Univolt

[chsw]

Just pulled the univolt from the TT. Man it's heavier than I thought...

I plan to run the electrical system via a Honda generator or though direct hookups. No battery. No solar.

Is there any need to replace the univolt?

C

[xrvr]

What about 12 volt? Water pump , lights, etc are 12 volt, I think---you need a converter. Am I wrong? jim

[chsw]

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

What about 12 volt? Water pump , lights, etc are 12 volt, I think---you need a converter. Am I wrong? jim

I do not know.

Do I need a converter to protect the 12 volt electrical system from overload though the generator or 30 amp connection?

I am guessing it do but need some insight.

C

[xrvr]

I believe your gen and hookups are both 120 volt. Without a converter you would have no 12 volt. jim

[chsw]

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

I believe your gen and hookups are both 120 volt. Without a converter you would have no 12 volt. jim

Dumb question...
Does that mean my lights would not works when not plugged up to connections because I have no battery?

[xrvr]

yes,jim

[xrvr]

Also I do not think your breakaway switch will work. That is a legal thing. Might not have any lights outside trailer either, tail, brake, etc. jim

[ROBERT CROSS]

Yes you will need a converter for all 12v.... interior and exterior lights, vent and furnace fans, water pump, fridge, water heater and furnace electrics.

Bob

[chsw]

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

yes,jim

Jim

If I am plugged into service, generator or a thirty amp...

Without the converter, do the lights work? And if the do, I'm I running the risk of burning up the wiring without the converter?

Thank you for answer my dumb questions


C

[Phoenix]

I think that you could hook up one set of battery cables to the 12 volt DC terminals on the generator. However, I believe that Honda says that the 12 volt output is unregulated, so the exact voltage may vary with load.

Please note that I have not heard of anyone that has done this before. Usually, the 12 volt connection is used to tie two Hondas together to double their AC output.

Good point made above, that the break away switch wouldn't work. That might make this an unsafe modification.

[xrvr]

That might work but it would only be 8 amps I think.. Maybe you could plug a good battery charger into the gen and hook it to your battery cables. Better wait for the experts to chime in. jim

[ROBERT CROSS]

cford,
Give Randy a call, he will point you in the right direction.

Bob

[chsw]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

cford,
Give Randy a call, he will point you in the right direction.

Bob

Will do..

Thanks to all

[TG Twinkie]

You only need the battery for the breakaway switch when traveling. If you have a converter it will provide the 12 volt power for all of the 12 volt devices. The battery is not necessary if you are not towing the trailer and are plugged in to shore power.
The battery in the trailer has nothing to do with the tail, brake, turn signals or marker lights. All of that as well as brake and charge line power come from the TV.

[Sodbust]

As I read,, I wonder why?

100 years of research,, and testing ,, with millions of trailers made of all shape and sizes and millions upon millions of miles on the road there is a reason why Wally built trailers along with all the other SOB company's with a 120v AC and 12v DC systems.. It works,, gives flexibility,, and each system have a time and a place and reason of service.

What one might save on one end doing without will be lost on the other.. A converter is not a high dollar item,, and if the weight is an issue one can just scale back the size of the storage battery..

Sodbust

[garry]

Depends on what you are planning to do many of the systems in the Airstream require 12VDC to operate.

Air conditioning, microwave, TV and converter require 120VAC everything else runs on 12VDC.

You don't have to have a battery since a converter provides 45 to 80 amps of 12VDC.

However "not all" converters will operate without a battery but you do need 12VDC.

I have a Progressive Dynamics converter (60 amp) the manual states that it will work without a battery.