House batteries

smoker · 01-11-2011, 01:49 PM

house batteries, i have a 99 dsdp. with 4 deep cycle house batteries, and i need to know if someone can help me with the white wires on the batteries, there are four, two are about 8 gauge and two are about 12 gauge, the two 8 gague are single wires that go to the ground on the house batteries, but the two 12 gague are in a terminal together and i don't know if they go to the ground or to the hot post..i know that the two 8 gauge, are ground for sure because when i touch them to the + post they arch, but the two 12 gauge don't arch then they are connected to the + post.. any advice would be appricated.. all four wires come out of the same jacket, although they are sperate wires..
thanks for the help... smoker

gmccausland · 01-11-2011, 02:49 PM

Smoker I have a 99 Dutch Star DP as well. I have the coach stored nearby and was planniing on checking it tomorrow to knock snow off the cover and pull the batteries for charging. I can take a photo and try to email it to you or post it here. Hopefully you will an answer before I get back to you, but I will try to get to you tomorrow.

I checked my notes and I have four(4) golf cart batteries connected for the house and two(2) 12C for the chassis. Cables may not be exactly the same as yours, but I will post it for you anyway as it may help you or someone else.

smoker · 01-11-2011, 04:10 PM

Gmccausland, thanks for the quick reply, if you could send pictures, that would be great, sounds like that you have the same setup that i have two 12 volt, and four 6 volt d.c. house batteries. if you can just email the pictures to barrettjakie@hotmail.com i removed the batteries last year and took pictures and put them back in the spring, but they seem to be going dead fast, and i had them all check last fall. they all check out good.. but seems like something is draining them.. and i have everything shut off..

maybe i can return the favor sometime,, as i have learn a lot about this, and still have a lot to learn.. haha
thanks smoker

gmccausland · 01-11-2011, 08:59 PM

Smoker:
No problem. I have only had my coach since July and when I went to check batteries and start generator, the house batteries were low on voltage. I have an issue with the battery tray as it was not strong enough to hold all the weight of the current battery setup. I am working on a design to replace the tray this spring. I will post pictures for all of us to share as I have learned a lot on this web site and hope to contribute.

I will send the pictures directly to your email

wa8yxm · 01-12-2011, 07:42 AM

Can not hep you sort them out save to suggest you trace them. Alas, there are guidelines for 12 volt circuits but they are DIFFERENT from the house 120v standard and motor homes often confuse them so I won't even mention what they are.

I will suggest this: Once you get them properly connnected get two cans of spray paint, one red, one black

Spray the positive wires RED,,,,

Spray the NEgative black

Over spray onto the batteries themselves... not a bad thign as it will remind you which end is which.

smoker · 01-12-2011, 07:51 AM

THANKS FOR THE TIP ON THE SPRAY PAINT, GOOD IDEAL

gmccausland · 01-12-2011, 02:25 PM

Smoker. I was called into work today and did not get your photos. I will go over tomorrow morning and email them to you. Sorry buddy, I was supposed to be off this week, but darn clients you know! Gotta work so I have money to feed this hobby!

I will also look close at the color coding of wires and see if it matches mine, but the coaches are old enough and both had previous owners, who knows WHAT they plugged into the cables.

smoker · 01-12-2011, 02:32 PM

No problem, i got the rest of my life,, ha you are right, maybe we can help each other out..if you have any questions, just ask I maybe able to help or not.. have done a lot of work on this unit.

**"007"** · 01-14-2011, 12:42 PM

Thanks for sharing gmccausland will appreciate the pictures.

smoker · 01-14-2011, 03:39 PM

Thank you! you don't know how long it took me to get that pasted in there..lol That was taken in Buffalo River National Park, in Oct. 2010.

gmccausland · 01-17-2011, 05:24 PM

007
I have the pictures, making some adaptions to them and hope to post tonight. Still have to go back and clean terminals but it was 15 degrees and snowing so I said forget it! Next sunny day...... Love the winter EXCEPT when I have to work on motorhome as it is stored outside. That pole barn may happen sooner than later!