Forum Discussion

Backyarddad's avatar
Backyarddad
Explorer
Jun 10, 2023

rookie mistake

So I'm just posting this so others remember to not make my mistake.
I'm restoring my 1991 Dutchmen Classic I just picked up. Had water leaks and I tore the kitchen out to start upgrading and restoring. I have my new cupboards,sink and new flooring all ready. Windows were all taken out and cleaned up and resealed. Rewired the kitchen light and couldn't for the life of me figure out why I wasn't getting it to work. Bought a new 12v light and still didn't work. At this point overthinking came into play and I figured well I have new paneling for the walls what's just one more panel and rip down the ceiling panel and check the wiring. Found a chewed wire from a mouse! Yea I fixed it right? Nope didn't fix it. Wasn't until I am in bed, sun burnt and messing around on my phone when it hit me. Black is not ground, black is my hot 12v and even worse I never took my meter off AC volts. Yup. Lesson learned. Always step back and look at basics first.
  • NamMedevac_70's avatar
    NamMedevac_70
    Explorer II
    Jun 11, 2023
    TXiceman wrote:
    On the various RVs we have owned, I have found no constant color coding, other than green for a ground wire. Sometimes black is hot on 12 vdc and other times black is negative. I ALWAYS check the wiring with a voltmeter Or trace the wire back to the source.

    Better safe than sorry.

    Ken


    I agree and another mark against the lousy RV manufacturers. My good quality 2003 R Vision Trail Cruiser TT built by Monaco Coach had none of these issues. Corporate raiders have done serious damage to many good quality products in the USA. I enjoy reading their tycoon obits in the WSJ and other business magazines and looking forward to seeing Geor
  • TXiceman's avatar
    TXiceman
    Explorer II
    Jun 10, 2023
    On the various RVs we have owned, I have found no constant color coding, other than green for a ground wire. Sometimes black is hot on 12 vdc and other times black is negative. I ALWAYS check the wiring with a voltmeter Or trace the wire back to the source.

    Better safe than sorry.

    Ken
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jun 10, 2023
    it happens to all of us, but you got it! :S

    There are no wiring color standards or inspections for a RV. There may be a practice by a mfg until they run out of that color and they will not hold up production waiting for the "correct" color.

    Most of the DC wiring in my MH is white both positive and negative and mostly marked as to usage. :h The larger wires are generally red and black and not marked.

About Travel Trailer Group

44,029 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 28, 2025