Power Converter - Gulf Stream Travel Trailer Owner's Manual

A typical component in your vehicle such as a TV or VCR will draw only about 1 amp. Other items such as coffee
makers and microwaves will draw 10-15 amps when used. Roof air conditioners usually draw the most, pulling up to
15 amps when the compressor is running. So as you can see, with 30 amp service, you can use only one air
conditioner when hooked up to shore power even if your coach is equipped with two. The combined draw of two air
conditioners may only be 29 amps, but other items in your coach such as converters, refrigerators, water heaters, etc.
will put your draw over the 30-amp mark causing a circuit break. You may be asking yourself "Why then did Gulf
Stream install two a/c's if I can only use only one at a time?" This is done so that you can direct more cold air to the
front or rear of the vehicle if you desire. Plus, usually they both can be operated while using your generator.
30-amp service is the most common electrical service in the RV industry and can be found at most, if not all, RV
campgrounds. This makes 30-amp service the most user friendly as far as availability. If your vehicle is equipped with
50-amp service, you will be able to run any installed appliance at any time when a 50-amp service park is available or
you are running your generator.
50-amp service is also 110-volt service, but it is capable of running up to 50-amps of draw. Some people believe
that 50-amp service is the same as having 220-volts of ac power. Yes, 50-amps of service does have 220-volts, but
only 110-volts is capable of being supplied to any part of your system at any given time. A four pronged power cord
that is very unique identifies 50-amp service, as two of the four prongs each carry 110-volts of ac power. 30-amp
service has only one prong that carries 110 volts of ac power. Each of the 110-volt lines in a 50-amp cord supplies
power to a designated part of your RV. In doing this, when ac powered components are installed they can be put on
separate power feeds according to how much amperage they draw. One example of this method consists of installing
two air conditioners for use at the same time. Each one is powered by a different power supply feed; therefore they
both can be used simultaneously. Think of 50-amp service as having two shoreline power cords in one casing as
opposed to only one in 30-amp service.
If you travel to an RV park that does not offer 50-amp service you will have to use an adapter to hook up to shore
power. Use of an adapter is not recommended, but may not be avoidable.
your coach will not have sufficient power to run as many options as with 50-amp service. You may be able to run both
your air conditioners for a limited time; however, this will cause damage to both your ac units as well as other
components by operating them on insufficient power.
Listed below are components that might be used in Gulf Stream vehicles and the maximum amperage draw each
one has. Whether your power supply is 30-amps or 50-amps this chart may help you decide which components you
can safely use for an extended period without damage.
Components
Roof air conditioners (each)
Electric water heater
Microwaves
Hair dryer
Washer/dryer
Vacuum
TV
VCR
Engine block heater
Heart Inverter/Charger
Magnetek charger
Refrigerators
Space heaters
110-volt lamp

POWER CONVERTER

Your vehicle is equipped with an electrical power converter that changes 110-volt power to 12-volt power to run 12-
volt powered appliances in your vehicle. It gets the 110-volt power by way of the shoreline or the optional generator.
The power converter will be located either under the side of the rear bed, under the refrigerator or at the base of a
cabinet (FIG. 7A).
The circuits in the vehicle are protected by circuit breakers and fuses. Locate the converter and see where the fuses
are located. If you blow a fuse, turn off the appliance. Unplug the fuse. Check the fuse for breakage (FIG. 7B) and
Amperage
15
12
15
2
10
5
1.0
1.0
10
22
14
3.5
10-15
1.0
(FIG. 6) 20/30/50 AMP HOOKUP (TYPICAL)
20
When using an adapter, remember that
(amperage)
20
50 30