How Do I Wire The Batteries On My Motorhome?

by Kelley
()

How to Wire Your RV's House Batteries

How to Wire Your RV's House Batteries

Please, someone, I need help hooking up the battery terminals on my 1992 Allegro Bay Motorhome. It consists of 3 batteries; 1 which starts the engine & the other 2 are generator & interior related. I am a female and I'm clueless. I already appreciate anyone's help.

Kelley

ANSWER: Hi Kelley, let me start off by saying that if you have any doubts after reading the outline below about hooking up the batteries in your RV, you should get a more knowledgeable friend or neighbor to help you hook up the batteries on your motorhome. If this process is done incorrectly, it can cause severe damage to your batteries and the 12-volt electrical system on your motorhome. There is also the risk of starting an electrical fire in your motorhome.

This information is not meant to scare you; it is meant to make you aware that you may be better off having an RV Technician to do the job for you. The money you spend to have the job done correctly will cost far less than repairing the electrical system on your motorhome.

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That being said, let me get started on the guidelines. I am assuming that there are no batteries in the RV currently. If the old batteries are still in the RV all you need to do is hook them up the same way they are currently hooked up. If there are no batteries hooked up in the RV then keep reading.

I am assuming that the two batteries that are being used on your RV for the house battery system are two 6-volt batteries hooked up in series. The way you tell if they are 6-volt batteries is by looking at the top of the battery. A six-volt battery will have three fill caps on top. If they
have 6 caps each then they are 12-volt batteries, and the wiring diagram below will not work for two 12-volt house batteries.
RVs with 2 House Batteries.

Two 6-volt batteries wired in series diagram


First, make sure that all 12-volt systems in the motorhome are turned off and the ignition of the RV is in the off position. The first battery you should install is the motorhome starting battery. Once you have the 12-volt starting battery secured in the battery tray you need to hook up the positive battery cable first. The positive battery cable for the motorhome will be a cable that goes to the engine compartment of the Motorhome. You then need to hook up the negative cable to the starting battery.

OK, it is now time to hook up the two 6-volt house batteries of the motorhome. These two 6-volt batteries need to be hooked up in series in order to power the 12-volt system of your motorhome. Look at the diagram above to see how to hook up these batteries.

RVs with 4 House Batteries.



For those of you that have RVs with 4 house batteries, use the diagram above.

Now here is the problem, if you are not sure which cables lead where then I am going to again suggest that you have an experienced RV Technician do the job for you. You may have optional electrical accessories in your motorhome such as power inverters, etc. that are hard-wired to the house batteries. Again, if these electrical accessories are hooked up to the batteries incorrectly it will damage them.

Hopefully, this information has been helpful to you. If any of our visitors have suggestions for you they can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link near the bottom of this page.

Happy RVing

RVing Al

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Comments for How Do I Wire The Batteries On My Motorhome?

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Question about comment from "RVing AI":The Chassis (starter) battery is a separate battery from the House Batteries and is not connected directly to the house battery system.
by: Bill Johnston

I have a 2004 Class C Ford 450 Lexington, and during a recent oil change, I noticed a factory-installed #4 red cable that came loose from its battery cable lug that was affixed onto the positive post of the truck battery along with another #4 red cable that is affixed firmly to the positive post. The truck starts fine. The voltage on the second separated cable is hot with 13.5v, which matches the voltage of the coach batteries when plugged into 110v/30a service and 12.9v when unplugged from 110. The truck battery reads a steady 12.6v with the engine off. So, there is a connection between the coach (house) batteries to the truck starter battery, at least in my case. I'm guessing that connection is so that the truck alternator charges the coach batteries also and looks like the reverse when the truck is not running. I also have a pushbutton switch on this motorhome, as well as a previous motorhome that I owned that allows a connection to the starter &/or truck battery to jump-start the truck if that battery has become drained. I never used that jump starter system but am confused now all systems are connected regardless if the button is energized.

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What about one 12v hook up
by: Anonymous

Ok call me stupid but I’m trying lol i have an allegro bay 1995 p30 atm i only have the 24f750 cca hooked up to start n run
I have been watching all this til my eyes bleed. Atm i have one 12v everyday 39dc 975 mca from Walmart its charged n ready the other battery that was in there was 3 years old n a car battery so i took it out i have the original golf cart battery it came with two. It’s almost dead . Can i hook it up with just one 12 or am i better off v charging it up n hookingtwo parallel? Right now nothing works inside and im on a time crunch. Also not someone has messed with these as that wasn’t whati bought. Im a female out here 3 months in with tampering from day one. Im trying to put it back together right its getting cold and id like to use my bells and whistles? If anyone can tell me or send a pic of a one 12 v hookup and two id be most grateful

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Motorhome/RV (NOT trailer) batteries
by: Shadowghost

My 1980 and 1982 Winnebago and Sportcraft (both with Dodge 400 chassis) have (2) 12 volt batteries. I use a deep cycle 12 volt as opposed to dual 6-volt of which I'm hearing a lot. Easier. Less complicated. Less cluster#!&@. Some designs call for that configuration, and are probably set up for it with specific box size, arrangement. More info needed on your set-up.

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Up a creek with out a pot to piss in
by: Anonymous

I have a 1999 Fleetwood Pace Arrow Class a Motorhome. Standing in front of coach I have One chassis battery 12 v and two coach 6 v batteries. My issue is I have 12 cables to connect to these 3 batteries. I do not know the sequence but here is the description. on the right hand side is the first 6 v battery. next to it are two thick red cables one comes from the battery control center or fuse panel, the other runs from the left side. I assume they will both go to the positive. Then Jumper from neg to positive leading to left battery. Next to it are a thick white cable a thick black cable two small wire one is black with white stripe one is solid black I do not know what these attach to on that battery// on the chassis there are two very thick red cable I assume go to positive and one medium black I assume goes to negative. My partner took the batteries out with out mapping the cables so to prevent damage I would like to be positive of how to hook up each color. Is the white a ground? does it go to negative or positive. Is the black a negative

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So simple even and idiot can do it
by: PV985

I would really like to complement the person who wrote this article. It is as clear as it can possibly be.

Anyone who can't understand this has no business doing that kind of work.

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I have a 1986 ford travelaire motorhome need to see a picture on battery wiring
by: Shawnee

Hii have a 1986 ford travelaire motorhome im needing a picture of the battery wiring just bought new batteries.just forgot how again

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Revcon class A
by: Anonymous

I have a 1983 Revcon. The house batteries are missing. Inside the compartment I have 2 black cables and one red and a jumper wire. Dont understand the 2 black cables. One is a heavy duty cable. Could use some help. donaldarmstrong@hotmail.com

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How to wire coach + auto for cgarging?
by: Anonymous

I have a 12 volt auto + 2 6 volt (on series) for coach. How do I connect my solar panel to charge all 3 together.

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3 battery 12v system
by: Anonymous

Please help!!! I need the Battery Schematic/Wiring Diagram for a 1997 Fleet Wood Bounder 35' 454 engine C30 frame. I am trying to figure out for Days now.. How to wire a 3 Battery 12v System. One Battery for the engine and Two Batteries for the coach. This System Has a Converter, Has 2 Solenoids, and Solar Power.

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Which cable gets connected first?
by: ChrisAnonymous

do you hook up Hot (red) first then the negative (black)? And to disconnect take off Black then red?

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Battery wires
by: Anonymous

Do you have a diagram for a 3 battery system

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Information on Batteries.
by: Anonymous

I have a Safari Trek. At one time it had a grand total of 5 batteries. Two for starting, and 3 for In house. I enjoyed the diagram for the 4 I house batteries. I have 2, 6 volt in house batteries now. Someone convinced me to change to those from 12 volt. I want to restore it back to its original 3 12 volt batteries. Do you have a diagram for that?

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Batteries
by: Anonymous

we have one white one black, not sure which is positve and negative . any advice?

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Battery Hook Up$-
by: Fred

Would really have been helpful if you had posted a diagram for 4-battery hookup. Your two battery configuration diagram is not helpful beyond 2 batteries.

Comment from RVing Al: Hi Fred, hopefully the picture below will be helpful to you.


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frustrated with 12 volt battery hookup.
by: David M. Taylor

I have four (4) 6volt Deep well House batteries that take lcare of the 12 volt system on My 2001 Monaco Knight Motor Coach. I just replaced all 4 of those batteries and thought I had everything hooked up right but:
1. Drivers seat forward and rear seat control operates opposite of what it should. lWhen lyon push the button to move the seat up it goes back.
2. I have 12 volt lights
3. I do not have any 12 volt power to operate my slides
4. No power to light up the "Status Panel" for fresh,grey and black water tank levels.
5. I have no power to the vehicle radio
6. I have no pattern power to start my generator.

Need diagram for for a four "House" battery setup. Please e-mail this to me at david1480@suddenlink.net

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BATTERY CABLES
by: Anonymous

POSITIVE BATTEREY CABLES ARE RED NAGATIVE CABLES ARE BLACK

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Do I have 12V batteries? How do I put them in?
by: Cince

I have inherited a 2002 Thor Hurricane with the GM 400 drive line. Need help installing the Batteries to all the Cables.
Thanks,
Vince

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Battery installation
by: Anonymous

I have a 2002 Hurricane by Thor, I think, it was inherited. I replaced the dead battery's. Thought they were 12V, it has a 400 line GM, HOW DO I install the cables?

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battier
by: Steve kreutz

I have a 1991 Chevy challenger 32ft and it had no battier i have 3 12 volt battier how do i hock them up.

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Deep cycle series
by: Anonymous

Does it matter which battery is hooked up to the charging cable?

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Motor home
by: Randy

I need 2- 12 volts batt. puting out 12 volt... needs the extra amps for thr gen.

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wiring to 6volt batteries in series
by: Anonymous

Thanks for the diagram and help

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2 or3 batteries total?
by: Anonymous

A little confused altho the diagram was helpful,about the 12volt battery that connects to starter.is that to be connected to two 6 volt batteries in series making a total of 3 batteries or is it only 2 batteries needed total? Thanks for your advice.

Comment from RVing Al: The Chassis (starter) battery is a separate battery from the House Batteries and is not connected directly to the house battery system. Hope that helps.

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Thanks
by: Anonymous

Pictures are worth a thousand words

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6v in series
by: Anonymous

thank you for the clear diagram.
i always get confused about series and parallel hookups.
db/

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