Forum Discussion

docsouce's avatar
docsouce
Explorer II
Mar 20, 2021

Ground wires

I have a bird's nest on ground wires under my 2020 Jayco 26xd class C. One of the many things I want to do is clean this mess up. Probably about 15, looks like #12 white wires coming out of the house to 2 bus bars that have 2 or 3 wires going to each terminal. The bus are anchored to the frame which I assumed is the grounding point. Anyway it's a mess. My question should I continue to use the bus bars with groups of wires going to one terminal or should I pick up a couple of multi point bus bars and use one wire to one terminal?? As always all advise is appreciated.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Mar 20, 2021
    IMO leave it be. It is normal to have a bunch of "grounds" going together to the frame. At least they used buss bars. Some RVs use extra big wire nuts for that job.
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Mar 20, 2021
    I have always thought of ground wires as GREEN. WHITE wires signify a neutral line. Now sure exactly why you have a bunch of any of that coming out of your RV house bottom, but I agree with previous poster.... leave them alone. At least until you know exactly what their function is.. Sure as heck wouldn't recommend messing with neutral wires... which may or may not be bonded to your chassis.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Mar 20, 2021
    His collection of white wires are for 12v IMO, and should be called "negative" wires, but that does not matter much. Somewhere else on the frame will be the actual "ground" wire connection for the RV's 120v system.

    The RV's 120v and the 12v systems share the frame for that. On the 120v side, the real ground (Earth) is back at the 120v pedestal supply where it is bonded to the "neutral" while out at the RV the "neutrals" are on a neutral buss NOT bonded to the "ground" going to the frame.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Mar 20, 2021
    Wire colors in an RV can be a bit of a guess. But in general the manufacturers use white wires for the 12v grounds in the house portion.

    I third leaving them alone.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Mar 21, 2021
    Clean them up good, coat the lugs and wiring terminations with electrical de-oxidation grease and leave as is.
  • docsouce's avatar
    docsouce
    Explorer II
    Mar 21, 2021
    Thanks for the input. I'll just bundle them up a bit so they aren't hanging all over the place, grease them up an let them be.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Mar 21, 2021
    One buss bar is always better.

    Also, it is better to run grounds all the way back to the buss bar from each load.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Mar 21, 2021
    Ed_Gee wrote:
    I have always thought of ground wires as GREEN. WHITE wires signify a neutral line. Now sure exactly why you have a bunch of any of that coming out of your RV house bottom, but I agree with previous poster.... leave them alone. At least until you know exactly what their function is.. Sure as heck wouldn't recommend messing with neutral wires... which may or may not be bonded to your chassis.


    White Wires on 95% of RV's are 12 volt GROUND. Winnebago was one that used Green for 12 volt ground. NEUTRAL Romex wires should be solid core. 12 volt will be stranded wires. 120 Power cord and Genset 120 output will be stranded. Doug
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Mar 21, 2021
    Since this bothers you and I guess you want to tinker and make it better. I would take each white Ground wire, install a ring terminal, solder after crimping and drill a hole thru the frame and use star washers and secure a few wires to each new bolt stud. 15 wires, I would install 5 bolts and install 3 wire ring terminals on each new stud bolt. THEN undercoat each stud. never have to worry about looseness or corrosion. Doug

    YES, That is how Jayco runs their 12 volt ground wires.

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