Airstream 310 A/C

[cole3444]

Trying to see if someone can tell me if the front A/C unit will run off the generator or is those years dedicated to the shore power. If not my A/C guy is checking my dash and roof units and asked me if their is a breaker or transfer switch to make it run on the generator along with the rear unit. Don't have a schematic to trace the wiring so I am asking Classic owners. Wiring is original except for the rear A/C which was set up to switch the unit between the generator or shore power. PO had messaged one of the Classic owners some time back and got a drawing on how to wire this setup to flip a switch to run on either. The rear unit works well with this conversion but would like to have the front available also while driving in hot weather by running the generator. Thanks if someone has the time.

[cmadmaxman]

The front is wired in to run with the generator. Remember the switch by the range vent that switches between the front air and microwave.

[cole3444]

Thanks I will see if I can find that switch, learning the hard way on this 310.

[cmadmaxman]

It's like a regular house light switch.

[cole3444]

Found the switch and it was on A/C. Still no power and none of my 110 receptacles or lights are working. Traced wire from generator to a small panel behind small door by the bed and had power to it. Trying to see if PO has disconnected something when he wired the rear A/C that has been wired for shore and generator using a switch and a power cord for shore power. Is their a breaker hidden that needs reset. Have found the panel by the bed behind the small door near floor and the one located on the street side rear corner behind the slide door on the corner wall.

[cmadmaxman]

There's a transfer switch in the left rear out side door. The box where your power cord goes in is where it's at. Mine fried long ago, and that's when I changed over to a 50 amp feed! The transfer switch is automatically triggered when the generator is running.

[cole3444]

Thanks for the transfer switch location, did you have to change any wire sizes when you went to 50 amp. Had thought about that for future but if it is fried good time to upgrade. You have been a big help.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

With any 30A to 50A conversion, you are likely to need to do a new panel as well as some wire size upgrades. You are going from 30A at 120V to 50A at 240V. None of it is crazy hard to do, you just need to plan ahead. With two A/C units, going to 50A is a *very* good idea....

Bob

[cmadmaxman]

The breaker box in our 1982 310 had the 240v single phase. Just added a 240v 50 amp breaker for the feed, and a blue sea 50 amp manual selector switch for the inputs. The 50 amp power cord is a big cord and not cheap, luckily I already had one from a previous project.

[cmadmaxman]

Here is what I have now.


Had to get to my laptop for the photos!

[cmadmaxman]

Here is the auto transfer relay box on the right.

And here is the fried relay.

[cole3444]

Here is my electrical on the 310. Pic of breaker box shows 120/240 on the label, transfer switch looks good no bad places that I can tell and the infamous junction box with the switch to transfer rear air from shore to generator power.
I am wondering if the feed off the gen that goes to the junction box originally ran to the transfer switch and the PO disconnected it and uses the generator to run the rear A/C while moving and the 30' cord when on shore power when the switch is flipped and used shore power only to run the 120. Beats me the hunt is on

[cmadmaxman]

I have the same breaker panel. You should be able to configure like mine if you go with 50 amp. I would chase everything down and redo! Also do you still have the 6.5 generator? The PO had put in a 4.0 and would only run one air unit at a time. Now have a 7.0, can run both air units with power to spare!

[cole3444]

I have the 6.5 generator 273 hours and after searching I can get the Blue Sea transfer switch and the 30' 50amp power cord for the reel on Amazon for around 425.00-450.00 and whatever the cost for the 50 amp supply from generator to transfer switch. Do you remember the part number on your transfer switch they have two that look identical and a 40.00 difference was just wandering. Looks like I can put my transfer switch next to the breaker box and have it inside and easy access with a lot less wires with the 50amp service. One huge headache gone with a few dollars spent. Will have my electrical guru look it over.

[cmadmaxman]

Let me look in past orders to see if I can find it.

[cmadmaxman]

Found it.
Blue Sea Systems #8363 AC Rotary Panel 240VAC/63A OFF + 2

I used a electrical plastic box from Lowes or Home Depot. It is all blank so you can put all your holes where you want them.

You got this

Here to help anyway I can. Not a bad swap. You will be glad you did. These units are not know for the best insulation. In a 100 deg day, you will be glad you can just turn em both on, that is of coarse if your plugged into a 50 amp service.

Even here in TN, the state parks are upgrading to 50 amp service.

[cole3444]

Thanks so much for all your help. I am learning as I go on the motorhome on getting it ready to camp. Just need a little guidance on certain things. My 31' Sovereign trailer was fairly a straight forward frame-off rebuild, but enjoyed since I am retired. Again thanks so much, will holler if I run into anything else if you don't care.

[cmadmaxman]

Glad to help.

If we make it over your way, will try to link up. I'm planning to retire for the second time the spring of 2020. A lot to see in the Chattanooga area. Have good friends in Hixson.

[cole3444]

Great let me know when you head this way might see if we can find somewhere close to camp while in Chattanooga. One other thing , my electrical guy and myself disconnected the extra transfer switch for the AC and landed the wires back to the original diagram on the box behind the doors near the floor that is fed from the gen. The 120v was restored while running the generator. Plugged up shore and all good. He asked if these units had a switch to use when changing from generator to shore or did you have to disconnect one and fire up the other. Switched back to generator and the contacts would not makeup. I could take a stick and push on them and I had 120v on gen power. Do you know if the contacts on the transfer switch have any adjustments. We both said if not good time for 50amp service. Did you have any problems using your cord reel when you installed the 50amp cord, was wondering about the length of cord it would hold.

[cmadmaxman]

There's a small unit coming from the generator that is suppose to delay the relay from connecting. This is to let it warm up a bit I guess!? It's in the relay box. That could be the problem. Try bypassing it.
I don't have a reel, so going with the big honking 50 amp cord was to big a problem.