2005 Airstream Sprinter Westfalia

POSSIBLE FIRE AND ELECTROCUTION HAZARDS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. THIS OUTLET IS LOCATED BEHIND THE RIGHT-REAR BACK DOOR. IT IS ABOUT ONE FOOT BELOW THE WATER CONNECTOR PLUG FOR THE OUTDOOR SHOWER. ALL THE MENTIONED EQUIPMENT WAS BUILT AND SOLD BY AIRSTREAM. 1. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: BOTH THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET AND THE CABLE (14/3 CABLE) ATTACHED TO IT ARE RATED FOR 15 AMPS. (THIS IS A TWO-PLUG OUTLET.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT: 1A. THE 15 AMP CABLE IS SPLICED TO A 20 AMP CABLE (12/3 CABLE) SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. 1B. THEN THE 20 AMP CABLE RUNS TO A 20 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX. UNLESS THERE IS AN UNDOCUMENTED 15 AMP FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER BETWEEN THE 12/3 CABLE AND THE 14/3 CABLE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRAW 20 AMPS THROUGH THE 14/3 CABLE CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. 2. POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION HAZARD: 2A. THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET IS MOUNTED ABOUT ONE FOOT BELOW THE SNAP ON WATER PLUG FOR THE OUTDOOR SHOWER HOSE CONNECTION- THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET CAN EASILY GET SPLASHED. 2B. THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTION CIRCUITRY. 3. OTHER (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL CODE VIOLATION). IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THE OUTLET IS MOUNTED ON A DOOR (THAT ALLOWS ACCESS TO THE WATER HEATER AND SOME ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT). THIS INFORMATION WAS REPORTED TO AND RECEIVED BY AIRSTREAM CUSTOMER SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2006. *JB

POSSIBLE ROOT CAUSE: USE OF A 13 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER (TOO SMALL) IN A LINE FOR A PART THAT SPECIFIES A 15 AMPS LINE. DESCRIPTION: INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT TRIPPING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THE 2005 AIRSTREAM (DODGE SPRINTER WESTFALIA MODEL) ELECTRICAL LINE DEDICATED TO SOLE USE BY THE TAPPAN MICROWAVE OVEN, WHEN THE OVEN FIRST TURNS ON OR CYCLES ON (WHEN AT POWER LEVELS LESS THAN 10). THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT DATES. SUPPLY VOLTAGE WAS MEASURED IN THE AIRSTREAM ON TWO OF THESE DATES AND FOUND TO BE 120 VOLTS AC (WITHIN SPECIFICATION). TAPPAN'S WRITTEN REQUIREMENTS SPECIFY A 15A LINE, BUT THE AIRSTREAM'S CIRCUIT BREAKER IS RATED FOR ONLY 13 AMPS. NOTE THAT AIRSTREAM SUPPLIED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, OVEN AND WIRING IN THE NEW VEHICLE. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: IF THE MICROWAVE OVEN CAUSES CURRENT SURGES GREATER THAN 13 AMPS WHEN IT FIRST TURNS ON AND/OR CYCLES ON (AT POWER SETTINGS LESS THAN 10), THEN THE CURRENT WOULD EXCEED THE SPECIFICATION FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, CAUSING IT TO TRIP.*JB *NM *AK *NM