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Francisco · 06-08-2016, 08:47 PM

Hi fellows Airstreamers, first thanks for all the knowledge you have shared, has been a great help for us restoring our 75 overlander. We have a electrical problem, first my battery is dead I am planing to get a new one, also the power jack only does work when the trailer is plug to shore power. As far as I know the univolt is working but I think it fried my old battery. should I upgrade the whole system or just buy a new battery for the time being?

Thanks and safe travels!!

Nuvite-F · 06-08-2016, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francisco

As far as I know the univolt is working but I think it fried my old battery. should I upgrade the whole system or just buy a new battery for the time being?

Welcome to the forums!

"As far as I know the univolt is working", but the old battery is dead and you think it fried it! As a philosophical comment, if the univolt isn't keeping the battery charged when plugged into shore power, it isn't working. And if it fried the old battery, it isn't working very well!

You can tell pretty quickly whether the univolt is working just by measuring the voltage at the battery terminals with shore power connected and disconnected. A fully charged battery will show between 12 and 13 volts with shore power disconnected and 13-14 volts with shore power connected.

In any case, modern multi-stage converters don't cost much, take ever so much better care of your battery than the old iron ones, and weigh 50 to 100 pounds less. As far as I am concerned, change out the old one when you replace your battery. The old one will make a good boat anchor.

TG Twinkie · 06-08-2016, 09:54 PM

Dump the Univolt: Buy a multistage converter like a Progressive Dynamics 9245. Unless you are traveling you won't need to buy a battery. Just tape off the battery cables so they don't short out.
IMHO you should also upgrade to the modern blade type fuses.
You can to the entire converter/fuse upgrade for less than $200.00

Foiled Again · 06-09-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

Dump the Univolt: Buy a multistage converter like a Progressive Dynamics 9245. Unless you are traveling you won't need to buy a battery. Just tape off the battery cables so they don't short out.
IMHO you should also upgrade to the modern blade type fuses.
You can to the entire converter/fuse upgrade for less than $200.00

What Twinkie said times 2. VERY inexpensive as things go in Airstreams. I would put in a battery once your renovations are nearing completion. Even if you don't plan to travel much, there's always the "hurricane bug out" or the kid has measles (and he was vaccinated!) isolation ward. Having a battery keeps the CO sensors, etc. working during power outages.

Paula