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dirt-rider · 05-15-2016, 12:13 AM

I need help. I removed both house batts and start batts. Now for the life of me can't remember how to reconnect them. I have a 2001 national islander. Can someone walk me through what wires go to what batts!!
Thanks

vsheetz · 05-15-2016, 01:19 AM

What do you have for batteries? Two 6 volt batteries for house, and one 12 volt battery for chassis? Or some other combination?

dan-nickie · 05-15-2016, 03:51 AM

Someone emailed you a picture in July of last year when you had the same problem. Maybe you can find that email.

shiggs68 · 05-15-2016, 05:42 AM

Posting a picture of the cables and batteries may help get some better responses.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum
TravellingRVDoctor, LLC

dirt-rider · 05-15-2016, 07:58 AM

Hi, I have two 12 volt for house and one 12 volt for start. Yes, there was a pic sent, however could not get a clear pic. Do start batts go on the right side? Obvious the neg and positive cables from the starter go to start batts, but what other cables? Once I can get that info, all other cables go to house batt. I have searched both the web and this site with no luck.

FIRE UP · 05-15-2016, 09:37 AM

Maybe I'm looking at this too simply.

But, you've got about the simplest of battery arrangements possible. Two 12V for house and one for starting, correct? Well, since just about every motorhome on the planet uses regular 12VDC for house ops, i.e. lights, furnace, water pump, some fridges, etc., then that would simply mean, all the red cables for the house batteries, would go to the positive posts on the the house batteries. It would make things just a tad more difficult it you had two 6V batteries 'cause you'd have some cross wiring of a couple of cables to add to the mix. But, you don't. So, it seems to me, everything should be pretty straight forward.

And, that would also mean all the black cables would go to the negative batteries. If, there's a short set of connector cables that link the positives together then it's obvious where they go and, the same for the negative side of things.

Now, as for you starting, that too seems ultra simple. Normally, you'd have one red and one black. But, in many cases in motor homes, smaller peripheral cables are added to each terminal as after thoughts or, just because that's the way the coach builder decides to do things. Again, I'm just looking at this situation as logical as I can, without seeing your particular battery cable/wiring setup.
Scott

TQ60 · 05-15-2016, 10:00 AM

Try this.

Get a voltmeter, a roll of masking tape, sharpie pen, pencil and a very large sheet of paper.

First action is label each and every wire.

Place a tape flag on each wire and name them
Does not matter...1, 2 , 3 or r1, b2 but use large easy to see lettering...why the sharpie is suggested.

Next determine which are grounds.

Seems simple but not so much...A friend had a battery shop change batteries due to location and weight and the battery shop left off the ground wire from the converter...It was a home run cable back to inverter that we had to trace to verify. ..You will as well.

Get your voltmeter and set to ohms and confirm it works.

Now attach one wire to a shiny spot and check every wire for continuity.

All wires will have some measurement but only the ones with near ZERO ohms matter.

These should be black but could be anything...maybe large white.

Large red are usually main feeds

If you have a power panel with selenoids that are labeled look for the one for starting or engine and connect meter to the battery connection then check wires to locate it.

Repeat for other.

The little wires will be more difficult so wait on those.

Once you determine all grounds and main large wires connect them to the correct batteries.

The small wires could be either but the ones that look factory meaning rubber coated connector likely goes to engine and aftermarket just crimped in go to cabin.

Connect the small wires one at a time and go inside to see what now works.

Remember to turn on the battery switch and the cabin battery may power that device.

Keeping notes?

Remember to record everything on paper as you go.

When finished you should know what each small wire does and can ask here for guidance to which battery to connect it to.

Note:there should NOT be many wires connected directly to the batteries as that defeats the ability to disconnect them remotely.

So your next step may be to determine proper place to connect them.

Suspect PO may have added things that caused battery drain by connecting direct to battery and not a controlled buss.

dan-nickie · 05-15-2016, 03:49 PM

This video has a shot of the batteries.
https://youtu.be/7016p4AWCZ4

dirt-rider · 05-16-2016, 08:33 PM

Thank you all for your responses! Will try all suggested. I guess what I'm asking is on my RV there are cables going to my inverter/converter shut offs and control panel. Trying to find out what cables from those to my batts. House and chassis.
Thanks