|
|
06-26-2012, 09:31 AM
|
#1
|
Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Williamsport, PA
Posts: 77
|
12 volt systems....which is ground?
So I've got a light I want to tap onto for a power outlet....the wires coming into it are red and black.....and the red wire is the one going to the switch..I don't want to fry my tire monitor repeater...thanks!!
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
06-26-2012, 09:34 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Full time RV'er
Posts: 5,126
|
Typically, Red is + (positive) and Black is - (ground).
Best way to tell is with a digital meter...available at almost any store for under $10.
|
|
|
06-26-2012, 09:34 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Some Place
Posts: 1,161
|
On a 12V DC system... Red is normally + (HOT) and Black is normally - (Ground)
__________________
1999 Fleetwood Bounder 32H Many Places Full Time No Dog * No Cat * No Co-Pilot
|
|
|
06-26-2012, 11:44 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
|
I will also echo this... However:
in house wiring red can be many things, usually all hot or part time hot anyway.
Black is also hot
WHITE is neutral and bonded to ground at the service entrance.
GREEN or bare is ground
RV's are wired by house electricians.
So though in your case it is very likely that the red wire is the hot wire.
A digital volt meter or a "Polarity tester" (I made one of those long time ago, you can not find them in stores so I won't bother describing) is the only way to be sure.
As much as I've worked on this house's electrical systems.
I always measure before I connect.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
|
|
|
06-26-2012, 12:04 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Lyons, GA
Posts: 769
|
In our 87 black is "hot" 12v and white is ground. That is for the 12 volt buss. And
I grumble every time I have to troubleshoot some thing because I have to stop and verify every wire because they also used black for "hot" 120vac and white for neutral/ground 120vac. And do not get me started on the wire nuts....
|
|
|
06-26-2012, 02:43 PM
|
#6
|
Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
|
You never know with an RV, so it is best to get an volt-ohm meter and check for polarity.
Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
|
|
|
06-26-2012, 03:30 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 144
|
I think on mine they grabbed the nearest roll of wire, the wire size is large everywhere, and ran very neatly and wrapped, but I have found there is NO pattern to +/- anywhere, my courtesy lights are red (-) black (+) then right next to that switch the bedroom stereo is green (+) orange (-) I have to get my multimeter out to do anything and write it down on a card as I check system polarity, then I put the card in my folder.
__________________
1990 34' Hawkins Motor Coach, Oshkosh/460 Ford EFI. '97 Subaru Impreza 5 speed towd, NorthEast Alabama.
|
|
|
06-26-2012, 04:11 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
|
I wired in a map reading light beside the passenger seat. Picked up the wiring to the porch/handle. Now when ever I turn on the porch/handle light the reading light goes out! I really should rewire it but it's hard to get to as I have to remove a large grab handle and side panel.
Oh well!
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
|
|
|
06-27-2012, 07:47 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: somewhere in the west
Posts: 1,168
|
It do not matter, all connections should be tested MY YOU prior to any work being done!
Ed
|
|
|
06-27-2012, 10:05 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
|
Years ago there was a problem with cars, with the new plastic dashes, having the 12 volt lighter/acc socket wired.... backwards.
So I got a lighter socket plug, a resistor of the proper size and a 3 color 2 lead LED from Radio Shack (They carried those back then)
The circuit is simple.. Center pin of plug----Resistor---LED---Plug "Ground"
Hooked it up and tested it to make sure LED was instealled correctly before soldering
Now,, If I plug it in and it's GREEN.. That's good
If it's RED, That is bad
and if it's Yellow: That's AC, not DC (Very bad)
__________________
Home is where I park it!
|
|
|
06-27-2012, 01:27 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 606
|
I agree with most of the others that the RED wire is the "hot" wire. I also believe it's the RED wire because you indicated it ran to a switch. I have never seen any switches that were wired in series with ground or neutral.
__________________
2004 Damon Escaper 4076
|
|
|
06-27-2012, 01:44 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Lyons, GA
Posts: 769
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by randco
I agree with most of the others that the RED wire is the "hot" wire. I also believe it's the RED wire because you indicated it ran to a switch. I have never seen any switches that were wired in series with ground or neutral.
|
Not all builders use red as the hot. In my rig it's black or white or yellow. no red anywhere. And a quick example of a switch wired on the ground side-neutral safety switch on a automatic transmission or a oil pressure switch. And I believe (not sure) that standard house wiring uses red as a "hot 120" after a switch to show it is not always on but is a switched 120vac.
|
|
|
06-27-2012, 02:49 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bluff Dale, TX
Posts: 624
|
Use a multimeter. It is right every time.
__________________
Most RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered.
2000 National Sea Breeze F53
1998 CRV Toad
|
|
|
06-27-2012, 03:22 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
|
I've seen a lot of things that were wired hot to the device and had a switched ground.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|