chargin battery via 7-pin RV connector

[Dale M.]

On my truck there is no relay, the pin 4 (power) connector is HOT all the time.... You probably should unplug trailer when you are parked for a time at camp site if yours is powered when key off....Don't bother if you are just stopping for groceries or at restaurant.... But for long term use of "trailer" power it could discharge truck battery along with trailer battery.... The relay thing (disconnect to 7 pin connector) is something I have been meaning to do something about... Early Chevy seem to have all wiring completely internal, later may have a a exposed connector on side of fuse panel to connect to... Again check owners manual and inside fuse bloc cover...

Also a good tool for chasing wire problems may be simple test lamp.... IF you understand the concepts of 12volt power and ground this tool will be of great use and is most simple test device other then "smoke test"...



Dale

[E U G]

Yes there PROBABLY IS fuse panel someplace in trailer ( manufacturer would be foolish to build trailer and not provide one) , generally it will be near battery.... Look for small box maybe 6 inches square with or with out a cover.... Maybe in galley area behind a drawer or cabinet door... Best solution may be to start at battery and trace all the wiring so you can to see where it goes.... Its sort of like following a route on a road map... IF you have access to the wires, they will lead you "someplace".... Problem may be simple as a blown fuse or even a loose connection at battery.... Any connections you encounter along the way, be sure the are mechanically solid (tight)... Also use pencil and paper to draw map of electrical system as you progress along the way...

Dale

Thanks Dale! I traced the wires from the battery and found 2 fuses! It was on the underside of the plastic wire "sleeves" right up by the battery, under the trailer frame. The only reason I found it was because I was pulling up on the wires as I was following the wires and it got caught on the trailer frame. One of the two fuses were bad so I headed to the store. On the way there, the manufacturer called me back and said he suspected that I wired the battery wrong. He was right. I'm such an idiot. Lights would've been nice on my camping trip. I'm going on another trip this weekend so I'll have a chance to redeem myself.

Thanks to all who helped!

[Dale M.]

And it just gets better!....

Dale

[Richard A.]

... the manufacturer called me back and said he suspected that I wired the battery wrong. He was right. I'm such an idiot.

You are not alone .... been there, done that .. have the t-shirt!

By the way ... you never said WHO the manufacturer was .. and what model you have.

[pete42]

most batteries have fuses to protect the wires and battery from shorts like the one that happened when you hooked the battery backwards
If those fuses were the only ones you found then maybe you don't have a convertor seems strange not to have one.

it is usually a brown box mounted near the floor and near where the 120 cord comes into the trailer it is a place where
the 120 volts and the 12 volts meet before they are run out to lights receipitals ect.

pete

[eamarquardt]

I'm such an idiot.

Yup, may be some truth in that statement. Yer no worse off than the rest of us though. In addition, it's unlikely that you are a complete idiot as some parts are ALWAYS missing as the "factory" is run by idiots and they ALWAYS run short, for one reason or another, of some parts to assemble a complete idiot. Lucky for us.

Cheers,

Gus

[Dale M.]

most batteries have fuses to protect the wires and battery from shorts like the one that happened when you hooked the battery backwards
If those fuses were the only ones you found then maybe you don't have a convertor seems strange not to have one.

it is usually a brown box mounted near the floor and near where the 120 cord comes into the trailer it is a place where
the 120 volts and the 12 volts meet before they are run out to lights receipitals ect.

pete

Not really..... IF you live in a 12 volt world mainly for lights its not a requirement for any trailer to have a converter... I personally live very fine and comfortable camping with 12volt only or no electricity at all other than flashlights....

Not really planing on 120 volt anything on my build, as I don't see the need....

Dale

[E U G]

... the manufacturer called me back and said he suspected that I wired the battery wrong. He was right. I'm such an idiot.

You are not alone .... been there, done that .. have the t-shirt!

By the way ... you never said WHO the manufacturer was .. and what model you have.

This is my TTT. It's manufactured by Three Feathers in La Grande, Oregon (local for me).



Leaving for a two-night trip today. Hopefully, I don't have any other issues!

[E U G]

most batteries have fuses to protect the wires and battery from shorts like the one that happened when you hooked the battery backwards
If those fuses were the only ones you found then maybe you don't have a convertor seems strange not to have one.

it is usually a brown box mounted near the floor and near where the 120 cord comes into the trailer it is a place where
the 120 volts and the 12 volts meet before they are run out to lights receipitals ect.

pete

Not really..... IF you live in a 12 volt world mainly for lights its not a requirement for any trailer to have a converter... I personally live very fine and comfortable camping with 12volt only or no electricity at all other than flashlights....

Not really planing on 120 volt anything on my build, as I don't see the need....

Dale

I actually stopped looking after I found the two fuses, so I guess I could have one and not know it. On my previous searches for a box I didn't see anything however.

[pete42]

most batteries have fuses to protect the wires and battery from shorts like the one that happened when you hooked the battery backwards
If those fuses were the only ones you found then maybe you don't have a convertor seems strange not to have one.

it is usually a brown box mounted near the floor and near where the 120 cord comes into the trailer it is a place where
the 120 volts and the 12 volts meet before they are run out to lights receipitals ect.

pete

Not really..... IF you live in a 12 volt world mainly for lights its not a requirement for any trailer to have a converter... I personally live very fine and comfortable camping with 12volt only or no electricity at all other than flashlights....

Not really planing on 120 volt anything on my build, as I don't see the need....

Dale

Dale you are so right there there seems to be an exception to almost everything, and I will learn how to spell receptacles......maybe.
but for those of us who like to have 120 and 12 volts heck now even 5 volts for our tablets and cell phones it is nice to have them all.

but E U G did say he plugged his trailer into the house 120 volt outlet (receptacle)( see I can spell) which made me believe he has a convertor
about the only off the grid camping I do anymore is if the campground's electric goes out

pete

[Techguy]

When it's time for me to get a TD, I will only want enough 120v outlets to allow me to power the TD at home. I much prefer campgrounds where the is no power or hook-up, especially the one where the road to the campground is difficult for any driver with a rig over 20 feet long (TT or MH). I prefer camps that are full of natural beauty and "no generator" campers.

Back to the power, I helped someone here with her rig and there were four 120v outlets-- galley, inside sleeping area, outside on camper wall and under the cabinet by the 12v battery. I figure it was about 10 feet of 110 wiring inside the TD. The outlet by the battery was where the 110-12v charger was located so when it was home, the 110 could simply be plugged into a standard extension cord via the outside Marinco and the 12v battery was on the float charger.

[E U G]

Just went home for lunch and had a little time to crawl under the trailer. I noticed this under the trailer frame, up by the battery:



Is this a converter?

[Techguy]

It looks like a "handy box". Take the cover off and take another photo. Normally it is used as a junction box for the wires.

[Dale M.]

It looks like a "handy box". Take the cover off and take another photo. Normally it is used as a junction box for the wires.

At this point I sort of agree.. Think you will find its one of these... If you pop cover it will probably just have 7 stud type terminals with various wiring connected....

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Accesso ... n_Box.aspx

Could also have circuit breakers in it but probably not....

Dale