Hello, we have a 1972 Overlander that kind of fell in to our hands. We are figuring out why they gave it away. We really want to get it going and be able to take the kids camping in it before they get too old and refuse to go with us. We have done a lot of camping with the old pop up but this should be so much cooler. Anyways, back to what Im here for, we have some wiring issues. Can anyone tell me what this is and could it be bad?? It says "Safety Device" on it but what is it protecting. It is in the front of the camper with the 7-way trailer lighting access. We are having some lighting issues and not sure if this could be the cause. Is this something the PO added, or is it original?? I have always loved airstreams and when our middle child is off to college, my husband and the baby (hes 11 now) intend on doing a full restoration. This site has already been very useful and Im sure it will several more times. Thank You Melanie
It looks to me like a thermal cut-out. If the circuit draws excessive current for safe operation, the cut-out heats up and the circuit is broken. When it cools down, the device will reset.
Nick.
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Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
Yep, looks like a thermal circuit breaker.
My 64 has one near the front on the main line to the light circuit (tail/brake/turn) and another on the electric brake circuit.
It WAS the cause of my light problems.
They are cheap, easily replacable. NAPA, RV shops.
with volt/ohm meter check for continuity between the poles, if none, replace it. Either way, clean the contacts.
Definitely a thermal breaker. I would reroute the red wires and feed them both from the top to eliminate that kink and possible rubbing against the bracket. Disclaimer: I often create more problems because I never leave well enough alone.
If this was bad thought would none of my lights work? Or just a few of the outside trailer lights not work? We have a right brake light ( I think the left is too rusted) , back up lights and thats it. No clearance lights or running lights. Thank You very much for your help. Melanie
Malanie, if one brake light works, that circuit breaker is not why the other doesn't.
Since you said you have a pop-up, I am guessing you already have the wires connected correctly and working on your tow vehicle. Now, what I have found is that Airstreams of the vintage you have, are wired differently in the plug to the tow vehicle than what is currently industry standard. When we got our Argosy, it was wired the same way you describe, with the same problem. We had one brake light, and a backup light, and that was it. I re-wired the trailer pigtail to match our tow vehicle, and then went around the trailer making sure the lights were well-grounded. I had to drill out several rivets holding the fixtures to the coach, as they ground to complete the circuit through the rivets holding them on.
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Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
Hello again, OK all this experimenting will have to wait for next weekend, but the hubby kept saying that was the problem and I argued. He believed with me after we found a anmeter wire off the univolt and thats when the couple lights came on. I guess we will have to sit with the test light and figure out where all the wires go on the old trailer plug. As for replacement clearance lights I found those at Wal-mart (I had read that in a post). Any hint for the 1972 houseing for the brake lights and back up lights? I have seen a lot on here but its usually the older trailers they are refering too. Thank You Melanie
Hello, we have a 1972 Overlander that kind of fell in to our hands. We are figuring out why they gave it away. We really want to get it going and be able to take the kids camping in it before they get too old and refuse to go with us. We have done a lot of camping with the old pop up but this should be so much cooler. Anyways, back to what Im here for, we have some wiring issues. Can anyone tell me what this is and could it be bad?? It says "Safety Device" on it but what is it protecting. It is in the front of the camper with the 7-way trailer lighting access. We are having some lighting issues and not sure if this could be the cause. Is this something the PO added, or is it original?? I have always loved airstreams and when our middle child is off to college, my husband and the baby (hes 11 now) intend on doing a full restoration. This site has already been very useful and Im sure it will several more times. Thank You Melanie
Melanie,
If that blue wire is connnected to your trailer brakes at any point, then that device should be an auto-reset circuit breaker. This is used on the brake circuit to ensure that a pulse of DC will reach the brakes if the circuit shorts or fails and will provide the trailer some braking power in an emergency situation.
Many of us have encountered the Airstream/Argosy Bargman connector wiring schematic that doesn't mate to the modern standard on our tow vehicles. The diagram found at the location linked below might help in identifying the functions of the wires in your coach's connector:
Thanks, Kevin. I can never find that diagram to upload when I need it.
Here is the current one, so you can make the needed changes:
#Color Circuit
Functionconnector interior
1white common ground
2blue electric brake
3green tail/running lights
4black battery charge (+)
5red left turn/stop
6brown right turn/stop
7yellow auxiliary/back upNOTE: #7 is the center terminal and currently is most commonly used for backup lights
__________________
Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
Thanks, Kevin. I can never find that diagram to upload when I need it.
Here is the current one, so you can make the needed changes:
#Color Circuit
Functionconnector interior
1white common ground
2blue electric brake
3green tail/running lights
4black battery charge (+)
5red left turn/stop
6brown right turn/stop
7yellow auxiliary/back upNOTE: #7 is the center terminal and currently is most commonly used for backup lights
I found the best way to find the correct wires for trailer and for vehicle are to make a light tester with alligator clips put one end to ground other to the poles do the left blinker then right the parking lights the brakes write down the color of the wires and the position of the poles. Then use one fo your deep cycle batterys and run a the positive light to the trailers connection then go to back of trailer and see which lights light up the outlights are usually the running lights they run the marker lights to,the next set is the back up lights the next set is the brake and the blinker lights . blue wire is universal for trailer brake functions.
Melanie,
If that blue wire is connnected to your trailer brakes at any point, then that device should be an auto-reset circuit breaker. This is used on the brake circuit to ensure that a pulse of DC will reach the brakes if the circuit shorts or fails and will provide the trailer some braking power in an emergency situation.
Oh wow didnt think of that one so this circuit breaker would give power to brakes if circuit fails is that what your saying is this common on most trailers with electric brakes?
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