Finally getting around to trying to replace this. OK, I procrastinated, used duct tape, and then it all fell apart (down) on yesterday's drive. When it fell a lot of the wiring came apart.There are two lights. The two lights are connected by two white wires which are joined by a clamp connector. The lights are also connected by two black wires joined together in a twist, which I think came out of the clamp connector which is still attached to the ceiling. There is a third black wire running from the switch to the twisted black wires.Coming out of the ceiling is a green wire, attached via a clamp connector to a black wire that clearly goes into the switch, and a white wire which I think goes to the white clamp connector.Does this all sound correct? I'm not sure why there are two black wires coming out of the switch and why they both connect to black, and not white.

Yes, that sounds to be correct!

I'm not sure those twisted black wires from the lights need to connect to the ceiling green/black wire set. I'm guessing the green wire is the + and it sends power down to the switch via one black wire and returns on the other black wire which is already connected to the twist with the 2 black wires at the lights. Maybe the twist just needs a wire nut and/or tape over it?Both black wires on the switch sounds normal as they are both +. The white are ground and are usually connected direct.

2 black on switchPower down to the switchPower from switch to the lightWhites are negative/groundNot used for switching power on off In RV 12vdc house electrical

rvshrinker wrote:Finally getting around to trying to replace this. OK, I procrastinated, used duct tape, and then it all fell apart (down) on yesterday's drive. When it fell a lot of the wiring came apart.There are two lights. The two lights are connected by two white wires which are joined by a clamp connector. The lights are also connected by two black wires joined together in a twist, which I think came out of the clamp connector which is still attached to the ceiling. There is a third black wire running from the switch to the twisted black wires.Coming out of the ceiling is a green wire, attached via a clamp connector to a black wire that clearly goes into the switch, and a white wire which I think goes to the white clamp connector.Does this all sound correct? I'm not sure why there are two black wires coming out of the switch and why they both connect to black, and not white.Lights are 12 volts. What are you calling a clamp connector? Lights are norminnally connected with wirenuts. Green wires should not be connected to black wires. I'm a master electrician and am having trouble following you.

The green from ceiling connects to black using a connector, like a wirenut, but squeezed closed with pliers. From there a short black wire that is supposed to go to the switch. It has a unique end which is how I know that.The fixture itself has one black wire from each light, and one black wire from the switch, and all the of those are twisted together. It's possible as wnjj said that those just need a wirenut or tape and don't go in the green/black connector. So current goes green to black to the switch, then back through white?

RV dinette light wiring questions | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Sep 06, 2020
Yes, that sounds to be correct!
wnjj
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2020
I'm not sure those twisted black wires from the lights need to connect to the ceiling green/black wire set. I'm guessing the green wire is the + and it sends power down to the switch via one black wire and returns on the other black wire which is already connected to the twist with the 2 black wires at the lights. Maybe the twist just needs a wire nut and/or tape over it?

Both black wires on the switch sounds normal as they are both +. The white are ground and are usually connected direct.
MrWizard
Moderator
Sep 06, 2020
2 black on switch
Power down to the switch
Power from switch to the light

Whites are negative/ground
Not used for switching power on off
In RV 12vdc house electrical
cavie
Explorer
Sep 06, 2020
rvshrinker wrote:
Finally getting around to trying to replace this. OK, I procrastinated, used duct tape, and then it all fell apart (down) on yesterday's drive. When it fell a lot of the wiring came apart.

There are two lights. The two lights are connected by two white wires which are joined by a clamp connector. The lights are also connected by two black wires joined together in a twist, which I think came out of the clamp connector which is still attached to the ceiling. There is a third black wire running from the switch to the twisted black wires.

Coming out of the ceiling is a green wire, attached via a clamp connector to a black wire that clearly goes into the switch, and a white wire which I think goes to the white clamp connector.

Does this all sound correct? I'm not sure why there are two black wires coming out of the switch and why they both connect to black, and not white.

Lights are 12 volts. What are you calling a clamp connector? Lights are norminnally connected with wirenuts. Green wires should not be connected to black wires. I'm a master electrician and am having trouble following you.
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Sep 06, 2020
The green from ceiling connects to black using a connector, like a wirenut, but squeezed closed with pliers. From there a short black wire that is supposed to go to the switch. It has a unique end which is how I know that.

The fixture itself has one black wire from each light, and one black wire from the switch, and all the of those are twisted together. It's possible as wnjj said that those just need a wirenut or tape and don't go in the green/black connector.

So current goes green to black to the switch, then back through white?
enblethen
Nomad
Sep 06, 2020
The OP has a green wire that is his 12 volt DC positive, which connects to a black wire on switch. The second black wire from the switch goes to each of the black wires from the lamp sockets,(three blacks connected together), the two white wires from the lamp sockets connects to the white wire in rig's wiring.
Very common RV's 12 volt systems do not follow any recognized wiring color codes.
I like the use of crimp connectors over wire nuts. They stay in place better in high vibration situations.
wnjj
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2020
The inter webs calls those connectors “closed end splice connector”.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Sep 07, 2020
Also called Bell Connectors.
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Sep 07, 2020
enblethen wrote:
The OP has a green wire that is his 12 volt DC positive, which connects to a black wire on switch. The second black wire from the switch goes to each of the black wires from the lamp sockets,(three blacks connected together), the two white wires from the lamp sockets connects to the white wire in rig's wiring.
Very common RV's 12 volt systems do not follow any recognized wiring color codes.
I like the use of crimp connectors over wire nuts. They stay in place better in high vibration situations.

This is what i thought. However when I hooked it all up, nothing worked. The switch wasn't designed to be taken apart so I'm improvising the reassembly. That said, I bypassed the switch by touching the black/green from the ceiling to the black wires on the fixture. Reconnected the whites. No dice. I don't see that a fuse is out and since the light doesn't work I can't tell which fuse it should be, only which ones it is not.

Next step some kind of 12v voltmeter?
CharlesinGA
Explorer
Sep 07, 2020
rvshrinker wrote:
The green from ceiling connects to black using a connector, like a wirenut, but squeezed closed with pliers. From there a short black wire that is supposed to go to the switch. It has a unique end which is how I know that.

The fixture itself has one black wire from each light, and one black wire from the switch, and all the of those are twisted together. It's possible as wnjj said that those just need a wirenut or tape and don't go in the green/black connector.

So current goes green to black to the switch, then back through white?

Many electrical and electronic people call these "mushroom splices"

Charles

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