Puzzeled Power

[Mick33]

I'm new to the forum, just bought my first Airstream a couple weeks ago. Went on our first expedition to a campground this past Thursday. Everything went well the first evening, but upon waking up Friday morning I noticed the lights in the Trailer were very dim, I had put a new battery into the Trailer the day after I purchased it, so I don't think that's the problem unless I got a bad new battery. So what could be my problem? Is there a switch I need to flip to change from the battery to electric? Any help with solving my problem is appreciated. Thanks, Mick

[SteveSueMac]

Hi. We're you plugged in to the campsite power? Perhaps a bad converter?

[helmsman]

Hello Mick33:

I noticed you have a 1969 21' Globetrotter. I have a 1967 22' Safari. When I purchased this trailer a previous owner had removed the univolt which was originally installed in my trailer. -- The lights operate from a 12 volt battery. Originally, the univolt kept the battery charged. I use a 12 volt automobile battery charger when my digital volt meter reads 12.20 volts (a 60% charge). It only takes a couple of hours to bring the battery back to life. You might give it a try.

[Bill M.]

Often there is a switch that cuts off the univolt charger for the battery. The lights work until the battery runs down if that switch is turned off. You need to look and see if there is a 110 volt switch that controls the charger. It happened to us.

[Lumatic]

One piece of information you did not post. Were you plugged in to shore power?

If there is a battery disconnect switch it may have been installed by the previous owner.

If you don't find one I would disconnect the battery and plug into shore power an put a meter or test light on the 2 battery cables to see if it is charging. If you have a meter it should charge the battery at the rate of about 14v.

Do you have the original Univolt charger? They usually hum. They also eat batteries, but not overnight.

If you have the original equipment there are 2 40 amp fuses in the fuse panel that are connected to the battery charging circuit.