Uuuggghhhh! I screwed up!

[Anmacc2]

Yep, stupid mistake... Getting ready for a 7000 mile trip so I installed a new deep cycle heavy duty battery on the TT. Now the stupid part. I wasn't paying attention and reversed the positive and negative. :o. The refrigerator won't work now. When I try to turn it on all the indicator lights come on. Power, Auto, Gas, AC, Battry.... But the fridge doesn't choose one or come on. :S Called the dealer and he said he's booked till May but I begged and cajoled and he said I can bring it in Tuesday. Everything else seems to be working. What else might I have fried? What else should I look for? What should I have him check? I could kick myself for such a rookie mistake....

[Selkie]

I did the same thing,went through the same diagnostics. Turned out that hooking up the batteries wrong fried my fridge control panel. Expensive lesson.

[enblethen]

Electrical installation is one of the major problems with RV manufacturers. They do not follow the appropriate sections of the NEC.
Many portions of RVs and RV parks of NEC 551 is followed.
However they do not follow NEC Art 200 where white and grey wires are to be used for neutrals only.

[westend]

One easy way to mark wires is with shrink wrap, code it to any two colors you wish. I use red and black.

[CavemanCharlie]

enblethen wrote:
Batteries should be marked positive and negative with the symbols either "-" for negative and "+" for positive. The cables and wires coming off the batteries should be marked. Normal way is to use electrical marking tape. Red for positive and Black for negative with in six inches of connection.

The last couple of campers I've owned have back and white wires for connections to the battery. They came from the factory that way.

[enblethen]

Batteries should be marked positive and negative with the symbols either "-" for negative and "+" for positive. The cables and wires coming off the batteries should be marked. Normal way is to use electrical marking tape. Red for positive and Black for negative with in six inches of connection.

[nineoaks2004]

I coat the top of the positive battery post with bright red finger nail polish on all of my batteries, that makes it easy to see which pole is which.
BTW: the reverse polarity fuse on my TT is a large 30 amp green fuse in the power panel, I have never blown it but I carry a spare for it anyway.

[profdant139]

Great news! Glad to hear things are going to work out.

Many auto parts stores sell these red and green felt washers that slip over the battery terminals so that you have a color-coded guide to prevent reversing the polarity. It has always worked for me. So far, anyway.

[Anmacc2]

enblethen wrote:
Make and model of refer would help.
Since it is getting power to the display panel the refer is getting power.
Disconnected from shore power.
Disconnect battery.
Locate the battery fuse in the 12 Volt DC panel.
Connect battery up.
Use volt meter to check for 12 volts DC to bat fuse holder.
No power? Check fuse or circuit breaker near the battery. Could be in battery box, along frame rail under front of trailer or in junction box where the Battery cable, umbilical cord and trailer wiring comes together.
Another way disconnect from shore power.
Disconnect battery.
Plug into shore power. Check for 12 volts DC in 12 power distribution panel.
No power. Replace or test, do not look, at reverse polarity fuses.
Post make and model of converter.

Okay so.... Did this in order. The only problem was the reverse polarity fuses (2) were blown. Replaced them. Everything works but refer. Still doing the same thing. Checked for fuses in the circuit board, none. Checked for connection problems, none. Checked outside panel, none. So, I will bring it in on Tuesday. Tech says it's under warranty so don't sweat it and he'll have it back to me within two weeks which works with our travel plans. Thanks everyone!!!

[Steeljag]

I did the same thing a few years ago " rushing " to hook things up the night before leaving for a trip. The reverse hook up was for about 30 minutes before I realized the error! The panel fuse did its job .....thank goodness!

I now have a piece of bright orange surveying tape on the positive cable !!

Good luck !

[Anmacc2]

WOW! Thank you! I will get out there first thing in the morning and systematically follow all of your suggestions! Will keep you posted! You are all awesome to be so concerned and helpful!

[newman_fulltime]

check the fuse at the batt

[enblethen]

Make and model of refer would help.
Since it is getting power to the display panel the refer is getting power.
Disconnected from shore power.
Disconnect battery.
Locate the battery fuse in the 12 Volt DC panel.
Connect battery up.
Use volt meter to check for 12 volts DC to bat fuse holder.
No power? Check fuse or circuit breaker near the battery. Could be in battery box, along frame rail under front of trailer or in junction box where the Battery cable, umbilical cord and trailer wiring comes together.
Another way disconnect from shore power.
Disconnect battery.
Plug into shore power. Check for 12 volts DC in 12 power distribution panel.
No power. Replace or test, do not look, at reverse polarity fuses.
Post make and model of converter.

[westend]

Check all fuses and circuit breakers including the one located closest to your battery. If you tripped that main battery breaker and blew the converter's reverse polarity fuse, you won't have any 12V power to the fridge.

[hohenwald48]

There are frequently some fuses on the refer control board too. I would also disconnect power (don't just turn it off from the front panel) from the refer by either removing the main fuse or the fuse that provides power to the refer. Let it sit for a minute or so and repower. You may get lucky and you just confused the control board.

Converter reverse polarity protection fuses are usually located on the converter itself and not on the main fuse panel.

Find a mobile tech (local campgrounds usually know a couple) and save yourself the hassle of hauling it to the dealer. If your dealer knows what you did it will likely not be a warranty repair anyway.

[MFL]

SoundGuy wrote:
I would have thought that a relatively new rig such as yours would have a converter with a reverse polarity fuse, the purpose of which is to blow if you inadvertently hook the battery up backwards. If so though I would have thought you'd have no 12 vdc power at all ... nonetheless, have you checked for a blown reverse polarity fuse? :@

I agree, and certainly you are not the first to do this. I would look for circuit breaker, or fuse, like mentioned. It really should not be that big of deal.

Good luck!
Jerry