery system. Please let us all know how yours turns out.
First on my list is to off the Univolt, mine has been 'customized' by a prior owner, and I do not like the 'hummmmm'.
I guess 71's are different from 72's. I have seen the type of compartment you have with the bottom hinge. Mine is the flip up and fall off type.
I have decided to make a slideout type box, that holds 2 batteries, volt meter and a selector/disconnect.
The way we camp is often without hookups in Mexico. So having a spare battery to switch to would suit me well. Sort of like the propane tanks.
I have a schematic for a shutoff relay, I might put a remote shutoof switch by the door. Maybe not, though, because of teh extra wiring and the extra trouble spots. Keep it simple, right?
So I am looking for the low profile sliders, ones that can actually hold 2 heavy batteries. I am going to also build a sealed battery box, with a vent connection to the outside vent. But not this summer. Having too much fun be-bopping around SoCal with the silver twinkie......
Although my serial number definitely says it was manufactured in 1971, I too have the bottom hinge door that Les mentioned for his '72. The PO gave me the Owner's Manual that was for '72 models. Maybe I have the '72 design manufactured in late '71? I also wonder if there were differences in Airstreams manufactured in California and Ohio at the time. Mine was manufactured in California.
Anyway, since the PO let the Airstream sit for 8 years I found the battery terminals completely corroded away. So today I bought a new battery, battery box and new terminal connectors. Then it got dark and I couldn't install. Also today I finally got my 30 amp outlet installed at my garage but am still waiting for the energy company to connect my power. So I sit with no battery connection and no electrical connection yet. Getting pretty antsie to see what works and what doesn't including the photovoltaic solar panel on my AS roof.
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