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Old 08-07-2020, 10:34 AM   #1
Rainlocker
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New Battery - Which Wires Go Where?

Speaking of being "Back in the Saddle", the Bride and I are planning to hit the road next week and with that in mind making the necessary preparations. One of which was replacing a dead battery "single" RV battery to my 2014 Keystone Montana. But, did novice move of not taking a picture of how it was hooked up. Three wires -- easy right...wrong. I'm having a heck of time hooking this "single" RV battery up to engage my LCI Levelling Controller. As stated, I have three wires, Black, White, and Red. Thinking Black and White were negative and obviously Red being positive easy peasy. Nope. Please will someone enlighten this old man. Thanks, Rainlocer
 
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Old 08-07-2020, 11:52 AM   #2
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As another poster mentioned, take some pictures and post them.
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Old 08-07-2020, 11:52 AM   #3
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Whatever color wire they used for ground will be screwed right to the metal/frame beside the battery. On mine they used white as ground. On mine, black is positive and it goes from positive battery to one of the self resetting automotive breakers mounted low on the back wall of the compartment. Why three wires on yours is unknown to me as my 2013 does not have three. You will probably have blown the four 25 amp converter protection fuses in your converter if you hooked the battery backwards.
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Old 08-07-2020, 12:04 PM   #4
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Whatever color wire they used for ground will be screwed right to the metal/frame beside the battery. On mine they used white as ground. On mine, black is positive and it goes from positive battery to one of the self resetting automotive breakers mounted low on the back wall of the compartment. Why three wires on yours is unknown to me as my 2013 does not have three. You will probably have blown the four 25 amp converter protection fuses in your converter if you hooked the battery backwards.
Thanks for the reply. Nope, checked all four 25amp fuses and they good to go. Black to positive and white to negative and that's what is written on the door, but am curious which terminal the red wire goes. I believe its coming from the generator, but I got caught up with normal color codes: Black negative, Red positive, White neutral. Every time I put the White to the negative my LCI Level Controller doesn't work, take it off and it works. Just scared to put the white to the positive terminal. Rainlocker
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Old 08-07-2020, 04:32 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Rainlocker View Post
Thanks for the reply. Nope, checked all four 25amp fuses and they good to go. Black to positive and white to negative and that's what is written on the door, but am curious which terminal the red wire goes. I believe its coming from the generator, but I got caught up with normal color codes: Black negative, Red positive, White neutral. Every time I put the White to the negative my LCI Level Controller doesn't work, take it off and it works. Just scared to put the white to the positive terminal. Rainlocker
I would be scared too, I would not put the white to positive. Trace the wires before you let the smoke out.

There is not a neutral in a DC system. Usually with RV's, white is ground (unlike most automotive applications where black is ground). Trace the red wire, it probably should go to positive. How big is it? Doubt it goes to the generator. Pictures?
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Old 08-07-2020, 04:54 PM   #6
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Thanks all to the replies. All is good now. I had to adjust me mind about Black and Red, Black and White the mixture of the two. I'm used to Black and Red with systems using a battery versus Black and White being associated with home electrical wiring. Once I got that unboxed in my mind I got it connected correctly and all is well. Black to positive, White to negative and the third wire, Red, to positive. The Red was the power wire coming from my onboard generator. Pictures and wording will now be added to my RV's operational handbook. Note to self, take photos first then rip it apart! Thank you all. Rainlocker
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Old 08-07-2020, 07:27 PM   #7
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Good job! Congrats on getting it working. Welcome to the forum.
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