What is this little red box the Negative battery cable connects to on the frame

[Gunclubchamp]

I have a corroded "junction box"?? that the negative battery cable connects to on the frame of my RV. The negative battery cable connects to the battery then runs to this point on my frame. Its a little red plastic cover that covers the connection of the negative battery cable on one post, and another post that connects 4 smaller wires. Can anybody tell me what this is. I need a new one. Mine is totally corroded.

Thank you in advance.

Gunclubchamp

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Gunclubchamp

I have a corroded "junction box"?? that the negative battery cable connects to on the frame of my RV. The negative battery cable connects to the battery then runs to this point on my frame. Its a little red plastic cover that covers the connection of the negative battery cable on one post, and another post that connects 4 smaller wires. Can anybody tell me what this is. I need a new one. Mine is totally corroded.

Thank you in advance.

Gunclubchamp

Does it look anything like this resettable fuse (aka short-stop circuit breaker)?

[bubbles]

Not likely on the negative side of the battery.

[Bama Rambler]

It sounds like a terminal strip, but a picture would help a lot.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Not likely on the negative side of the battery.

Unless the member is only looking at wiring color, which if black and white, causes confusion as to what is positive(black) and negative(white) on a RV.

[Gunclubchamp]

That's it exactly! The red one! What is that called. I need a new one. Thank you so much!

[Gunclubchamp]

You answered my question earlier, thanks

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Gunclubchamp

You answered my question earlier, thanks

You are welcome, but as Bubbles pointed out, are you sure it's on the negative cable (which it could be)?

The reason I ask, is RV battery wiring color can fool you. If you have a black and white wire going to the battery, the BLACK is usually the POSITIVE wire, and the white is the negative wire. It's more like the way a house is wired accorded to color schemes.

It kind of runs counter intuitive to what you are used to on a vehicle...but you need to know this in case you ever change your battery or such. If you connect the battery wires backwards, you will blow the reverse polarity fuses to your converter.

Now to just add more to the confusion, if your RV battery wires are only black and red, then the opposite holds true and it's like on your vehicle. The red is positive and the black is negative.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Gunclubchamp

That's it exactly! The red one! What is that called. I need a new one. Thank you so much!

The red is just a removable cover TO the 12 volt resettable fuse. You can pick these up at about any auto parts store. They are sized according to amps.

[Herk7769]

Worse yet, they are current limiters (fuses) and have a rating specific to your camper and the circuit it is protecting.

You will most likely need to disconnect your battery, LABEL THE WIRES, remove the current limiter and read the numbers on the side if you can.

It can be a challenge.

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by wmtire

You are welcome, but as Bubbles pointed out, are you sure it's on the negative cable (which it could be)?

The reason I ask, is RV battery wiring color can fool you. If you have a black and white wire going to the battery, the BLACK is usually the POSITIVE wire, and the white is the negative wire. It's more like the way a house is wired accorded to color schemes.

It kind of runs counter intuitive to what you are used to on a vehicle...but you need to know this in case you ever change your battery or such. If you connect the battery wires backwards, you will blow the reverse polarity fuses to your converter.

Now to just add more to the confusion, if your RV battery wires are only black and red, then the opposite holds true and it's like on your vehicle. The red is positive and the black is negative.

And to throw a third option out there, mine is red (+) and white (-). No black in sight.




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[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

You will most likely need to disconnect your battery, LABEL THE WIRES, remove the current limiter and read the numbers on the side if you can.

Good reminder, Lou. BEFORE you start trying to replace the resettable fuse (which is usually on the positive wire to the battery)...you need to disconnect at least the negative on the battery beforehand, so you will not have a hot circuit going to the resettable fuse.

It would be too easy to get a wrench or ratchet to touch the frame if on a live circuit and spark or burn up something. Disconnect the battery first (and make sure what wire is negative and positive to the battery).

Many people carry cellphones with cameras these days, and it doesn't take hardly any effort at all to take pics beforehand, so you won't have to rely on your memory later of the way everything is wired.

[Stormrider151]

What ever did we do before cameras with phones in them. If it were not for mine I surely would blow something up.:-)

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Worse yet, they are current limiters (fuses) and have a rating specific to your camper and the circuit it is protecting.

You will most likely need to disconnect your battery, LABEL THE WIRES, remove the current limiter and read the numbers on the side if you can.

It can be a challenge.

Site team edit: PenJoe has asked that the following 3 sentences from him, be disregarded, as he typed opposite what he intended to. See post #26 below.

Note: When disconnecting a battery, remove the positive cable first, then the negative cable. When connecting the cables to the battery, it is in reverse. Connect the negative cable first, then, second, the positive cable.

Also it appears that the OP has several wires connecting to the positive post.
Tip: bundle or tape together all of the wires from one post, then do the same with the other post. If these wires are kept together, it is much easier to replace them correctly. This can be done with something as simple as masking tape or a rubber band.

[Teamfour]

Originally Posted by PenJoe

Note: When disconnecting a battery, remove the positive cable first, then the negative cable. When connecting the cables to the battery, it is in reverse. Connect the negative cable first, then, second, the positive cable.

That is completely opposite from everything I learned over the years building and racing cars. When removing the positive lead first, there is a high risk of the wrench contacting metal near the battery. If the negative lead is still connected to the battery, this will cause a short. Same goes for installing the positive lead last when re-connecting the battery. IMO, it is always safer removing the negative lead first.

[Rbertalotto]

That is completely opposite from everything I learned over the years building and racing cars. When removing the positive lead first, there is a high risk of the wrench contacting metal near the battery. If the negative lead is still connected to the battery, this will cause a short. Same goes for installing the positive lead last when re-connecting the battery. IMO, it is always safer removing the negative lead first.

Yup.....

This is the way I've been teaching car stereo installers for years.

BTW, I HATE auto reset circuit breakers like all these RVs use and is pictured above. This crappy, $5, Chinese made CB is all that stands between your RV having a very bad day!
I've seen them burn cars to the ground. I don't allow them in my shop. If there is a short, these things can cycle on and off until they fail.....hopefully in the open position. But they can fail in the closed position and then all hell breaks lose!

I like a high quality, weather protected fuse holder and a fuse.....or a manually reset circuit breaker.

[Kaadk]

I disconnect my negative first, but that's because I tend to lean against the frame while disconnecting my positive since it's farther inboard. Don't want to make a connection between positive and negative via my hands to knees.




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[EdnKat]

Originally Posted by Teamfour

That is completely opposite from everything I learned over the years building and racing cars. When removing the positive lead first, there is a high risk of the wrench contacting metal near the battery. If the negative lead is still connected to the battery, this will cause a short. Same goes for installing the positive lead last when re-connecting the battery. IMO, it is always safer removing the negative lead first.

X4. 40 years industrial on the mechanic. - off 1st + last. Reverse for reconnecting.

[JLeising]

Except on my 1959 MGA. That car is positive ground!

[keith_h]

Originally Posted by JLeising

Except on my 1959 MGA. That car is positive ground!

It was the same on the 1970 Austin America I drove in high school.