RE: [A/S] so many questions - help?

["Perry Joe Scudder" <perryjoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Hi!  We are new to Airstreams and have recently bought a 1991 
> Excella 25'.  We're hoping some of you could help us with some items 
> we're confused about....
> 
> There are some open wires in the same closet as the water pump, on 
> the street side.  One is blue with a yellow stripe, the other is 
> orange with a yellow stripe - neither are capped.  Any ideas?  
>
Hi, and welcome to a GREAT list.
I am sorry, but I don't have a wiring diagram for your trailer. I am sure a
phone call to any Airstream dealer would get you that answer as well as any
others you may have. I will give the other questions a shot though. 
> Is my breakaway switch powered off of the trailer battery and does 
> that mean that I should leave the battery switch on while towing?

The electric brake emergency brake function is fully powered from the
trailer battery system. I never turn off my battery switch while towing -
for no technical reason by the way, just don't go to the trouble - but don't
know if it will disable the emergency braking system or not.
 
> Should I leave my water heater switch on all the time and assume the 
> thermostat will control temperature?  If so what does it mean when 
> the red light comes on - not explained in the manual we got
>
Normal operation for us is - turn on the switch, red light comes on for 3 or
4 seconds, then you hear the burner fire off, then turn off the switch after
the last major hot water use before unhooking from the camp site  to move on
down the road. The water in the tank will stay worm for quiet a while, but
needs to reheat at the next site anyway, so just wait until you get there to
heat the tank. Ours stays on all the time we are at a camp site. Mary has a
routine inside the trailer she goes through for parking and unparking while
I go through mine outside the trailer. The on and off of the water heater is
on her list during each of these routines
The red light on my 1998 Limited comes on any time the igniter system is
attempting to light the gas burner on the water heater. It goes out as soon
as the igniter is successful at lighting the burner, but it will stay on if
it fails to light the burner. The igniter will try for a short period of
time, then the light will just stay on. You will have to turn the switch
off, wait for 10 seconds then turn it on again. I have had times when it
took 2 or 3 tries, if the gas line has been emptied from the tanks to the
water heater - like after the unit has been in storage for a long time or
you run out of gas while the water heater is heating water.
 
> Why are there two water pump switches - one in the bathroom and one 
> in the kitchen?
>
This is a convenience item to allow you to turn on the pump near the two
main water use points. You can turn the pump on or off from either station.
The water system will only put out a very small amount of water when there
is no city water and the pump is turned off. I have found I can get one or
two flushes for the toilet before needing to add pressure from the pump or
city water. It is enough to get your hands soapy, but not enough to rinse
the soap away, therefore, you need a pump switch close by at either sink.

> Where do I find replacements for the small black rubber 
> bushings/gaskets to hold the burners for our Magic Chef range?

You can call your Airstream dealer, or mine (Out of Doors Mart near
Greensboro, NC, at 1-866-636-2267) and they will send you the parts for just
about anything on your trailer. Paul at the Out of Doors Mart is excellent
at asking all the questions to be sure he sends you the correct parts.  
> 
> thanks for any help
>

Joe Scudder
WBCCI 8624
Wilmington, NC