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09-19-2011, 04:21 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Jayco Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
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Which is hot wire - white or black?
Trying to wire up a CB radio. The manufacturer made it easy, the antenna and electrical wiring is bundled under the dash for me, but I can't remember which is 'hot' and which is ground. I seem to remember RV manufacturers do their own thing.
The CB side is easy. Red is hot, black is ground. On the RV side I have a white and a black wire. Which is ground/hot?
Thanks,
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Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
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09-19-2011, 04:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Ford Super Duty Owner Carolina Campers
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,266
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For 120V, black is hot. Not sure about 12v. Use a volt meter or test light to make sure.
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09-19-2011, 04:31 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 606
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My guess would be black is hot and white is ground. But to make sure, I would use my multimeter and test each of the wires. First, one lead of the multimeter the black wire and the other multimeter lead to a metal (frame) ground. If you don't have a voltage reading then replace the black wire with the white wire.
If you don't get any voltage reading from either wire I would place the ignition switch in the "ON" position and try the test again.
__________________
2004 Damon Escaper 4076
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09-19-2011, 04:33 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramblin
For 120V, black is hot. Not sure about 12v. Use a volt meter or test light to make sure.
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For 12volts Black is always ground. For 120 Black is hot, white and bare wire go to ground.
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2006 Damon Daybreak 3274 35' Ford F53 V-10
2006 Ion Retired Navy, FAA and PASS Union VP
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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09-19-2011, 04:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Conway, SC
Posts: 828
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Since all manufacturers build to their own systems I would use a meter to check.
Best guess Black is power, White is ground.
My Winnebago has yellow for power, white for ground
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2002 Winnebago Ultimate Advantage 40J, Roadmaster InvisiBrake Model 8700
2012 Chevy Captiva
NEVER FORGET
"Everyone Goes Home"
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09-19-2011, 04:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,365
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shellback1
For 12volts Black is always ground. For 120 Black is hot, white and bare wire go to ground.
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That's the way it should be.
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2021 Trail Runner 211rd 25'
2015 GMC Canyon
Mark & Carole Big Bear, Ca. RVM 54
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09-19-2011, 04:59 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Ford Super Duty Owner Carolina Campers
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,266
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...and so, you can invest in a $5 test light at wal mart, or you can risk a $120 CB and go with the assumption that black is ground. Hey, you have a 50% chance of being right!
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09-19-2011, 05:28 PM
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#8
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Administrator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
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Remember, the only thing consistent about RV manufacturers is their inconsistency!
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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09-19-2011, 05:44 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Almond, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,512
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Jay bring her over and i'll hook her up for you and then we can go to Two Lakes for supper to celebrate.
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2006 Monaco Camelot 40 PAQ 400ISL - Toad Jeep Grand Cherokee - DW is the Nagivator. Retired to travel and everything revolves around the price of diesel.
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09-19-2011, 06:07 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Merritt, BC
Posts: 3,753
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Jay, does this coach have a dedicated connector panel like your Tiffin did? If so that should give you the color of the hot wire. If nothing else check and see what color the wires are going to your ground buss bar.
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Bob, Sherron & Kinsey (RIP 2013-2022)
2017 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited
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09-19-2011, 06:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mcdonough, Ga.
Posts: 5,932
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When working with 12volts. Black and white: black is hot.......Red and black:red is hot..... In fifteen years, I have never seen Fleetwood, Gulfstream, or Allegro do it any other way.
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1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
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09-19-2011, 06:28 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Jayco Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvjimmy
Jay bring her over and i'll hook her up for you and then we can go to Two Lakes for supper to celebrate.
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Would take you up on that, but I'm no longer in Pine River. We sold the house, closed on the sale just before Labor Day. Right now I'm parked on the camp host site at one of the Dane County (Madison) parks.
...and my test light isn't working.
I seem to remember that black is hot (opposite of what most would expect - which is why I'm asking). As the answers are all over the place I sent a note to American Coach. Hope to have an answer in the AM. Otherwise, the installation is complete.
__________________
Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
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09-19-2011, 06:29 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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I will join the "USE A METER" chorus... Though Generally on an RV if you are dealing with HOUSE wiring, black is hot, since they are wired by electricians, not electronics or automotive techinicians..
Under the dash it is often wired to the auto standard.. RED is usually hooked to the battery, black is usually the chassis, and other colors are .. You need a scorecard to tell (Schematic)
Since you can not know for sure which crew put that wire in there.. USE A METER!
Since the key word in the above is USUALLY... USE A METER.
That is the only way to be sure.
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Home is where I park it!
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09-19-2011, 06:39 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Almond, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,512
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Jay whats the name of the park as I have camped at a few down there, and how long are you going to be there. Like one guy said you have a 50/50 chance of being right, what's going to happen if your wrong the 2 amp fuze on the CB will blow and you get a new fuze.
__________________
2006 Monaco Camelot 40 PAQ 400ISL - Toad Jeep Grand Cherokee - DW is the Nagivator. Retired to travel and everything revolves around the price of diesel.
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