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Old 03-08-2020, 10:39 PM   #1
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Should shore power work when batteries are uninstalled

We are looking at a 1977 Trade Wind and the batteries are missing. We hooked up hitch power and running lights worked and shore power made the AC and outlets work, but no interior lights, water pump or furnace. If we put the batteries in, should all the systems start working on shore power and how would we know that shore power is working instead of just draining the batteries? Thanks for any insight on this
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Old 03-08-2020, 10:54 PM   #2
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Your interior lights are 12 volt, as well as some of the control systems for furnace, fridge, and newer hot water heaters. The water pump is also 12 volts. You have a 12 volt converter to charge your batteries when on shore power. That unit should have the old Univolt single stage converter unless it has been replaced. If that unit is still in the unit I strongly reccommend to replace with a modern 3 or 4 stage converter which will greatly extend the battery life. Your "breakaway brakes" will also not work without a battery installed.
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Old 03-08-2020, 11:52 PM   #3
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To answer your question, yes the lights, water pump, and furnace should work without batteries, but the process of removing the batteries may have left the converter disconnected from the trailer. If the trailer has a battery disconnect or "kill" switch, it may have to be in the ON position for things to work, even from the converter on shore power.

Another concern would be that the older converters were very poorly regulated and needed the batteries to filter their output. Lights probably don't care, but any delicate electronics might.

Al
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