Battery connection

[outdoorman]

Hello,
We just purchased our first Travel Trailer - a 2011 Jayco JayFlight. We're heading south in a few days and our first reservations don't include electricity!
The rig did not come with a battery and I wanted to hook one up eventually so I guess I'll do it sooner rather than later.
I've been watching a lot of videos for advice on the hook up.
I can find the white (ground) wire, and the only other wire with a connection fitting is a (faded) red/black wire. It looks like it's been spliced into another wire (green) with an inline fuse, and then connects to the main black.
So can I assume this is my positive connection?
I'm also curious about solar panels for charging, or if it's better to go with 2 batteries right away? I'm replacing all the interior lights with LED.
Thanks for any help ...

[jasum]

You need to get at least a battery now.

Trailer should have a breakaway switch and it needs 12 volt from trailer battery to work in case trailer would come off tow vehicle.

Also all lights inside trailer work off of battery.

[Atlee]

You must have a battery hooked up in order for the emergency break away brakes to work.

Originally Posted by outdoorman

Hello,
We just purchased our first Travel Trailer - a 2011 Jayco JayFlight. We're heading south in a few days and our first reservations don't include electricity!
The rig did not come with a battery and I wanted to hook one up eventually so I guess I'll do it sooner rather than later.
I've been watching a lot of videos for advice on the hook up.
I can find the white (ground) wire, and the only other wire with a connection fitting is a (faded) red/black wire. It looks like it's been spliced into another wire (green) with an inline fuse, and then connects to the main black.
So can I assume this is my positive connection?
I'm also curious about solar panels for charging, or if it's better to go with 2 batteries right away? I'm replacing all the interior lights with LED.
Thanks for any help ...

[outdoorman]

Thanks for the information.
I plan on getting a battery, my biggest concern is proper connection. I assumed there would be some wires readily available for hook up/

[Atlee]

A trailer will have the necessary battery connections. Almost always the battery rack is on the tongue.

Originally Posted by outdoorman

Thanks for the information.
I plan on getting a battery, my biggest concern is proper connection. I assumed there would be some wires readily available for hook up/

[CampNow]

With an older unit like this, there's a good chance someone has modified the wiring along the way. They may or may not have wired it properly. If in doubt about anything, suggest having someone with a bit of experience with things electrical take a quick look at the wiring for you. Do not want to hook-up the battery with the polarity incorrect!

Enjoy the trip south!

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by CampNow

With an older unit like this, there's a good chance someone has modified the wiring along the way. They may or may not have wired it properly. If in doubt about anything, suggest having someone with a bit of experience with things electrical take a quick look at the wiring for you. Do not want to hook-up the battery with the polarity incorrect!

Enjoy the trip south!

X-2. I believe white is the hot wire. Black is ground.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by RAurand

X-2. I believe white is the hot wire. Black is ground.

STOP!!!!!!

WHITE is Ground
BLACK is POSITIVE (unless previous owner changed it)

Follow the WHITE cable, it should go to ground

Don


My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[nunyadamn]

Originally Posted by mustang65

stop!!!!!!

white is ground
black is positive (unless previous owner changed it)

follow the white cable, it should go to ground

don


my registry

rving with solar

this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cekkk]

As you can see, camper battery wiring is "different." You'd do yourself good to take your rig to someone experienced with camper wiring. Unfortunately that may or may not be an RV dealer. If you have a horse trailer dealer nearby talk to them. Some horse trailers have built-in campers for the owners, and horse people won't put up with the crap that we camper people do. So you are more likely to deal with a mechanic who knows what he is doing.

On the positive side, RV manufacturers were not doing a lot of business in 2011 and tended to take a bit more time putting these rigs together. My 2011 came out of the factory with zero defects worth mentioning and, almost 7 years later, is as good as new, even though we have lived in it a total of well over two and a half years.

[us71na]

And once you figure it out, label the wires so you don't have to figure it out again.