I vaguely thought I remembered the red to positive and the other two to negative. But, when I hook it up like this the lights are dim and do not charge when I plugged into 110. Everything works except the lights and furnace. My converter is only a couple years old. Since I wasn't very sure about the wire connections, I'm thinking it had to be that I don't have them on correctly.
I've tried followiing the wires but it is very difficult as they seem to disappear under the floor. Like a car, would the negative actually go the frame?
Is there a way to figure this out using a multimeter?
Thanks in advance for any help!
2. hook up battery
3. turn on any fan
4. IF it spins correctly
ELSE
reverse wires
ENDIF
DONE
2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31
Are all wires the same size (gauge)?
Find a lamp or something you can attach a loooooooooooong jumper wire to
CHASSIS NEGATIVE
Run that wire out to next-to the 3 wires in question.
Check and make sure your meter is set on the lowest resistance measuring scale.
The Diode/Continuity scale is a guarantee of lowest reading ohms so select it.
Touch one meter probe to a wire, the other meter probe to your jury-rigged chassis negative coming from inside the rig.
Change from camper wire to camper wire. Do all three.
Beware of the floating decimal point when you come back and report what you see.
(example)
RED "X ohms"
WHITE WIRE # 1 "X ohms"
WHITE WIRE # 2 "X ohms"
2011 F350 PSD CC LB 4X4 DRW Lariate
2015 Mobile Suites 41RSSB4 5th Wheel
Fulltimer50 wrote:
Red is usually positive and black is usually negative in a DC system. White is not a DC color. You will have to do as has been suggested and trace the whites back to see where they go. Since there are white wires I would also trace the red back as there is no guarantee that the red is positive either.
Unlike automobiles wire color in RVs are not standardized
In RVs from mfg. have seen
Red and Black are used for POS
White and Green are used for NEG
Also seen Black used for NEG.
Most common combo.....RED/POS and White/NEG
BUT no standard......so always best to trace cables

If it were mine this is what I would do. Make sure wires are all free and not touchng anything. Plug the RV plug into your PU. Measure the voltage on the wires to ground.. You will know which one is positive. Very simple and won't be a guess. JMHO
2005 GulfStream Ultra Supreme, 1 Old grouch, 1 wonderful wife, and two silly poodles.

Retired, Fulltime RV'er, 1999.5 F350 4X4 CC Diesel Flatbed
2007 Alpenlite Defender Toyhauler, 2019 Polaris Ranger
Bob, the Yorkie Terrier helping me prospect til the money runs out
fitznj wrote:
Get a multimeter from WalMart (real cheap) and use to to test each wire - this will a sure way of knowing which wire is Pos and Neg.
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Methinks it would to good to ask...
Are all wires the same size (gauge)?
PS, I have NEVER seen a Battery cable, AT THE BATTERY, that is White that is NOT a Neg(ground) wire.
Fulltimer50 wrote:
Red is usually positive and black is usually negative in a DC system. White is not a DC color. You will have to do as has been suggested and trace the whites back to see where they go. Since there are white wires I would also trace the red back as there is no guarantee that the red is positive either.
Where does this wrong info come from ?
Red is usually positive
Black could be negative, but only when used in the same circuit as the red. Otherwise black is almost never negative. And black is always positive when used in the same circuit as white.
And white certainly is a DC color. Almost every dc light fixture, and every cigar liter socket uses black and white wires, in which black is always positive, and white is always neg ground. WHEW !!
'01 31' Rexall Vision, Generac 5.5k, 1000 watt Honda, PD 9245 conv, 300 watts Solar, 150 watt inv, 2 Cos 6v batts, ammeters, led voltmeters all over the place, KD/sat, 2 Oly Cat heaters w/ ox, and towing a 2012 Liberty, Lowe bass boat, or a Kawi Mule.
2oldman wrote:
fitznj wrote:
Get a multimeter from WalMart (real cheap) and use to to test each wire - this will a sure way of knowing which wire is Pos and Neg.
How?
Post the results.
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
2oldman wrote:
fitznj wrote:
Get a multimeter from WalMart (real cheap) and use to to test each wire - this will a sure way of knowing which wire is Pos and Neg.
How?
The ground(-) wire will be a short to the chassis. The positive will not.
Assuming the meter is set up to beep when there's a short.
1) Unplug all electricity. No 110, no battery.
2) connect one end of the meter to a clean metal on the frame - a clean bolt or sheet metal screw that goes into the frame.
3) Connect the the other end to each wire, one at a time.
The ground wire(s) should beep. The (+) wire should not.
As a double check, you can find the +12v pin on the tow plug and verify that the the (+) wire is connected to that by putting one lead on the (+) wire and one on the +12v pin.
smkettner wrote:
Set meter to 20 volt DC scale. Plug in the RV and measure voltage between red and white(1) and white(2).
Post the results.
This should work too. Just be sure that the lugs on those three wires don't touch anything during your test....
* This post was edited 03/23/16 09:45pm by mrekim *
By now it could also be the main fuses.
Got to start somewhere or haul it down to the dealer.
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton
fitznj wrote:
Get a multimeter from WalMart (real cheap) and use to to test each wire - this will a sure way of knowing which wire is Pos and Neg.
Xlnt suggestion......Now teach us people like me how to use it,I mean it. I have no idea where to start setting the dial, maybe you could start a thread, slowly teaching us old guys who want to learn about how to use a multi meter.
Raise your hand if you would like to learn about too?
07' Rhino 686 SS106-ITP-AFE-BRP-T4-CDI-KIBBLEBWHITE-CVT-TSTICH-Ridgid LED LightBar-HID Conversion Kit-LIVEWIRE
04' Honda 250 Sportstrac quad
05' Honda 400 Ranchers quad
Heres a new idea,.......that I think will work
Set battery on the ground, connect jumper cables to battery,....connect negative jumper to trailer frame/ground.
Touch positive jumper to each battery cable in question, BUT ONLY W/ A 20-30 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER IN SERIES WITH THE POS JUMPER !!
Any battery cable that trips the CB, is a negative cable
Any cable that doesn't trip the CB, is a positive cable
The cost of this method is the price of a CB at the auto parts
Strabo wrote:
fitznj wrote:
Get a multimeter from WalMart (real cheap) and use to to test each wire - this will a sure way of knowing which wire is Pos and Neg.
Xlnt suggestion......Now teach us people like me how to use it,I mean it. I have no idea where to start setting the dial, maybe you could start a thread, slowly teaching us old guys who want to learn about how to use a multi meter.
Raise your hand if you would like to learn about too?
To fully understand a MM, you need to know what DC is and what AC is.
2015 Camplite 6.8C
2012 Cherokee 39L destination
2022 F350 XL 4x4
07 FLHRS
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
He certainly did not READ the thread - I'm done.
I will reply back, hopefully with my success!
wvabeer wrote:
Follow each wire, the one that is fastened to the chassis is the negative.
I agree,....like the negatives are all bolted to the frame in plain sight right there where you can see it.

Bob Landry wrote:
Four pages of responses to verify that red is positive and white is ground in trailer wiring. I knew there was a reason why I love the Internet.
Just proves that MOST have no idea what they are talking about. Doug
allkidd wrote:
Okay, traced the white wires and they are both ground. I don't understand why two grounds going to the same place?
westend wrote:
allkidd wrote:
Okay, traced the white wires and they are both ground. I don't understand why two grounds going to the same place?
What are the sizes of the wires?
Because they were to lazy to run 1 large gauge. It is common on some RV's to have 2 small gauge wires on either the Positive or ground instead of 1 large gauge. Doug
dougrainer wrote:
westend wrote:
allkidd wrote:
Okay, traced the white wires and they are both ground. I don't understand why two grounds going to the same place?
What are the sizes of the wires?
Because they were to lazy to run 1 large gauge. It is common on some RV's to have 2 small gauge wires on either the Positive or ground instead of 1 large gauge. Doug
That is exactly what they did. The negative wires are about half the width of the positive.
Thanks everybody for the great responses! Problem solved! Couldn't have done it without the help.
Red battery pos
Yellow battery neg
Black 120vac line 1
White 120vac neutral
Blue 120 vac line 2
Green earth ground
Chinee color coding is a riot. 120vac
Brown
Brue
White with gleen stlipe
Maybe
Chinese house wiring code: 600 volts 24-gauge wire.
I read stats -somewhere- that claimed there was 10,000+ electrocutions/year. They are convinced ground wires are an utter waste.
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
He certainly did not READ the thread - I'm done.
you jest?
FAQs
How do you know which side of a battery is positive? ›
Basic Information. Most batteries have two terminals or sides: one positive and one negative. The positive side of the battery is marked with a plus sign (+), while the negative side is marked with a minus sign (-). If you connect the terminals incorrectly, you could damage your device or cause an explosion.
Does it matter which side the positive is on a car battery? ›Does it matter which side the positive terminal is on? Yes it matters. Purchasing the wrong configuration may prevent battery cables from reaching the battery terminals. If your cables can't reach your battery – well, then, the battery can't go.
Do I connect black or red first? ›Do You Hook Up Red or Black Jumper Cables First? Once the two vehicles are in place, turn off both and open the hoods. Attach the red jumper cables first. Start by clamping one red cable to the positive side of the battery that won't start.
Is positive left or right? ›The battery terminals come in a variety of sizes, designs and features. However, the two main configurations of a battery terminal are – positive on the left and negative on the right, or negative on the left and positive on the right.
What happens if you hook up battery backwards? ›Connecting the battery terminals in reverse can cause serious damage to the battery itself, the electrical components, and even to yourself. Each terminal of a car battery uses 12V of current with positive and negative orientation.
Which side of the car battery is positive and negative? ›When removing the old battery, remember to first disconnect the cables from the negative terminal, which is usually black and has a minus (-) sign then disconnect the cables from the positive terminal, which is usually red and has a plus (+) sign.
Does the positive side of the battery go against the spring? ›The negative side of your battery terminal will be flat, and that is the part that should go on the spring. The positive end of round-type batteries will have a little nub on the center of the battery. This side needs to go on the flat end of the battery terminal.
Does the positive side of the battery go on the spring? ›There should be a plus and minus sign inside the battery compartment. This will tell you which direction the battery needs to go. The negative end may have a spring or a small metal lever. If the polarity isn't marked on your device, you may need to consult the manufacturer's instructions.
Why do you connect the positive terminal first? ›Remember the simple rule that connecting and disconnecting a battery is in reverse order. Positive first when connecting a battery, negative first when disconnecting a battery cable. That way, you won't damage your battery or get shocked.
Can black and red be wired together? ›Can I Connect Red And Black Wires Together? Yes, it is sometimes feasible to connect a red and black wire together for a variety of reasons such as connecting smoke detectors, wiring back to a switch, a 3-way switch circuit, and other reasons.
What happens if you connect negative first? ›
Never connect the black cable to the negative (–) terminal on your dead battery. This is very dangerous, could result in a possible explosion. Make sure you follow the instructions in your owner's manual when jumpstarting your vehicle.
Why do you connect red first? ›Connecting the red terminal to the dead battery first would minimize damage if the other red clamp were accidentally dropped so as to contact the frame of that vehicle.
Which is positive and which is negative? ›Each battery has two metal terminals. One is marked positive (+), the other negative (-). There are also positive and negative cables in the jumper cable set. The red one is positive (+), the black one is negative (-).
Is negative right or left? ›You can think of a number line as having three parts: a positive direction, a negative direction, and zero. Everything to the right of zero is positive and everything to the left of zero is negative.
Does negative mean left or right? ›If the graph of a line rises from left to right, the slope is positive. If the graph of the line falls from left to right the slope is negative.
What happens if you mix up positive and negative wires? ›Switching which wire is connected to positive or negative (without regard to color) will typically RUIN/TOAST/BLOW UP most anything electronic. Of course incandescent lamps don't care, and DC motors will typically run in the opposite direction if you switch the polarity.
Can a battery be put in wrong? ›Selecting the wrong battery may also cause the start-stop system to fail. As a result, the engine is rarely or never switched off when the vehicle is at a standstill (e.g. at a traffic light). An incorrect battery can cause a number of various functional failures.
Can you charge a battery the wrong way? ›For all intents and purposes, the battery will be ruined. You could technically charge it up, negatively, and continue to use it, but your plates are designed with the positive plates being lead dioxide, and the negative being composed of a sponge lead, which would now be reversed.
Which cable goes first when jumping a car? ›First the clamp of the red cable is connected to the positive terminal of the assisting vehicle. The other end of the red cable is connected to the positive terminal of the broken down vehicle. Then the black clamp is connected to the negative terminal of the assisting battery.
How do you know which is the positive and negative terminal on a car? ›Fortunately, most batteries also have a plus (+) and minus (-) sign stamped into the case. As you might guess, the plus sign indicates the positive battery terminal, while the minus sign indicates the negative battery terminal. Most batteries also have a positive and negative sign stamped into the case.
Is black positive red negative? ›
In the world of DC electronics, the accepted wiring convention is that the red wire carries the positive voltage, and the black is circuit ground. Usually the red is marked as + (plus) and the black is marked as – (minus). Notice that in both AC electricity and DC electronics, there is a black wire.
What is the correct way to put in batteries? ›Always insert the batteries with the positive and negative pole in the correct direction. Inserting batteries the wrong way is dangerous. Take special care with devices with three or more batteries. They may still work with batteries inserted the wrong way, but this will soon lead to a short circuit.
Is the positive side of a battery north? ›The pole of the conductor facing the positive terminal of the battery is its north pole. The North pole magnets come out of the battery's positive terminal and South pole magnets come out of car battery's negative terminal.
What happens if you connect the positive terminal first? ›Now vice versa, if you connect the positive terminal first, you can touch the negative terminal of the charged battery to any part of the "dead" car without shorting the charged battery.
Why is the negative terminal first? ›If you're disconnecting the positive terminal first, and the spanner touches any part of body or engine, you'll get a massive spark and potentially damage your battery also. By disconnecting the negative first, you eliminate the risk of *grounding” your battery on the car body or engine.
Which wire is positive between red and black? ›Here's how to tell the wire colors apart: The red wire is positive. The black wire is negative. The white wire (if present) is ground (sometimes called neutral in DC).
What wire goes to red and black? ›The black probe goes on the ground wire, while the red probe goes on the hot wire.
Where does the red and black wire go? ›Black wires are hot wires that run to the electrical outlet from the switch. Red wires are hot wires common in a 240-volt outlet or when a wall switch controls the outlet. Blue and yellow wires are hot wires for ceiling fans and three- or four-way switches. White or gray electrical wires are neutral wires.
What happens when you connect the wrong wires? ›But here's the catch: If you connect the circuit wires to the wrong terminals on an outlet, the outlet will still work, but the polarity will be backward. When this happens, a lamp, for example, will have its bulb socket sleeve energized rather than the little tab inside the socket.
Do you connect red to positive? ›Red is positive and black is negative. Here's the correct order for your jumper cables: RED to DEAD: Connect the red clip to the positive terminal on your dead battery. RED to DONOR: Connect the red clip to the positive terminal on the donor vehicle's working battery.
What color wire does red connect to? ›
Red wires are used in the installation of ceiling fans, where the light switches may be. Electricians can link a red and black wire or two red wires. Blue and yellow wires may carry power, but they are not commonly used in outlet wiring. Instead, they act as live wires pulled via a conduit.
What color wire do you connect first? ›The positive cable is colored red, The Negative cable is colored black. Red first, then black. Connect the positive terminal first. Attach the red (positive) terminal to the positive battery post.
Which wire is hot when both are black? ›The positive wire, also commonly called the hot wire, will typically be black in color. It is the source of the electricity.
How do I know which wire is hot? ›Hot wire is identified by its black casing. This is the main color of hot wire for most homes. However, other hot wires can red, blue, or yellow, although these colors can indicate a different function besides powering an outlet.
What is positive right and negative right? ›Negative rights exist unless someone acts to negate them. A positive right is a right to be subjected to an action of another person or group. In the framework of the Kantian categorical imperative, negative rights can be associated with perfect duties, while positive rights can be connected to imperfect duties.
What is an example of a positive right? ›Positive rights, therefore, are rights that provide something that people need to secure their well being, such as a right to an education, the right to food, the right to medical care, the right to housing, or the right to a job.
Which is a negative right? ›They are rights that are instantiated in the form of rights to noninterference. If a person has a negative right, that person has the right to be free to do some action or to do no action. They are to be free from the interference of another person or group of persons.
Is negative down or up? ›These correspond to each as follows: Positive Vertical = Down. Negative Vertical = Up. Positive Horizontal = Right.
Why are negative numbers on the left? ›This would contradict the idea of having the negative sign before a negative value, i.e., '-1,' which implies that it decreases. Hence, it must be that x < 0. So, in conclusion, the left side of a number line signifies that the numbers decrease, as with the case of negative numbers.
Is negative from the left? ›The minus sign indicates "from the left", and the plus sign indicates "from the right".
How can you determine which side of the battery is positive and negative just by the location of the blue charges? ›
How can you determine which side of the battery is positive and negative just by the location of the blue charges? Answers: • • • Blue spheres represent negative charges. The side of the battery with more blue spheres is labeled negative and the side with less blue spheres is labeled as positive.
How can you tell if a battery is positive or negative ground? ›The easiest and most accurate way to tell is to look at your battery terminals and cables. One cable connects to the positive terminal, one cable connects to the negative. In this particular case, the negative cable goes to the frame of the car. This is a negative ground car.
How do you tell which wire is positive? ›The positive wire, also commonly called the hot wire, will typically be black in color. It is the source of the electricity. The electrical current travels from the outlet or other power source on the positive wire, so if it is plugged in anywhere, it should be considered a live (and dangerous) wire.
Which wire is the positive and the negative? ›In general, red wires are used to indicate positive voltage, while black wires are used to indicate negative voltage.
Which wire is hot if both are black? ›The black wire is the "hot" wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source.
What happens if you reverse the battery or polarity? ›The heat produced by the reverse polarity in the battery may cause hydrogen gas (ignitable) which may explode the battery casing. The cracked case of the battery may provide a way for acid which may melt the sensitive devices and cause serious injuries as well.
What happens if you connect negative battery terminal first? ›Never connect the black cable to the negative (–) terminal on your dead battery. This is very dangerous, could result in a possible explosion. Make sure you follow the instructions in your owner's manual when jumpstarting your vehicle.
What comes first on a battery ground or positive first? ›You connect the positive terminal first. It is easy for your wrench or tool to make contact with something grounded on the car. If you connect the positive terminal first, the ground isn't connected. So your first connection is safe.