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Old 07-20-2009, 06:42 AM   #1
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do you have to have a battery?

do i have to have a battery in my 65 caravel if i am leaving it parked and will be running it on 110v? if i do need a battery in at all times, when i am not using the AS should i leave it plugged in and on, or can i unplug it?
i will only be using it for about one weekend a month.
obvioiusly on the road i need the battery.
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Old 07-20-2009, 06:46 AM   #2
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Kevin,

If you are leaving it idle and only using it once a month, I would only plug it in then. Will you be wanting to leave anything running when you aren't there....like the refrigerator?

If you are not towing and it's just sitting, you don't need a battery and it might be best to have the battery at your home on a trickle charger to keep it charged up.
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Old 07-20-2009, 06:52 AM   #3
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Are your using a Converter like a Univolt or newer to use 12v lights, etc? The jury is out on if you should actually have a battery in or can just run off the converter.

You could put in a used car battery for next to nothing.

A battery will discharge by itself over time. A month will show some drop, but you should be able to unplug with no problem. You can put in a demand type trickle charger to keep the battery topped off. If you have a Univolt I would not leave it plugged in for a month when you are absent as that can harm the battery.
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Old 07-20-2009, 07:25 AM   #4
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i dont know if i have a converter. new to this. there is a transformer thing in the As that has two switches on it that say "12v" or "city power".
what is what called?
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Old 07-20-2009, 07:33 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinkatz View Post
i dont know if i have a converter. new to this. there is a transformer thing in the As that has two switches on it that say "12v" or "city power".
what is what called?
All 1965 Airstream's had a Univolt, that was a battery charger and a source for 12 volt DC power, except the Caravels.

The Caravel model had a 12 volt and 19 volt AC transformer, as you describe.

You do not need a battery, since the only way the battery could be charged, was when the trailer was hooked up to a properly wired tow vehicle.

Make sure a previous owner did not have a 12 volt DC charger wired into the system.

You can easily update the trailer system, with a fuse panel and a Univolt, so that the 12 volt DC system works as it does in all the other 1965 and up trailers.

Andy
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Old 07-20-2009, 07:39 AM   #6
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New too. Any battery info would be so helpful. Thank you all......
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Old 07-20-2009, 08:57 AM   #7
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If you have a newer fridge they need 12v to run the control board so you will need a battery in this case
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