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Wendy_Sue's avatar
Wendy_Sue
Explorer
Aug 04, 2013

battery and wireing info please

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

53 Replies

  • 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:

  • 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.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    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

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