A few "newbie" questions...

mmoenter · 04-17-2014, 12:44 PM

We bought a 99 Saturn 29A and while it's in generally good shape, it does need some minor work...which leads me to my questions. This is our first "travel trailer"...I'm familiar with pop-ups and very good mechanically so doing the work isn't the problem.

1) I need to do the Dexter axle flip because the rear holding tank already has been cracked from dragging. I measured and it appears I need the 2 3/8" kit...does that sound right for that size camper? I don't know why but it seems like that's small.

2) The screen door is missing the latch to keep it attached to the door or to just use the screen door. The door has a Phillips logo on it and this is what I keep coming across:
Amazon.com: Philips RV Screen Door Lever Latch: Sports & Outdoors
Without having the original handle, it's hard to tell what I need vs what was there to begin with

3) When I was going through and testing things in the camper, I initially thought the microwave didn't work. Then I tested the outlet it was plugged into and THAT didn't work. So I checked the breaker box and there's 4 breakers...I forget what the first two are, but there's one for the microwave and one for the hot water heater. The water heater breaker was off (no water, didn't want to use it). I got curious and flipped the water heater breaker on and the microwave came on. Factory oops or previous owner playing around? It doesn't look like anything's been messed with but it's weird that it'd be wired wrong?

4) Anything I need to watch out for on these campers? The roof is in good shape, floor is solid as far as I can tell, everything works (haven't tested the water heater yet).

We don't camp often but we out grew the pop-up and wanted 4 solid walls around us so we found this and got a great deal.

Janalee · 04-17-2014, 01:43 PM

Welcome!..... I just had to get a new screen door latch..found a guy selling on ebay..$10.25 with free shipping. Best price around..anywhere! Sorry I don't have his info..I remember kennytools, and Novel Dist....he sells on there often and had many to sell. Go to ebay and just search rv screen door latch..Hope this helps!Janalee

Janalee · 04-17-2014, 02:13 PM

I checked out that price from Amazon..really not bad for whatz out there..I did find the ebay seller's name was signtastics...he has three different names listed for the shipping part I guess..good luck!

Janalee · 04-17-2014, 02:30 PM

1)I had a nice answwer composed and it disappeared..in brief..the latch you showed is the correct one for Sunnies and a good price even with shipping added..be sure and order right hand!
2)advice..don't walk on the roof w/o some plywood spanning your area..very small rafters with rubber roof and most likely metal ones as well.
The "guys" will be along to help you soon about your breakers I am sure..! They are excellent advisors !!
3)Enjoy your new to you trailer ! Janalee

Gene · 04-17-2014, 06:33 PM

As Janalee said, that looks like the right latch in your link.

Below is a picture of my circuit breaker box if that helps any. I expect it would be common to put the water heater breaker at the bottom of the stack. Turning it on with an empty tank can burn out the element real fast.

**Sunline Fan** · 04-17-2014, 10:02 PM

Original screen door latch should be a bullet style latch. I prefer them actually. They transitioned to the lever style a few years later.

https://www.google.com/#q=RV+bullet+...10026871472207

**JohnB** · 04-18-2014, 11:28 AM

Microwave and the 120 VAC for the hot water heater on the same breaker is not correct. Something is amuck there.

If your hot water heater is still original, a 1999 Atwood heater would have a small rocker switch on the back side of the heater to trun on and off the electric heater portion. If you flip that off, then there is no chance of burning out the element while you trouble shoot the microwave circuit breaker.

On the newer campers, the hot water heater had it's own separate 15 amp circuit breaker. I just do not know what year that was started. By 2004 they where separate.

I'm assuming you may know this, you cannot run the microwave and the hot water heater on electric at the same time on the same 15 amp breaker. The heater element is 1,400 watts alone if it is original. If the microwave kicks into hi, pop goes the breaker.

On the newer campers, they use a remote toggle switch and a relay on the HE heater and it is easy to flip it off and on verse getting to that little rocker switch on the back of the heater. Some are buried pretty deep

Good luck and welcome to SOC!

Wannabes · 04-18-2014, 08:11 PM

Welcome to SOC!! Enjoy your Sunline and be sure to post pixs!

mmoenter · 05-08-2014, 02:27 PM

I got around to doing some work on the camper and snapped a picture of the circuit breaker panel. After looking at it for a few minutes it hit me that if you go by the label, the last breaker truly would be for both the microwave and the water heater. Seems a little odd. It doesn't look like anything's been tampered with (like the previous owner changed something) but I guess its possible...or (after looking it for the 35th time), is the label one off...ie the AC should be tied to the main, general purpose on the second, appliances on the 3rd, microwave on 4th and water heater on 5th and it got wired wrong at the factory? I honestly didn't test the individual breakers because it didn't hit me until right now.

Everything else is going well tho, got the screen door latch installed (piece of cake), did the axle "flip" and that went well, now I'm on to building a set of stairs to go with the new height.

jim44646 · 05-08-2014, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

On the newer campers, the hot water heater had it's own separate 15 amp circuit breaker. I just do not know what year that was started. By 2004 they where separate.
Good luck and welcome to SOC!

My 2001 they are separate

OhhWell · 05-14-2014, 08:56 AM

Look around for a residential lightswitch that may or may not be labeled. Many trailers had both the electric hot water heater and the Micro on the same circuit. It was an either-or setup and they used a light switch to rout the power. For example, up would be hot water heater and you would flip the switch down to use the Microwave then back up again when done.

henryj · 05-14-2014, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhhWell

Look around for a residential lightswitch that may or may not be labeled. Many trailers had both the electric hot water heater and the Micro on the same circuit. It was an either-or setup and they used a light switch to rout the power. For example, up would be hot water heater and you would flip the switch down to use the Microwave then back up again when done.

That was actually a CSA requirement on our Canadian market 2499--3 position toggle above the sink, up for micro, down for hwh, both off on the middle position.

Henry