Starcraft Travel Star, Owner'S Manual

Page: 45 / 96

SECTION 5
STARCRAFT TOWABLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Only connect the shore power cord to
properly wired power receptacles.
30 amp systems : 30 amp NEMA TT30
120-volt
50 amp systems :50 amp NEMA 14-50
120 volt.

Do not connect the shore power cord to
any power receptacle until you have
contacted the campground owner
and/or premise attendant to verify
proper shore receptacle polarity and
grounding. Polarity indicators can be
purchased in most electrical and
hardware stores.

Do not use a cheater plug, adapter or
extension cord to reconfigure incoming
AC power or to break the continuity of
the power cord grounding circuit.

Do not connect the power cord to an
outlet that is not grounded or adapt the
power cord plug to connect to a
receptacle for which it is not designed
12-
VOLT
DC S
YSTEM
The majority of your RV lighting is powered by
12-volt electricity. The 12-volt DC system is
composed of components that will operate
when the following conditions are met:
□
Power is supplied by the tow vehicle
alternator when the engine is running and
the 7-way trailer plug is connected. This
powers the RV’s running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and brakes.
In addition, the 7-way trailer plug provides
a common ground and a 12-volt charge
line to charge the auxiliary battery.
□
The converter will supply interior 12-volt
DC power when the power cord is plugged
into campground power. The converter will
also charge the RV battery in most
situations.
□
The auxiliary battery powers many interior
12-volt components including the lighting
fixtures, water pump, 12-volt motors, 12-
volt appliances, etc. It also powers the
breakaway switch.
See the Specification section of this manual
for additional circuit breaker assistance.
A
UXILIARY
B
ATTERY
(C
USTOMER
S
UPPLIED
)
Your RV has many 12-volt DC loads. When
combined, their total is more than the
converter can produce. High demands for 12-
volt power can be met by an auxiliary battery
for limited periods of time. The 12-volt DC
electrical system is designed for usage with a
Group 27, deep cycle battery.
Dry camping
Consider the charge condition of the auxiliary
battery when dry camping. If the auxiliary
battery is not being recharged and power is
being drawn from it, it will eventually
discharge. A battery will discharge at a faster
rate as its energy level becomes depleted. It
is recommended you plan your electrical
usage accordingly. For accuracy, test the
auxiliary battery voltage using a volt-ohm
meter (customer supplied).
A fully charged auxiliary battery will read 12.7
volts DC and 1.265 specific gravity at 80°F
(32°C).
The auxiliary battery is considered discharged
at 11.8 volts, and dead at 11.65 volts.
When voltage drops below those levels,
permanent damage may occur. Typically, a
deep cycle battery has an amp-hour rating of
75-100 amps.
If you run the furnace and refrigerator
simultaneously, you will be using
approximately (12.0 + 3.0) 15.0 amps per
hour. This does not include any 12-volt lights,
water pump or any other 12-volt component.
If the furnace and refrigerator in the
above example operated constantly, a
75 amp-hour battery would become
fully discharged in 5 hours (75ah / 15a
= 5h).
The auxiliary battery should be installed in
parallel with the battery in your tow vehicle.
When the 7-way trailer plug is connected,
both batteries power the RV so it is important
not to discharge your tow vehicle battery
below the level required to start the engine.
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