Please help me!!!

[Going crazy]

Hello everyone I am new to the RV world and man am I having the worst trouble getting started! We've left our apartment to head out of state a week ago and we have only made it to our local Walmart to stay. We are almost ready but still unable to find the inverter so we have power while we are unable to plug in which will be most of the time ...I read the inverter needs to be turned on....the person I bought it from has never operated it and it was almost brand new still in plastic....and we're unable to get the fridge working at all. So I need desperate help locating the inverter and also getting my fridge to even power on....we have not tried the propane yet idk if that matters for fridge but it wont even turn on not when running not when connected to shore power nothing. Please help me find inverter then I can deal with no fridge lol I've read manual cover to cover 3 times 188 pages and I cannot figure this out!


Thank you all so much

[Rich Jenkins]

Welcome to Airforums, sounds like you are in a pickle. Sorry. To help, we'll need to know specifically what model and year of Airstream you have? That way, folks with more experience can chime in.


Please expand on your inverter. Typically on late-model Airstream Travel Trailers, the inverter is wired into the coach, and has no user-accessible controls. It is switched on and off remotely as needed by a simple button on a small inverter panel located on the interior, often located in the galley, on the wall.

So the statement "it was almost brand new still in plastic" doesn't make a lot of sense. What is it, exactly, that is "wrapped in plastic"?


On the fridge, Airstream generally uses Dometic models, and they usually have an on/off switch located on the front panel, mid way between the fridge and freezers. Yes, older Dometic refrigerators work off propane, and you will need to turn the propane tank valves (check for green showing at the regulator) in order to supply gas to the appliances.

Does yours have an on/off switch? What happens when you switch it on? Do you get a small LED to illuminate, or not? If not, then I would locate the breaker/fuse panel and verify that the fuse for the 12V line to the refrigerator is not blown.

Is anything in the trailer working, at all? Lights? Exhaust Fans? Water pump?

[Keys Dave]

I think we need to know more about your A/S. What year, model, what situation are the batteries in and the battery switch. What refer. Do you have. Dometic?

[vanderwielen]

Always...driveway camp and test before such a venture.

[djb75]

OK, let's check our assumptions.
Do your lights come on? If not, check your Use/Store switch. On our Globetrotter, it's a toggle switch on the right side as you come in the door. This cuts power to almost everything.

Assuming the switch is on, have you checked your fuses and circuit breakers?

Can you plug an appliance into a wall socket and get it to work?

[CBWELL]

By reading the avatar, the unit is a 1997 34' Limited trailer, but also lists a 1997 Land Yacht which is a motorhome! I don't believe that either one had an inverter as standard equipment. First off, in either of those units, battery is required to run the fridge on both propane and electric 120 volt. The brains are powered by 12 volts. I am questioning if the "inverter" mentionrd is really the "converter". I would suggest to the owner, go back home, give us more information about the unit, and we can help you "get on the road". We are all guessing what is going on, and if you haven't worked on these older units, they are a lot different than todays models. JMHO

[Bill M.]

Most likely: A 34' trailer. You need battery power to run the fridge and lights. Are the batteries charged? Is the use/store switch set to use? Go into the Walmart and buy a little 12 volt meter that plugs into the 12 volt system in the trailer or a multimeter. Do you have 12.5 volts in the trailer? I keep a meter plugged in all the time.

Did you plug the trailer in at home and charge the batteries before you left? It sounds like you did and everything was fine. So check the use/store switch and the batteries. I am guessing the batteries are dead. If not it is the use/store switch.

I do not have an inverter, But I know you need the 12 volt system to be powered with good batteries for the inverter to work and then it won't work long without a recharge.

First and foremost you need the 12 volt system operating to be able to do anything in the trailer.

How old are your batteries? What is their voltage when metered across the battery terminals?

And...it is possible for AGM batteries to go so dead that the trailer power converter will not recharge them. If much under 10 volts you are looking at probably just replacing them.

[Going crazy]

I have a 1997 airstream cutter. I bought used with 38,000 miles. I read the manual cover to cover. It helped a little lol. Ok so when we are connected to shore power, everything such as lights, outlets, water pump works. The refrigerator does not turn on still at all, there is a on off button inside fridge that does not light up but did when I was inspecting before purchase?? I checked the outlet it's plugged into and that works, checked fuses and breakers and inspected wires for any damage to which I found none. Everything in this RV appears unused and in very good condition. They def took care of it . For the fridge I opened the panel on outside of RV for fridge and everything appeared good there was an on off switch shaped like a light switch in your house that was off I flipped to on. Made no difference. Breakers in the back bedroom on bedframe all were on but reset all anyway checked fuses behind the driver seat all were there with correct amp and appeared good. Those are the only 2 (electric)al things I can find. Then when not connected to shore power - lights only work when we click the battery button by the entrance door . Outlets or appliances do not work. When driving, or RV started...lights only work No outlets or appliances. Checked GFCI in bathroom and on kitchen wall and hit reset and they didn't push in or click I tried hitting test and reset and they just stayed they don't click on or hold the push in and they don't have a glowing light on them like my gfis at home Idk if that is normal. Let's see.....what else....as far as propane I believe I just need to hook a small tank to the piggy back hose hanging off the big tank and turn on to get the stove and water heater to work...really I just can't ever find a place to plug into so I really need my outlets to work when I'm not connected to shore power and I read that the job of the inverter is to power the 12 volt systems and outlets which made sense because my house batteries that are brand new sure don't LOL. I'm trying to stay positive, did I mention I have 2 teenagers and a 6 year old with a ton of energy going stir crazy without getting access to outlets!!!!! I love it, they think it's abuse hahahaha . Jk jk ..anyways I found a blue box type thing next to house batteries that I thought was the converter other than that in one of the storage doors outside I saw a silver box that says smart switch ....I assumed it would switch the power on when the mode of power was changed meaning when engine off and not connected to shore power it would automatically switch to inverter power or if generator started switch again maybe but that is just a pure assumption I have no clue. I'm trying my best all alone and appreciate any and all help you guys can clue me into, electrical is NOT my strong suit. Ty again for your time .

Oh the fridge is a Royale brand no other markings ....I learned the correct settings to apply but just cant power it on???
Oh and generator tried to start but just cranks doesn't actually start so this inverter seemed to be my only hope . Doable for me to figure out unlike the generator that I have zero faith in myself to fix lol I hope I answered every thing.
The people barely used it and weren't available when I purchased it was his son who knew nothing about it. Of course.

Renae

[Lily&Me]

Just a thought…

Might settle yourself into a campground for a few days while you figure all this out.

Other, experienced RV’ers are usually very willing to help folks just starting out, so you may get some hands on assistance in that way.

When we bought our first RV, a Class C, we’d never had one before and knew absolutely nothing.

The patient kindness of strangers got us going.

Good luck, and may you have many happy miles. ☺️

Maggie