Forum Discussion

Bob_Landry's avatar
Bob_Landry
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013

Wiring Diagrams For Trailers

Has anyone successfully obtained wiring diagrams or schematics for their trailers after the warranty has run out? Keystone will not release any claiming liability reasons.
Then they said there are no diagrams because how the wiring is done is determined by the guy doing the wiring on the production floor on that particular day. I really got a laugh out of that one. I'm just wondering if all of the manufacturers are all alike.

This is sparked by my desire to sort out the 120V wiring in my two year old Keystone Outback. So far I have found wall outlets wired with 14ga wire and fed by the 20A microwave breaker and outlets in the bedroom that are fed from the breaker that goes to the converter. The rest of the outlets, even the ones that do not need to be GFCI protected are fed from that breaker. Just wondering if anyone else's trailer is a hodge-poge of wiring, or if it's just Keystone.

10 Replies

Sort By
  • Peg_Leg's avatar
    Peg_Leg
    Explorer
    Oct 31, 2013
    I usually start of by turning off all the breakers. Then plug a lamp into a outlet and turn breakers on until I find the right one. With only that one breaker on I start moving the lamp from outlet to outlet and drawing my "map" out on paper. It normally becomes obvious once the first and last outlet in the circuit is found. I did say "normally" not always.

    I repeat this for each breaker. Remember CFCI's protect every outlet down stream from itself in the circuit. Don't have more than one CFCI in the circuit.

    Get out your Sherlock Holmes hat and happy hunting. Oh watch out and don't step on any electrons that happen to leak out of the wires.
  • Heavy_Metal_Doc's avatar
    Heavy_Metal_Doc
    Explorer
    Oct 31, 2013
    Great....I'm and RV newbie, but have plenty of experience in AC and DC power. As soon as I got in our new TT and really got used to where everything is electrically, I could see I'd like to make some changes. My first thought was to find the pictures - either a "parts" type drawing showing the routing of circuits, or just a schematic that at least tells you which / how components are connected.
    Reading this, at least I see what I will be dealing with.....sounds like I will be on my own.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Oct 31, 2013
    They are more interested if the polystyrene drapes clash with the faux walnut plexiglass motif. Gawd almighty there's more formaldehyde in today's RV than there is in the city morgue.

    Wiring Diagram? We don't need no steenking wiring diagrams! We know where everything is!
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2013
    Some very useful wiring schematics came in our trailer's owner's manual, but no actual wiring layouts. That would sure be nice to have when you want to do some modifications.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2013
    "Hey Chico, have you seen that roll of yellow 14 gauge?"

    "No hablo Ingles"

    Why did you cut the hole for the water pump switch so close to the cabinet"

    "I ran out of wire. It barely stretched"

    "Hey I think you're stapling right over the main wire bundle"

    "Why did you use blue for the steps power?

    "I like blue"

    Hey Mano, how do you say "Don't Shrug" in Spanish?
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Oct 30, 2013
    I really don't think they exist either. It's like trying to get a schematic for your house, there isn't one because the wiring is just ran as needed. There's just no need to document such a simple operation and trouble shooting any one circuit is done with basic skills.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2013
    Bob Landry wrote:
    ...how the wiring is done is determined by the guy doing the wiring on the production floor on that particular day....


    Most likely correct answer. Each trailer will be at least slightly different on the same assembly line.

    Although at some point someone designed the wiring system, the builders do whatever they want as long as it works.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Oct 30, 2013
    I think he was telling the truth about being wired however the guy doing it did it that day.
    The closest thing I have seen was a schematic diagram provided by Cardinal (not mine). But it was just that, a schematic diagram not a wiring diagram. And a schematic diagram does not provide much information on how the actual wiring is connected and routed unless it a single point to single point wire.
    When new I had a problem with intermitten operation of the refrigerator. Still under warranty so returned to dealer. Took a while but they finally figured out the refrigerator power was wired off the ceiling fan switch. Fan on/fridge worked, fan off/fridge did not work. :S
    Service manager could not get a wiring diagram for me from manufacturer.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2013
    I asked the question of my dealer about a year ago. The response was that if they had questions about wiring, Keystone would provide them info IF they were doing the work, not for release to customers.
  • wkswenson's avatar
    wkswenson
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2013
    Yes they are mostly all the same. I have seen/heard of some higher end mfg releasing them. I created my own for the CC unit we have.... And I would agree with the "it is wired based on who ever is wiring that day" based on some comparison between two CC38FLs we have looked at...

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,239 PostsLatest Activity: Apr 25, 2025