ok I am a bit new to this trailer business. in my 14' burro, the battery powers everything- and is recharged when I drive my vehicle. Works great. then if/when I plug in to 110v, does it automatically switches to 110? There is nothing for me to switch over? Does it automatically shut off the battery juice, or do I need to do anything?

I am assuming there's nothing to switch over because I have LOOKED EVERYWHERE for a switch and cannot find one.

I am assuming that the propane heater will work better plugged in, since the fan is quite a strain on just battery power.

(and, I HATE assuming... you know what happens (ass-u-me)

thanks

Mac

I have not been able to find the exact specification of your trailer, but my understanding of similar trailers is that a power converter (not an inverter) manages the electrics on your trailer. When you are plugged into 110 the converter provides 12 volts DC through a built in power supply which runs the 12 volt interior lights and the blower on the furnace and charges the battery. There may also be some 110 volt outlets which will have power only when you are plugged into 110 volts and you may have 110 volt lights that also will only run when you are plugged into 110 volts. When you are not plugged into 110 the lights and blower on the furnace are powered by the battery and the 110 volt outlets will not have power. If you want 110 volts while you are not plugged into 110 volts you can use an inverter, which uses 12 volt battery power to produce 110 volts. You will need a 12 volt outlet in your trailer to be able to use such an inverter. When you are driving the 12 volt power from your towing vehicle normally can charge the 12 volt battery on your trailer.

See http://www.rvwest.com/rvtech/06_08.php

See also http://www.rversonline.org/ArtTipsConverter.html

Brian

ahh, ok. so it converts 110 into 12 volt and charged the battery. awesome. thanks much!

Mac, Brian has given you an EXCELLENT explanation of the 12v and 110v systems in our trailers. Great job, Brian!!!!!!!

That was a good explanation for sure but I have found that many older trailers and smaller ones have no real converter section at all.
It may be that you are simply charging the battery with the charge line of the vehicle through the seven pin connection to the trailer when connected?

Is there any reason to think you are doing anything different plugged into AC other than powering the AC outlets directly?
You mention that you think it should power the furnace better but you do not say if you have done so and if it does?

My first trailer had no electronics in it at all.

If you can not find a converter/charger maybe there is none.

Ed

Ed:

While I don't have the specification for the Burro Wide Body, if you look on http://www.burrotrailers.com/deluxe_options.htm it appears that a converter was an option in 1998, and presumably in 2000 for the Burro, and the trailer was described as having an inverter, which I took as being a converter. I didn't think the problem was whether the trailer had a converter but how the switching occurs so that when the trailer is plugged into 110 volts there is 12 volt power. My understanding is that this is something that the converter looks after: when you are not hooked up to 110 volts the furnace runs from the battery. When you are hooked up to 110 volts the furnace is powered by the converter which also charges the battery.

Brian

Thanks.

There is an excellent source of information on the Scamp Trailer site: http://www.scamptrailers.com/AskScamp/OwnersManuals.aspx

The video on the electrical system shows a converter and explains how it works.

Brian

thanks for all the info. I did find the converter, and I also realize the power works when the battery is disconnected (by the fuse) if it is plugged into 110. Quite a nice setup!