2004 17 B battery hookup

[nomade do vento]

On the final stretch of a 2004 17b revival. Last item battery installation and hookup. I am starting from point zero. Any and all advice appreciated. Attached are two photos. One of exterior cables going to battery. The second is a photo of the fuse block located under inside dinette front left side. Note two screw terminals comming out of top and bottom of block. Also not able to observe disconnect switch.

[Brian B-P]

There might not be a disconnect switch. It seems that Escape started adding them to trailers with batteries mounted inside, because it is difficult to reach the battery terminals to disconnect a cable in that case.

[Brian B-P]

The red and black cables look large for a base Escape installation, and the large fuse holder (if that's what it is) doesn't look like base equipment either, so I wonder if the large-gauge red and black cables are to supply an inverter, while the smaller black and white cables connect to the power centre. Does the trailer have an inverter?

Can we assume it is set up for only a single 12-volt battery, not a pair of 6-volt batteries?

[gbaglo]

I don't have a disconnect switch on my 2009 17B. When want to disconnect the battery I disconnect the battery.

[padlin]

I don't understand the purpose of the inside cables. Can you tell if they are the red and blacks that go out to the battery or do they go elsewhere?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I don't have a disconnect switch on my 2009 17B. When want to disconnect the battery I disconnect the battery.

My 2011 17B did have a disconnect switch, however it also had the pair of 6V batteries. I seem to remember that there was a period of time where some trailers came with them & some not.

As to the wiring, I can only suggest - you really need to follow the wires to be sure what goes where. It looks like an inverter had been added (and removed) to the trailer (the heavier wires), while the smaller wires look like the stock battery to converter wiring. I believe the inverter wiring is an after build add since Escape was not installing inverters in 2011. I'd assume (and you know what that means) that the fuse is in the positive side of the wiring between the battery & inverter. The black wire on your finger is the negative to the inverter from the battery. Again, I'd suggest following the wiring to be sure.

Typical wire colors would be black for negative, and red or white for positive, however again I'd trace them to be sure. Since non factory wiring was added, it could be anything.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

... As to the wiring, I can only suggest - you really need to follow the wires to be sure what goes where. ....

This, and with understanding of what-should-be-connected-to-what to construct the desired circuit(s), use the available wires to accomplish that to the extent possible.

I suggest it's impossible for anyone to guide that from afar by just looking at pics of ends of wires.

Given we clearly see a black wire and red wire together on a (fuse?) block, it's pretty obvious IMO that 'wire color conventions' have not been maintained, red tape at the black wire connectors notwithstanding.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Centex

This.

Given we clearly see a black wire and red wire together on a (fuse?) block, it's pretty obvious IMO that 'wire color conventions' have not been maintained, red insulation at the black wire connectors notwithstanding.

Well, they were trying to follow convention. The red tape on the ends of the black wire is "code tape" - they are meant to designate the wire as red not black.

Still, the wiring is an example of how NOT to do wiring correctly.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

My 2011 17B did have a disconnect switch, however it also had the pair of 6V batteries. I seem to remember that there was a period of time where some trailers came with them & some not.

Yes, dual batteries was the other situation in which Escape installed a disconnect switch in the early years.

Originally Posted by Vermilye

As to the wiring, I can only suggest - you really need to follow the wires to be sure what goes where. It looks like an inverter had been added (and removed) to the trailer (the heavier wires), while the smaller wires look like the stock battery to converter wiring. I believe the inverter wiring is an after build add since Escape was not installing inverters in 2011. I'd assume (and you know what that means) that the fuse is in the positive side of the wiring between the battery & inverter. The black wire on your finger is the negative to the inverter from the battery. Again, I'd suggest following the wiring to be sure.

I agree, except that of course this is a 2004 (but still, there was presumably no factory inverter option then).

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Typical wire colors would be black for negative, and red or white for positive, however again I'd trace them to be sure. Since non factory wiring was added, it could be anything.

Not quite. There are two common 12 volt colour conventions:

1. "Battery" convention:
   • red for positive, black for negative
   • commonly used for automotive battery cables, but not the rest of the wiring in the car
   • presumably used for the heavy cables here, likely to an inverter
2. "AC" convention:
   • black for hot (positive in DC), white for neutral (negative in DC)
   • used widely for 12 volt DC wiring in RVs, emulating the 120 V AC wiring
   • possibly used for the lighter cables here, likely to the power centre

Note that black is used for opposite purposes in the two conventions.

Because there really is no standard, and because the previous owner(s) may have chosen any colour, it is essential to follow each individual wire to determine what goes where.

[nomade do vento]

thanks for replies. Went thru provided paper work that came with 2004 17b. Found instructions for an inverter, as well as for the converter. So, my thinking tells me that an inverter was installed at time of build. Somewhere along the line the inverter was removed but the wiring and fuse box was not. I am fine with this as I do not want or need a inverter. Trailer arrived with two 6 volt batteries which were not exactly as described, however I did get a 20.00 core rebate on new purchase. I am leaning towards a 12 volt single setup of the highest quality and a small solar charger. I think I am two steps closer in figuring out whats going on.

[padlin]

I'd remove the inverter cables if they are still wired in to power. At minimum remove the fuse.

[BC Rockcrawler]

Originally Posted by nomade do vento

thanks for replies. Went thru provided paper work that came with 2004 17b. Found instructions for an inverter, as well as for the converter. So, my thinking tells me that an inverter was installed at time of build. Somewhere along the line the inverter was removed but the wiring and fuse box was not. I am fine with this as I do not want or need a inverter. Trailer arrived with two 6 volt batteries which were not exactly as described, however I did get a 20.00 core rebate on new purchase. I am leaning towards a 12 volt single setup of the highest quality and a small solar charger. I think I am two steps closer in figuring out whats going on.

nomade do vento, as the owner of a 2005 17B with a single 12 volt battery (about 3 years old) I have been slowly upgrading the DC system to move to the 2 - 6 volt batteries. It has been my experience that during the summer, we would get about 3 days use from the single 12 volt while boondocking before needing to be recharged. (50 % left in the battery). Last weekend, we were camping and could only muster about a day and a half before firing up the genset. (A lot cooler and ran the furnace a fair bit) I also have a 400 watt inverter to charge the cell phones and computers. It was on for about 3 hours. I do have a portable solar panel but camping in BC under the trees, the performance is not the best but on the prairies it worked much better. Just some points to consider.

[P&L]

Can someone take a photo of your battery is hooked up? We have a battery disconnect and inverter if that makes a difference.

Thanks, Lorna

[nomade do vento]

This 17b has been sold.