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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OPERATION
The major portion of electrical power in your Airstream is 12-volt. The 12-volt current
powers the fans, furnaces, water pump, and water heater ignition. The exceptions
would be the air conditioner and microwave oven.
All 12-volt current comes through the battery system in the front of your trailer. The
batteries are accessible in the battery box on the A-frame of your trailer. Power from
the batteries goes to a set of four Type 2 thermal breakers located under the front bed
and riveted to the inside skin front plate. The breakers are ties together by a brass bus
bar. One breaker (30 Amp.) protects the 12-volt tow vehicle charge line coming from
the 7-way cord. Another breaker (20 Amp.) feeds the trailer brakes breakaway switch
located near the hitch coupler. A 50-amp breaker feeds the Battery Disconnect relay.
The current leaves the relay and goes to the 12-volt distribution panel located in the
converter and then to the rest of the trailer. Open the brown decorative door on the
front of the converter under the dinette to access the panel and its fuses. A 12-volt
layout diagram is shown later in this section.
If you replace a blown fuse and it immediately blows again, do not replace the fuse
again until a qualified service technician can correct the problem.
If the replacement fuse holds for a week or more and the gap in the fusible metal is
barely melted apart it usually indicates an overload condition. Reducing the number of
lights or appliances used on that particular circuit at the same time could prevent any
further fuse failure.
BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH
The disconnect switch is used to separate the batteries from the 12-volt distribution
panel and converter charging system.
When the switch is turned “use” (on) and the trailer is plugged into a 110-volt shoreline,
the 12-volt distribution panel will receive power from the converter and the batteries
will be charged through the converter charging system.
When the switch is turned to “store” (off) and the trailer is plugged into a 110-volt
shoreline, the 12-volt distribution panel will still receive power from the converter, but
the batteries are disconnected from the system. The batteries will not be drained with
the switch in the store position. The converter will not charge the batteries with the
switch in this position.
The charge in the 12-volt batteries is replenished when towing from the tow vehicle
alternator through the 7-way cord. This charge will go to the batteries no matter which
position the Battery Disconnect Switch is in.