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01-18-2019, 05:16 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Central North Carolina
Posts: 74
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Battery Polarity Again
I know this comes up quite a bit, but I thought I would report a new twist (to me) on my 2019 Grey Wolf 20RDSE. Not thinking about it I removed the battery to take home to keep charged in my garage. White is always ground on the RV, right? The other day I was at the camper and realized I had no white cable, only red and black. Crawling under I found the black battery lead was attached to the frame. Attached to the same bolt was the white ground leading into the TT. That makes the red the hot wire and black the neutral. Are we all getting confused yet?
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01-18-2019, 05:25 PM
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#2
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Coach
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Western PA
Posts: 667
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Your 12 volt side is more like what you would be used to seeing in a car or truck. Their batteries are wired red for positive and black for negative as well. RVs can get a little confusing with the combined 12v and 120v system.
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Cut it 3 times and it's still too short...
2017 Sandpiper 381RBOK
2006 Ram 3500 Cummins Dually
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01-18-2019, 05:36 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,294
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One general rule of thumb I use when working on RV 12V DC systems is always check with a meter or visual as I have seen many wiring color combinations. I always recommend that anyone removing a battery clearly mark both cables BEFORE removing them from the battery.
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2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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01-18-2019, 05:42 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,560
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
One general rule of thumb I use when working on RV 12V DC systems is always check with a meter or visual as I have seen many wiring color combinations. I always recommend that anyone removing a battery clearly mark both cables BEFORE removing them from the battery.
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So " White is always ground on the RV, right?" Nope. I try not to use the word ALWAYS when talking about RV assembly.
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69 |
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01-18-2019, 05:51 PM
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#5
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
One general rule of thumb I use when working on RV 12V DC systems is always check with a meter or visual as I have seen many wiring color combinations. I always recommend that anyone removing a battery clearly mark both cables BEFORE removing them from the battery.
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Out of curiosity... how do you figure out positive vs negative with a meter?
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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01-18-2019, 06:12 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,294
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Out of curiosity... how do you figure out positive vs negative with a meter?
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If powered measure voltage if not measure connectivity/ resistance to frame/ appliance.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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01-18-2019, 06:39 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Out of curiosity... how do you figure out positive vs negative with a meter?
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The meter has black and red leads. Black is negitive. reverse them and you will get negitive volts.
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01-18-2019, 06:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,902
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Never assume a certain color is + or - esp on RVs I have seen it both ways.
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2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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01-18-2019, 07:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 700
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Out of curiosity... how do you figure out positive vs negative with a meter?
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On 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC the power will flow through the meter will indicate a positive symbol or a negative symbol. The only circuit showing full voltage is the positive one.
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01-18-2019, 08:33 PM
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#10
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Thanks everyone.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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01-20-2019, 06:57 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Central North Carolina
Posts: 74
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Amazing
I just noticed on the trailer frame near the battery there is a sticker stating that the red cable should be connected to positive and black to negative. How many campers have suffered damage because the manufacturer couldn’t be bothered to place a sticker there? Thank you Grey Wolf!
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01-27-2019, 07:09 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 62
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battery polarity
As a general rule, DC ( battery) ground will be black and AC(115 V) will be White.
GENERALLY!!
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Old Hunter
Retired from the USAF in 1979,
Build porch swings to stay busy when not hunting.
Cherokee 264 DBH
Ram 1500 double cab TV.
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