Community Forums

lsalem · 08-02-2021, 12:37 PM

Can anyone tell me what the second cable is for. It arcs pretty good when I try and connect it. I think it may be grounded. I have 12v power to all the house No power back to the generator. I'm assuming Its the power back to start the generator.
I'm pretty handy with a VOM and a test light don't see anything obvious. This one has got me stumped.
2003 Allegro DB 8.1 vortec W 22 chasses.

twinboat · 08-02-2021, 01:02 PM

It could be the generator or the cable to the boost solenoid.

donr103 · 08-02-2021, 09:10 PM

Well i guess that big of wire is just too hard to visually trace? So just guessing use continually setting on vom, and hold one end on cable and one on ground and see if beeps.. that should be 1st test.. next is signal tracer.. does gen start? Good luck let us know what you did and maybe better members then me will help you

UFO Pilot · 08-02-2021, 09:11 PM

Why is that black tape on it? I have seen people mark red cables with black tape to indicate that the cable is really negative. I have also seen the opposite, red tape on black cables. If the RV is new to you that is something to check. Just my opinion.

LindsayG · 08-03-2021, 08:23 AM

I’m with UFO Pilot – that looks like someone has run red cable and wrapped black tape to show that it’s a ground.

I had one one of those on my rig which threw me at first. I ended up re-running it with black – it was only 6 ft – and then traced all of the cables and labeled them.

I hate not knowing what goes where and why.

lsalem · 08-03-2021, 11:03 AM

Both red cables are positive. I had a problem and trashed my batteries. Both red cables were on the positive terminal before now it arcs VOM shows that it is grounded somewhere. Just dot know where.
Here's what I know for sure.
Generator wont start. No power to it.
Engine battery charging from alternator at 14.2V. House batteries not charging from alternator.
Had a call in to Tiffen To see if I could get a wiring diagram. Was told to try and get ahold of a fella named Don Boyd. Was told he knows quite a bit about the older coaches.

LindsayG · 08-04-2021, 03:08 AM

Isalem, can you disconnect the positive from the generator terminals? That would at least eliminate a short within the generator, let you check the cable itself, and give you a chance to tag the cable.

lsalem · 08-04-2021, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindsayG

Isalem, can you disconnect the positive from the generator terminals? That would at least eliminate a short within the generator, let you check the cable itself, and give you a chance to tag the cable.

LindsayG I have done just that. Tiffen did call me back and Mr. Boyd tried his best to help me out. They do not keep any records or at least very few for older coaches. Best he can remember that cable goes back to the generator and runs along the frame rails.
Bottom line is to crawl under and trace the cable back to the generator.

LindsayG · 08-04-2021, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsalem

LindsayG I have done just that. Tiffen did call me back and Mr. Boyd tried his best to help me out. They do not keep any records or at least very few for older coaches. Best he can remember that cable goes back to the generator and runs along the frame rails.
Bottom line is to crawl under and trace the cable back to the generator.

Yeah, getting any detail on the old builds seems nigh on impossible. My son worked for Avida in Australia building motorhomes and he tells me that they keep floor plans but bugger-all else.

I had to rewire the 240VAC and cabin control lines to my Onan 5KVA generator after an inner-rear tyre blowout. Pain in the bum! All nicely labeled though now.

Best if luck

lsalem · 08-06-2021, 01:07 PM

Up date;
Had a friend help me with troubleshooting this problem. Picthred below is what we found towards the rear of the coach by the generator.
It seems that the power wire was run over the frame rail and they built the house on top of it. So after years of rocking and rolling it wore through the insulation and shorted out. Pic is sideways but you can see the burn if you enlarge the pic.
Fairly easy fix with heavy duty wire cutters and a mechanical coupling.
Back in business genny is running.