Interior lights not working.

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Just towed my first trailer home. 1979 31' International and know next to nothing about any of this...so this forum will be my lifeline.
So excited to own an AS, got it home, plugged it in. All the outlets work, but none of the interior lights tun on. A battery didn't come with the trailer, so my question is, do the outlets work on the plug and the lights on the battery?
Sorry about the novice question, but couldn't find the answer on other threads.

[HiJoeSilver]

Almost all, if not all the lighting in the trailer are 12V, you'll need a battery for supplying them with power. In a '79 all the outlets are 120v from the shore power, the lights will be 12v DC from the battery and the UNIVOLT if it's still installed and working.
Univolt is a really old converter; converts 120v to 12v to supply the 12v loads and keep the battery charged. It's a big metal box. The univolt and 12v distribution is located under the front window in your trailer.

[Silverflames]

Yes it sounds like your converter is not working, find it and make sure it's plugged in to a 120 volt plug (shore power/house style plug)

There are some very good replacement options if it is bad.

[Rhino33]

JR Bob Dobbs - Welcome to the AirForums and congratulations on your new addition! We have been rehabbing a 1980 31' International for the past several years and love it. (though periodically, some not-so-much-love during weird or body-contorting repairs!!)

Feel free to ask any and all questions here, they are a wealth of information.

[3irdeyephoto]

Ok, now I'm confused. We just bought a 1972 31-foot Sovereign and hooked into our home (shore) power. It has no battery of it's own. Everything works inside (i.e. lights, fridge, a/c and all outlets) Except for the front 1/4 of the camper. No overhead lights/exhaust fan over the dining table, no reading lights or stereo in the front console, and no exhaust fan over the stove. But the outlets in that front section Do work. So what are we missing? I found a thread saying there may be a fuse panel below the stovetop/behind the heating duct but nothing there ... Needing help in NY!

Thanks,

Rik and B

[TG Twinkie]

If you have the original Univolt there is a fuse panel in the end behind a small door. Or one located close.
It sounds like you have blown a fuse or have a bad connection between a fuse and the fuse holder in that panel.
Virtually everything in your coach is 12 volt DC. Except for the outlets. Which are 120 volt AC and only work when you have the coach plugged in to shore power.


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[3irdeyephoto]

Thanks, TG, but I am totally ignorant on this ... when you say "Univolt" are you referring to the breaker box under the bathroom sink? There are two breaker switches in there but still not seeing any fuses? and when you say "there is a fuse panel in the end behind a small door." are you talking about under the stove like I had mentioned? I'll look again but am quite sure there wasn't any small door. Is it possible it's hidden by the heater's blower motor that's under there?

[3irdeyephoto]

Apparently, it was too late for me to be trying to read last night I just saw HiJoeSilver's comments on the location of the Univolt and will be checking today. Thanks all!

Rik