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Interior
Electrical System Overview
Power Center
The Power Center is a self-contained 120 Volt AC
(VAC) power distribution center utilized in recreational
vehicles� It houses the coach's circuit breakers
and fuses� Its primary function is to provide circuit
protection for all the 120 VAC loads in the touring
coach and is central to the overall electrical system�
The Power Center distributes 120 VAC power to
appliances and receptacles� Inverter/charger output is
routed through the breaker box to provide load safety
protection� It also distributes 120 VAC to the inverter/
charger to charge the batteries and power the 12-volt
system�
The Power Center distributes incoming power from
three sources: Shoreline power when connected to an
external 120 VAC power supply (city power), onboard
generator power, and the 12-volt house batteries via
the 12V DC to 120 VAC inverter�
The Power Center is installed at the base of the
roadside bench seat� Open the decorative door to
access 12V fuses and 120 VAC breakers�
WARNING
The power center is a centralized power
switching, fusing, and distribution center. The
potential of lethal electrical shock is present in
this box. Inadvertent shorts at this box could
result in damage and/or injury. All servicing of
this box should be done by a qualified Service
Technician.
WARNING
Disconnect/De-energize all main power service,
shore power, generator power, and inverter power
prior to servicing the breaker panel.
5-8
Circuit Breaker Protection
Standard residential-style (resettable) circuit breakers
provide circuit protection for all 120 VAC loads�
Airstream has installed breakers per RVIA (NEC) listing
requirements for the touring coach�
The 30 amp main breaker feeds individual branch
breakers� The branch-breakers protect individual loads,
which are identifiable by the affixed labels. Shutting off
the main breaker will remove power to all branch loads
(except for outlets/receptacles on the inverter circuit
when the inverter is enabled, see GFCI this page)�
A circuit breaker's ON/OFF switch function operates
like a light switch: up is ON, and down is OFF� If an
overload or short occurs, the breaker will snap to the
OFF position to protect the connected circuit� As a
result, any device running on the circuit will lose power�
Before attempting to reset the breaker, consider the
cause� If a connected device is faulty or uses a higher
amperage than the circuit breaker's capacity, turn it off
before resetting the breaker�
Before resetting the breaker, you need external AC
power going to the breaker box� Firmly push the
breaker switch to the OFF position and back to the ON
position� If the breaker snaps back to the OFF position
while resetting, a fault condition still exists and should
be serviced by a qualified Service Technician. Suppose
the breaker stays ON but snaps back OFF after turning
on a possibly faulty appliance� In that case, a fault
condition may exist in that appliance that will require
service by a qualified Technician.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
The GFCI breaker provides reliable overload and
short-circuit protection� GFCI breakers protect
against ground faults and provide additional safety
to the occupants of the touring coach on all outlets/
receptacles� A ground fault occurs when current travels
along an unintended path to ground, possibly through
water or a person, which may result in an electric
shock� The GFCI compares the amount of current
going to and returning from the device plugged into the
circuit's outlet/receptacle� When the amount of current
going to the device differs from the amount returning,
the GFCI interrupts the current within a fraction of
a second, removing power from the circuit, and
protecting the user�
Each GFCI circuit breaker is calibrated to trip with a
ground current of 5 mA or more� Since most people
can feel as little as 2 mA, a shock may be felt� The
shock should be of such a short duration that the
effects would be reduced, less than what would
2024 Interstate 19X
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