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battery cables

ranankay
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 1997 Fleetwood Southwind 35' wide body 450/454, with two 12 volt batteries and I think there's an extra cable hooked up to the positive side of my motor battery.
Having electrical problems and the mechanic thinks there's an extra cable on the positive post instead of being hooked to the coach battery. I sure could use a photo from someone who has a like RV to send me a pic of the proper hook up. It's costing $93 per hour and I need help lol. Thanks folks
14 REPLIES 14

ranankay
Explorer
Explorer
WEll just for information to all those in the future who this might help. Here's what we found and done. The last mechanic put the wire to the slide {slide wire} from the coach battery to the motor battery which is wrong, the slide needs to be able to run from the 12 volt coach battery system.
#2 There was a wire bad running from the slide so that was replaced.
#3 the brake switch for the emergency brake was faulty not connecting well and had to be replaced, this had to be ordered, so I'm still waiting on the bill ,but expect everything to be in working order soon .
Thanks for all the help you guys are great.
Randall

BigBlockTank
Explorer
Explorer
I was a certified RVIA tech, so I know how some of the techs are. I wish you the best tech support to get it repaired and get you back on the road as soon as you'd like!!!

ranankay
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks Bigblocktank I'm sure he does I'm the one whos ignorant and making an ass u me he doesn't know how lol. I think it's well in hand now with the pro. thanks

BigBlockTank
Explorer
Explorer
ranankay wrote:
Thanks for all the replys but I had to retire for the night, I forget this goes all across the country.
I have used the wrong word to explain my problem by saying "extra wire"it isn't an extra wire its just I think it got placed on the wrong battery by mistake and thats causing my electrical problems. Like the slide not going in or out the levelers not going up and down. With my slide out I couldn't move the coach. The mechanic came out to me yesterday and jumped the slide motor under the coach and got it to move back in, now I'm recharging my motor battery and this am will be able to drive it down to him for tracing it out and repairing the problem I hope. Can't figure out why a brand new motor battery would discharge with a battery charger hooked to my coach battery and a land line hooked to the coach. I just wanted to see a picture of the proper wiring to each battery as a guide line for him "mechanic" to make it easier. that way I could tell what is normal .
Thanks folks for all the help Randy


If he's any kind of a RV mechanic, he shouldn't need a picture. He should be able to trace wires, test circuits, etc, and find the problem. But, some "mechanics" don't know how to do that.

ranankay
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for all the replys but I had to retire for the night, I forget this goes all across the country.
I have used the wrong word to explain my problem by saying "extra wire"it isn't an extra wire its just I think it got placed on the wrong battery by mistake and thats causing my electrical problems. Like the slide not going in or out the levelers not going up and down. With my slide out I couldn't move the coach. The mechanic came out to me yesterday and jumped the slide motor under the coach and got it to move back in, now I'm recharging my motor battery and this am will be able to drive it down to him for tracing it out and repairing the problem I hope. Can't figure out why a brand new motor battery would discharge with a battery charger hooked to my coach battery and a land line hooked to the coach. I just wanted to see a picture of the proper wiring to each battery as a guide line for him "mechanic" to make it easier. that way I could tell what is normal .
Thanks folks for all the help Randy

FIRE_UP
Explorer
Explorer
Executive wrote:
Is it a CABLE or a WIRE??:h

Cable should be #2 or bigger. Wire should be 12 or 10ga. could be a fusible link.....if it's smaller than a 12ga wire it would indicate an accessory...Dennis


Yeah Dennis,
That was going to be my next question but, we'll see what he says, if and when he returns with an answer.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
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Executive45
Explorer III
Explorer III
Is it a CABLE or a WIRE??:h

Cable should be #2 or bigger. Wire should be 12 or 10ga. could be a fusible link.....if it's smaller than a 12ga wire it would indicate an accessory...Dennis
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Passin_Thru
Explorer
Explorer
He hasn't been back since he asked. Maybe he didn't want an answer.

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
What kind of electrical problems are you having?

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

FIRE_UP
Explorer
Explorer
ranakay,
Well Sir, in my opinion, you need to get that $93 dollar an hour to do his job an that is, investigate just EXACTLY where he thinks that "extra" cable goes. We can all send suggestions about where we think it might be going but, that does not do you any good. There are so many possibilities of where it might go and for what purpose, it would be really difficult for us to accurately tell you what it might be for.

Many electrical problems are hard to diagnose but, simply tracing a cable, from a battery post, is certainly not that difficult.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4x4 Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
There is normally two cables on GM platforms. One goes to the battery disconnect and the other goes to the starter solenoid.
The charge relay is normally located in the battery control center under the hood driver's side. There is also an ignition relay located there to apply power to Fleetwood installed items.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

BigBlockTank
Explorer
Explorer
Let me ask the obvious question.....where does that cable go? Where does it attach to? That would be a simple answer, to me.
On any electrical issue, I go from the known to the unknown. You know it has a cable, find the unknown to where it goes. I would think that would be a fairly simple fix.

DSDP_Don
Explorer
Explorer
It may be going to the isolator that charges both house and coach batteries.
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 - All Electric
2019 Ford Raptor Crew Cab

RV_Jim
Explorer II
Explorer II
Probably goes to a relay and then to your coach batteries
When your engine is running it will charge your coach batteries