|
11-17-2015, 05:39 PM
|
#1
|
4 Rivet Member
Longport
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 307
|
Any electrical whizzes out there? Over my head with wiring
My 64 ambassador was restored by a certified auto mechanic. He wasn't the worst, but he wasn't winning any prizes for great/clean work either. Ran into a problem that i need a hand with:
Today, I ran #8 wire from the back of the trailer to the front to power my jack. I grounded the battery to the frame. Jack works great.
There are two other sets of existing duplex wires that go to the battery. I am not sure, but I think one set is for a battery charger and the other goes to the electrical panel and powers the DC side of the trailer.
I tested the jack to the battery alone, worked perfectly. When I added the two sets of duplex wires to the battery terminals, one of the eyelets sparked and got red hot. I checked in the panel and two blade fuses had blown.
Anyone know what would cause this to happen?
|
|
|
11-17-2015, 05:43 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
|
A duplex outlet is normally wired for 120VAC, not 12volt DC. Therein lies your problem, me thinks.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
|
|
|
11-17-2015, 06:16 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
|
Any electrical whizzes out there? Over my head with wiring
You need to see where the existing wires go in order to find the problem and the solution, otherwise it is all a crap shoot.
Brevi tempore!
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
|
|
|
11-17-2015, 06:43 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
|
He may well have run two positives in a single duplex wire and two negatives in the other....
Or maybe all of the wires are positive.....
You really need to find the other ends of the wires.
Brevi tempore!
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
|
|
|
11-17-2015, 06:53 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,673
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
A duplex outlet is normally wired for 120VAC, not 12volt DC. Therein lies your problem, me thinks.
|
The OP was talking about duplex wires which usually refers to a red and black pair inside one jacket.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
|
|
|
11-17-2015, 07:28 PM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,183
|
One tool that might help is a two-part device. One part is put near one end of a wire and sends a signal through that wire. The other part is moved around close to where the other end of the wire ought to be. When it sounds off you have found the other end of the wire. I'm having a senior moment right now and can't think of the proper name of this thing. They aren't real cheap, but not very expensive, either.
As always, it is safest if all electricity (12 vdc and 120 vac) is disconnected.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
|
|
|
11-18-2015, 03:18 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kb0zke
One tool that might help is a two-part device. One part is put near one end of a wire and sends a signal through that wire. The other part is moved around close to where the other end of the wire ought to be. When it sounds off you have found the other end of the wire. I'm having a senior moment right now and can't think of the proper name of this thing. They aren't real cheap, but not very expensive, either.
As always, it is safest if all electricity (12 vdc and 120 vac) is disconnected.
|
something like this?: Cable Tracker
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
|
|
|
11-18-2015, 08:57 AM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,183
|
Yes!
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
|
|
|
11-18-2015, 10:45 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
|
Was the trailer plugged into shore power when you connected the wire to the battery?
I can't see how you could have blown fuses if you were just working with 12 volts.
You had a dead short and will have to inspect ALL wiring for melted insulation before you go forward.
Pictures might help.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
|
|
|
11-18-2015, 11:46 AM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
1972 29' Ambassador
Boynton Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 568
|
Number one thing: Don't just hook stuff up to your battery! That's what your fuse panel is for. The manual for your jack should have a good suggestion about what size fuse and wire you should be using.
I've got a custom install of a Xantrex inverter/charger, so it's probably very different from what you have. There should be some sort of big master fuse between the battery bank and the 12V panel, and maybe even a big cut-out knife switch in there, as well. That would help to prevent a welding experiment like you described from burning the trailer down.
There are wiring diagrams available for most models of Airstream, check the web for a download. Airstream does some oddly creative wiring, so sometimes logic is not your best friend when troubleshooting. They also use somewhat undersized wire IMO, which is more easily damaged.
My tips:
Isolate your circuits and test them.
Know what wire goes where, and that the wires are of proper size.
Look for any kind of damage, however slight, and fix it.
Verify that you have good power at both ends of the circuit
Assume that any previous assumption you made is wrong.
Curse loudly and often, it's a good stress reliever.
Remember the Geek Code: If you ask for help, you are required to report the solution to all that you asked, so that the complexity of the universe will be diminished!
|
|
|
11-18-2015, 02:05 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
|
Oops, you let out the magic smoke...
Need to update this thread or folks move on to important things...
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
|
|
|
11-18-2015, 02:21 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Oxford,
, Mississippi
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,564
|
Unhook everything at the battery and make a long jumper wire for your multi meter. I made one about 25 ft long with alligator clips on each end.
Set the meter to continuity and then it is easy to find the other end of the wires by just probing with the tip of the lead.
Label everything and make a drawing. On my 68 there are two leads on each battery post, one from the charger/converter and the other runs to the DC control panel. In 68 the DC box was behind the "Central Control" panel over the fridge. I'm sure yours is different but you get the idea. I checked every wire in my trailer, both AC and DC using this method and made a diagram. Helped me figure it all out and then a few months later the drawing kept me from having to do it all over again when I wired in the AC box (short memory).
Good luck.
__________________
__________________
Bruce & Rachel
__________________
68 Trade Wind
2001 Toyota Tundra
|
|
|
11-21-2015, 04:09 AM
|
#13
|
4 Rivet Member
Longport
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 307
|
Thanks all. Using most of the tips above, I was able to find a few stupid issues that resolved the problem. One wire was the culprit.
|
|
|
11-22-2015, 02:09 PM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
|
12vdc short or miswired?
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|