Battery Reconnection Wiring

[Marko]

Hello everyone I took my battery out and brought it indoors and placed it on a battery tender for the last four months. Now I want to put the battery back in but I don't recall the location of the white wire (see attached photo). Does it go on the postive side of battery post or the negative side battery post. I wished I took of photo of it before I took it out.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Marko

[craigav]

It appears a bit confusing, are there only 4 wires there to connect? Generally when black and red are together the black is negative and red is positive, I think yours is marked as such. However, when black and white are together (and common in an RV) the black is positive white is negative. You would do well to trace the wires to see which ones are ground connections, with that said, it appears for yours that the smaller black and the red are positive, and the larger black and the smaller white are negative. I would wait though in case someone here has that same exact setup. If you have a VOM meter you could check resistance and verify which are ground connections. JIMD has a couple of great articles how to use a voltage meter (and ohm meter) if you are unfamiliar with how to do so, just search for his name in the search menu choice. ~CA

[Cavie]

If it is paired with a black then white is negative.

[Marko]

I going to remove the panel behind the battery shut off switch or the panel in the front storage area that's just to left. I be better to trace the white wire to see where is comes from. I take a photo and post it.

Thanks to all that reply to my Inital post. I will be updating once I get it figured out.

Thanks

Marko

[RoadrunnerII]

Best to trace the wires this time. Then get two rolls electrical tape. One Black One Red.
Cut a piece of each and put next to the battery posts Red to Positive.
Now put a wrap of Red on the hot wires.
Do same for the wires to the negative with the black tape.
Now it's line up the colors
Easy peasy!

RoadrunnerII

[Marko]

Originally Posted by craigav

It appears a bit confusing, are there only 4 wires there to connect? Generally when black and red are together the black is negative and red is positive, I think yours is marked as such. However, when black and white are together (and common in an RV) the black is positive white is negative. You would do well to trace the wires to see which ones are ground connections, with that said, it appears for yours that the smaller black and the red are positive, and the larger black and the smaller white are negative. I would wait though in case someone here has that same exact setup. If you have a VOM meter you could check resistance and verify which are ground connections. JIMD has a couple of great articles how to use a voltage meter (and ohm meter) if you are unfamiliar with how to do so, just search for his name in the search menu choice. ~CA

Yes there is only four wires to connect. The two main listed as positive red and negative black. But there is 1 additional black wire and 1 additional white wire (smaller gauge). Both have round connections ends and they go on the battery post. I just forget the position on the battery these two wires go. Ouch. I thinking the white wire goes on the negative post. But I could be wrong.

Any help?

Marko

[Marko]

Originally Posted by RoadrunnerII

Best to trace the wires this time. Then get two rolls electrical tape. One Black One Red.
Cut a piece of each and put next to the battery posts Red to Positive.
Now put a wrap of Red on the hot wires.
Do same for the wires to the negative with the black tape.
Now it's line up the colors
Easy peasy!

RoadrunnerII

Great idea. I will add this mod once I get it figured out. Thanks!

[SmokerBill]

Any wire that attaches directly to the frame connects to the battery negative post. It's typically a white wire and smaller gauge than the main positive wire.

[Marko]

SmokerBill,

Hey thanks for your response. I took the panel off today that protects the Battery Shut Off Switch. So I was trying to follow the white wire. I followed it till it ran into a hole on the inside front wall of the front storage compartment. It ran with some other wires into a hole then up into the wall.

So I have attached some photos of the wire chase and maybe you or someone can tell what this white wire is for?

Thanks!

Mark NystromAttachment 68636Attachment 68637Attachment 68638Attachment 68639

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by Marko

Yes there is only four wires to connect. The two main listed as positive red and negative black. But there is 1 additional black wire and 1 additional white wire (smaller gauge). Both have round connections ends and they go on the battery post. I just forget the position on the battery these two wires go. Ouch. I thinking the white wire goes on the negative post. But I could be wrong.

Any help?

Marko

you are correct. But there should be a matching colored wire of the same size.

[Marko]

Battery Reconnection Update

I put the battery back in the rig yesterday and placed the white wire on the negative post with no explosions. Lol. My battery came in at 12.4 after sitting on a Battery Tender the last for months. Going to add to the battery 100 amp solar panels to keep the batteries top off while sitting in my driveway. I am hopping this will be a successful journey into solar and off grid glamping.

So thanks to all who responded to my question. I really do appreciate this Jayco users group.

Sincerely,

Marko

[Marko]

I last question. Does anybody know what the white wire is used for or connected to.

Thanks,

Marko

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by Marko

I last question. Does anybody know what the white wire is used for or connected to.

Thanks,

Marko

Battery ground. Connected to the frame.

[Jagiven]

This would have been a good use of a multimeter. Just need to check continuity to a known chassis ground.

I labeled my wires, using Yellow electrical tape (just what was handy at the moment), making a tab on each wire . I placed a "+" or a "-" on each wire. Some day, maybe I will use red and black.

[Marko]

Originally Posted by Cavie

Battery ground. Connected to the frame.

I thought that was the black wire? I could find where the white wire ended up as it went up the wall with the other wires.

[Greg58]

I’m old so I forget things, that’s why I take a picture of everything before I “fix it” so I can put it back together!

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

Any wire that attaches directly to the frame connects to the battery negative post. It's typically a white wire and smaller gauge than the main positive wire.

Correct

[Marko]

Originally Posted by Marmot

Correct

Thanks. Do you know what the white wire is connected to or what its used for?

Marko

[Genr8rs]

1 thing I have noticed is the lack of workmanship in the RV industry. Either punching holes in wood panels, routing and bundling wires, caulking, sealing, nailing, or labeling of ANYTHING. Wire nuts? Really?
From my professional experience this is an example of typical assembly line craftsmanship. Do they thing we would never have to touch, replace, repair or trace anything? Sorry for the rant.

[29BHS ECO]

Don't forget you may also have a black & white for a power jack that won't enter the RV, they go straight to the jack.