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10-25-2009, 08:16 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
spanish fort
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
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Power question
I am new to the camping world so this may be a silly question. I have a '70 Overlander 27' should the lights and refrigerator work if you don't have a battery hooked up but you do have it plugged into a 30amp service? I am pretty familiar with electrical things. thanks in advance Michael
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10-25-2009, 08:22 AM
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#2
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
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The lights are usually 12 volt DC and the refrigerator is generally running on 110 volt AC. Both should work when plugged into shore power. The 12 volt lights should run through the converter. Tell us what is going on. Maybe we can help.
Brian
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SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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10-25-2009, 08:27 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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Inland RV has posted that old Univolts like a balanced load with a battery in the circuit. I'm not sure what strain it puts on them if there isn't a battery. You might want to put replacing the Univolt 'battery boiler' on your long term plan. For now I wouldn't feel bad about occasional use as you propose -- it would have been close to the edge anyway if it hatches. Insulate the cable terminals if you use it this way.
I know that lights on my '74 Argosy seemed to work just fine. Your fridge controller is 12 volts but uses 120V to cool when plugged in.
Almost all 50 states have laws on the book requiring breakaway braking for trailers over approx 2000 pounds. You'll need a battery onboard for road use.
Good to have you with us, Michael!
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10-25-2009, 01:55 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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You want to install a battery ASAP. The converter without a battery load will run at a higher output voltage and you will go through light bulbs for one and may cook the control board in the Ref.
The battery is the equalizer in the system when on 120 volts shore power. If you never intend to use the trailer except at campgrounds with power a single smaller battery will do.
As noted above you have to have a battery for the emergency trailer brakes to work.
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WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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10-25-2009, 02:02 PM
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#5
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,618
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I just want to clarify one point. If you have the original refrigerator, you have no control board and there is no demand for 12 volts at the refrigerator. If the refrigerator is not original, all bets are off.
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Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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10-25-2009, 03:57 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
spanish fort
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
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I will take some pictures tomorow when I get back to the trailer. It is the original refrigerator though. I am working out of town and will be working on it when I get up (night shifts) The guy I got it from never used it and didn't know a whole lot about technical stuff. I am hoping the fridge will be working, when I get everything plugged up, at least long enough until I can upgrade. Thanks again for the replies and I will try to post some pics tomorow.
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10-26-2009, 08:39 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Currently Looking...
Jupiter
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,062
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The UniVolt buzzing loudly without a battery installed is it screaming in pain, it takes from several days to weeks will kill the converter depending on prior abuse. Find a battery quick!
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The days are short and the night is long and the stars go tumbling by.. . ~Airstream~
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10-29-2009, 02:45 PM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
spanish fort
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
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Well my 'fridge is fried. My converter works and so does everything else. I guess it just had its better days. I will just have to get me a new one.
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10-29-2009, 03:00 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1971 21' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,530
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What is your difination of "fried"? Did you check if it works on both gas and 120vac?
Kip
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10-29-2009, 03:16 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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That sounds like a hasty reaction to what appears to be an electrical problem.
There should be no reason to replace the complete unit if any of the electrical components don't work. They are cheap compared to a new refg.
Unlike a household refg. the cooling section is completely removed from the electrical section and thus the failure of one dose not require the replacement of both.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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10-29-2009, 03:32 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1978 Argosy Minuet 7.3 Metre
Dayton
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 313
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Certainly check the gas operation of the fridge. Mine takes forever to draw down on electric, so I start it with gas then switch over to maintain....unless I'm boondocking, then it stays on gas.
Did you verify the power to the fridge?
Al
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10-30-2009, 03:43 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
spanish fort
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
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I did verify the power to the 'fridge, I have power at the toggle and power at my plug behind. I talked to a fellow at a local RV store that worked for Airstream for 20 years and he told me it may take a while for it to cool down and the back should become warm, it never did, I didn't try it on gas because I have to get my tanks rebuilt with the right stuff. I left it plugged in for about 12 hours and it never did anything. I am not real familiar with how the ammonia based refrigerators work so can you add ammonia if it is low? Obviously if I don't have to replace it I don't want to. Thanks guys
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10-30-2009, 05:34 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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If you have a voltmeter check for voltage, 120, at the terminals that go to the heater element. If you have voltage there the controls are OK. If so disconnect the power and lift one wire of the heater element and check for continuity across the element. If you had voltage on the terminals and no continuity across the element the element is bad and easily change.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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10-30-2009, 06:08 PM
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#14
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,618
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The ammonia is in a sealed unit and can not be normally serviced. Your problem sounds like an open heating element as stated in the post above.
Replacing the unit should be a last resort. Finding an exact fit replacement is almost impossible.
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Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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10-30-2009, 06:18 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1979 31' Sovereign
1950 22' Liner
Powhatan
, Virginia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 521
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I know this seems obvious but when you had the fridge on electric for 12 hours and it didn't work, did you open it to see if it was cool? When we got ours in March and plugged into shore power, turned the fridge on, I was expecting a "running" noise from the fridge back but we got nothing. I chalked it up as broken on electric but the wife said leave it overnight and in the morning, inside was nice and cold. After that, I found out ammonia based make no noise.
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