Hi I am very new to this site and not sure how to post that I need some help. There has never been a battery on my camper since We got it and we have only ever been hooked up to shore power. We are fixing to start a going solar project and I have been inspecting where the battery goes but I have 3 thinish black wires coming from under the camper at the tongue and 1 is connected to the positive red wire and the other 2 are not connected to anything and I know they are suppose to be. Someone please help

I think we will need some info about your trailer manf and model number...Also I am guess you are not on the road with your trailer. Your state DOT requires you to have a working 12VDC battery to operate your trailer electric brakes if your trailer becomes disconnected when being towed.The is a DOT requirement and is a LAW...If all you have is BLACK wires and one WHITE wire then the normal hookup is all BLACK wires go to the positive terminals of the battery and the white which should come from the trailer FRAME GROUND will go to the NEGATIVE battery terminal. If additional battery aftermarket things have been added than RED and BLACK wire pairs may have been used. If this is the case then the RED WIRE will go to the battery POSITIVE terminal and the BLACK wire will go to the NEGATIVE terminal.If this is all confusing and your dealer is close-by I would take it back to the dealer and have them install it for you then take pictures of it with your cell phone for future use.I am surprised your trailer dealer would let you pull this trailer away from the dealership without a connected 12VDC battery.I take it PEARLAND is located in Texas near the gulf coast near Houston...Roy Ken

We bought used from individual in MS at a deer camp and it was hooked up to shore power there and we just moved it here. We had something attached that would activate the emergency brakes if it would have become disconnected during the trip here. We are fenced in here and it would be a major thing now to get out lol- the small black wires I'm questioning are or should be I believe connected to the heavy duty wires that connect to the battery (positive and negative) there are 3 and 1 of them is connected to the positive red wire but the other 2 are not connected to anything and that's what I need to know is where those 2 wires go. It is a 1985 Fleetwood Prowler. Yes Pearland is near the Gulf coast right outside of South Houston. My husband is retired disable and I want to hook up a solar panel system to be more self reliant to help with the limited income.

It sounds to me like someone's been "working on" the trailer wiring. It's true that battery hot is typically black, but it's also true that it's not usually "small". Trailer ground on RV's of that vintage is typically WHITE, however. Not sure where red would come into play in a discussion of interior power.I don't know how to rotate this image before posting, so I hope you're looking at this on a laptop!:B This is a typical 12v wiring schematic for trailers of this vintage:

I can take a pic of it. Is that something we can do on this site ? I am sorry I am so very green :) but Im trying to fix that. It was like that when we got in in like 03. We just never had a need to mess with it. I do appreciate your trying to help me. Can I post a pic on here to for you ?

I am on a laptop but I can see where your pic should be but do not see it

battery and wireing info please | Good Sam Community

53 Replies

Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
yes lol for sure
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 05, 2013
Hi Wendy,

Consider it a "work in progress" or it will drive you round the bend.
Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
wow Don that's great - I have watched utube videos for a week solid and just as soon as I think I have it figured out what I need I find out I'm wrong lol uggg I'll be happy when I get this all figured out and thank yall so much for your help and patients :)
Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
lol ok Mena Thank you
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 05, 2013
Hi Wendy,

No, I have seven 12 volt marine batteries @ 125 amp-hours each (when new), and four solar panels totaling 256 watts.

Battery bank design is specific to each person's camping style, so what works well for me might be a poor fit for mena (who also has a large capacity bank).
mena661
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
Wendy Sue wrote:
What would you recommend with a low draw tv Mena?
Vizio E261VA. Draws 20-24W even when using an inverter. I also recommend the Go Power 150W PSW inverter. I have the 300W version and it works like a champ.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi mena,

L-16? *grin*
EDIT: LOL! I finally get it! Wendy, L16 is a battery model that Trojan sells. It's a 6V battery but different size than the one's you're getting (370 Ah each..I have four). I would only recommend these for a person that's adept in battery maintenance and doesn't mind 100 lb each batteries in their rig.
Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
Don you have 1 solar panel and 2 12volt batteries to get your 875 amp hours ?
Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
What would you recommend with a low draw tv Mena?
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 05, 2013
Hi mena,

L-16? *grin*
Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
Yea Mena we will be looking into replacing the old tv we have I am sure it is not low draw. We are not planning on taking it anywhere but maybe from here a lot on the beach lol - I just want to be self sustained. Storm - transformer blown - end of the world - I want my own power lol my husband is retired disable and no electric bill would be very nice.

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battery and wireing info please

53 Replies

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