Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Repairs & Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-30-2021, 03:30 PM   #1
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
Wiring to battery

Hi. Newbie here. We bought a Lantern 274BH last spring. I pulled the battery when winterizing it, and neglected to take a picture or label the wires before unhooking. Now I can’t remember which of these 2 small wires goes to which battery post.
One is red & black, and the other is red with a 10 Amp fuse inline. I don’t know what they go to but definitely go into the cabin. Also, I couldn’t figure out how to insert the picture so hopefully it will be visibly attached. Yes, I am a technologically challenged Grandpa.
Thanks in advance!
Terry.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	6568B380-35B2-4185-B9A3-D94F7603A95E.jpg
Views:	357
Size:	141.4 KB
ID:	33876  
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2021, 05:05 PM   #2
LnS
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Space Coast
Posts: 36
universally red is +, black is -
same as on your auto mobile battery
__________________
LnS
2019 F150XLT
2021 Cougar 25RDS TT
LnS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2021, 05:46 PM   #3
travelin texans
Senior Member
 
travelin texans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by LnS View Post
universally red is +, black is -
same as on your auto mobile battery
In the rv world though anything is possible. Seen RVs where white was - & + was black as in home wiring
Follow each as far you can, positive likely goes to a buss bar or circuit breaker & the negative likely to the frame then connect to the battery accordingly.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2021, 06:21 PM   #4
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
In your photo are two "directly opposite" theories visible...

1. There is a fuse on the large diameter wire, indicating that red wire is + since fuses are on the positive terminal....

2. The "puzzling part" (at least to me) is that the yellow terminal on the other two wires connects one "RED WIRE" with one "BLACK WIRE". So, if there is any "logical conclusion", either the red wire with the fuse block is + AND the black is also + ?????

That "just don't make good sense" no matter how you slice it....

As indicated, "anything can appear in trailer wiring" and this is an example of that....

The question I have is: Are there any other wires connected to the battery??? It seems to me there should be another "black wire (if your trailer has red/black cables to the battery) that goes from the battery NEG terminal to the trailer chassis (GROUND).

First, plug the trailer into shore power and check for voltage on the two connectors... I'd suspect that the larger red wire will read 13.6VDC. If the two wires (red and black in the same connector) also read 13.6VDC, it also goes to the POS battery terminal.

To further confirm, I'd use an ohmmeter between ground and that yellow crimp connector. If the reading is 0 ohms, indicating a "direct connection to ground" and that goes to the NEG battery terminal. If it does not read 0 ohms, AND reads 13.6VDC, I'd suspect that it should be connected to the POS battery terminal...

Then use the ohmmeter on the other "single red wire with the fuse block". It likely will not read 0 Ohms to ground, indicating that it goes to the POS battery terminal.....

So, I'd ask, is there another wire connected to the NEG battery terminal??? If so, and if neither wire shows a "meter connection to ground" then I'd suspect that both connectors (all 3 wires) are connected to the POS battery terminal....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2021, 06:24 PM   #5
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,598
I would just suggest that learning how to use a VOM eliminates so much "I wonder what this wire does".
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2021, 07:35 PM   #6
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
LnS - usually in a 12v world
TravelinTexans - according to YouTube the wire color means little. Hoping to not have to go too deep to figure out.
JRTJH - 1)that was my 1st thought, but???
2) puzzling...I like that.
Only other wires to battery are the main positive, and negative which goes to ground.
I have Ohm’d both wires and neither had continuity(my meter only beeps) which did confuse me since I was convinced one came from each side.
WOW! In my confused frame of mind earlier I started to hook to my generator(currently only shore power source) but convinced myself that it wasn’t a good idea. However after reading it, it makes perfect sense. After all how the heck else am I gonna test for voltage?! I’m going to claim temporary insanity due to confusion, because I normally would consider myself a common sense type of person.
Thanks again for everyone’s replies. I work late tomorrow but will hopefully have my answer tomorrow evening.
Terry - temporarily no common sense
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 04:40 AM   #7
Sarge2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Richmond
Posts: 625
I'm speaking only as an past Automotive Tech... normally you don't put an inline fuse into a ground line...

my Passport only has an inline fuse on the solar ready wire (solid red)... my ground wire was black to the frame, the positive was red with a black stripe going to the positive. The red/black went directly to the circuit breakers on the frame the black went to the frame... not sure that helps.. but is how mine is run... from your picture, I don't see a solid black.. I'd be looking to see where the ground is to the frame.. is probably close to the battery...
__________________
Tim & Hope
2020 Passport 2600BH GT
2019 Ram 1500 Quad Cab
Sarge2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 04:43 PM   #8
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
Pulled more wire out of the sheathing and discovered that the black & red wire is actually just a black wire. When they were separated some of the red pulled away creating the fake red & black insulation. After seeing that I cleaned the ring terminal and it sang when I touched a ground.
I am now comfortable with red to + and black to -
I believe the fused red to be for the stabilizers/levellers.
Thanks for the assists guys!
Terry
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	A8DD6D8E-484A-4302-A7DF-43CB7794BB33.jpg
Views:	1329
Size:	327.4 KB
ID:	33893   Click image for larger version

Name:	F02234AE-E769-4929-914A-653C52A418EC.jpg
Views:	203
Size:	163.6 KB
ID:	33894   Click image for larger version

Name:	C2B107DA-2B7E-45E9-B8E0-4BCFCEC96827.jpg
Views:	141
Size:	130.1 KB
ID:	33895  
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 04:47 PM   #9
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
Sarge2 - I probably should have included the main batter wires in the original post, but included a pic of where they attach in the last post.
Thanks
Terry
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 05:31 PM   #10
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
Well, maybe I shouldn’t have been so comfortable... I hooked the fused red and main red battery cable to the positive, but when I tried to connect the main black cable to the negative it arc’d. Stepped back, verified +/- and tried again but it arc’d again.
I thought I had it figured out, but was apparently wrong.
I guess tomorrow I need to make a few phone calls. And I thought I was confused before!
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 06:07 PM   #11
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
There are 5 black wires on the two 12 volt circuit breakers (with the red rubber covers). If the black wire "sparked when you touched it to ground, then it's a "hot wire" that's connected to the battery somewhere. I'd guess, from this far away, that it's somehow tied into the converter/charger and should be connected to the battery + terminal.

Additionally, all of the ground wires, connected to the stud on the frame, are white. I'd say that black AND red are POS and white is NEG.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 06:41 PM   #12
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,234
If anything is turned on int the trailer it will arc when you hook up the battery leads. I’m not saying you hooked it up right or wrong, it’s just what I have found.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2021, 07:14 PM   #13
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
When I attach the red battery cable and the fused red wire to the + terminal, the main black battery cable sparks as I try to attach it. If I remove the fused red wire and attach the black cable- no arc.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	A3C03A37-C85D-4E67-B241-8E4FBA33F821.jpg
Views:	546
Size:	326.8 KB
ID:	33896  
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2021, 03:15 AM   #14
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,234
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terdybukrat View Post
When I attach the red battery cable and the fused red wire to the + terminal, the main black battery cable sparks as I try to attach it. If I remove the fused red wire and attach the black cable- no arc.
In that picture the black is negative.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2021, 11:18 AM   #15
Sarge2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Richmond
Posts: 625
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terdybukrat View Post
Sarge2 - I probably should have included the main batter wires in the original post, but included a pic of where they attach in the last post.
Thanks
Terry
no worries... you got it figured out and that is what counts..
__________________
Tim & Hope
2020 Passport 2600BH GT
2019 Ram 1500 Quad Cab
Sarge2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2021, 02:48 PM   #16
Terdybukrat
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mebane
Posts: 7
Chuckster57, you nailed it. There is 1 unlit black switch on a black background that i thought i had turned off, but it was difficult to see that it was still on. Once that was turned off the wiring went together happily.
We bought the camper last year & didnt have much time to get familiar enough with it. That should change this year.

Sincerely, thanks again to everyone for helping!

Terry
Terdybukrat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2021, 12:24 PM   #17
Sarge2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Richmond
Posts: 625
Once again I'll say it.... you got it fixed and that's what counts...
__________________
Tim & Hope
2020 Passport 2600BH GT
2019 Ram 1500 Quad Cab
Sarge2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2021, 05:57 PM   #18
Wingman301
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Ballwin
Posts: 5
Battery Disconnect Switch

You might consider adding a battery disconnect switch so when you store your RV the battery doesn’t drain and when you go to remove your battery for winter storage and re-install it in the spring, you know there will be no draw on the battery or arcing even if a switch is left on somewhere.
__________________
Frank
2019 Keystone Cougar 361RLW
2019 Ford F-350 Lariat DRW
B+W Companion 25K 5th Wheel Hitch
Wingman301 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, wiring

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:23 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.