mark734
marietta,ga
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Joined: 08/19/2007
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i am trying to hookup batteries after putting in a new one i have everthing turned off and the cable sparks when i try to hook up the two 6 volt auxillary batteries in series i have the hookup right what has happened thanks jw thompson 2002 southwind with chev
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PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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You are absolutely sure you are wired right +/- +/- with each 6V battery to have them wired in series for 12V. You don't have shore power going to the RV do you? It might be back feeding through the inverter?
You will often get a small spark when connecting, so if you are sure of the connections, just put connectors in place...and tighten them up. A little vasoline on the connections will help preserve them too.
good luck
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris
The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008 
The Pets
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Tenn Stud
Northeast, TN
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Joined: 11/16/2004
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Find your negative cable (bolted to frame) put it on one of the batteries on the neg(-)post, The next cable will hook the + (pos) on that same batt, To the Neg on the second battery, The last connection will go on the pos (+) post. The only one left. If it sparks you have something on in the RV, Or you are plugged it to shore power
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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To avoid "SPARKS" Attach the Negative LAST! This is the safe way to connect batteries! The 2 Six volts should be connected in series to each other + to - First, then the + to the Red Cable followed by Black to the Negative. Always make sure that All Draws are switched Off and be careful Not to Short the Batteries !As previously stated make sure that You are not connected to Shore Power while changing out Batteries!
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
" Everything in it"Still" Works"
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frankandvicki
Niwot,CO
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Joined: 05/31/2007
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As Rob says the negative side should be attached last. This avoids a spark with an accidental slip of the wrench when installing the positive side. If you happen to touch the frame (ground) with the wrench while tightening the positive side -- sparks and shock if you connect negative first.
Frank O.
Frank and Vicki
Niwot, CO
2006 Itasca Sunrise 35A
States visited/camped in, not just driven through.
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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It doesn't matter one bit what cable you connect first or last as far as sparking is concerned. The reason to connect the ground to the frame last is that connection if furtherest from the batteries and there is less danger of the spark igniting gasses from the battery if it has been charged aggressively and has been boiling. Those gasses are explosive.
Positive or nagative-the last connection may spark. I get a spark that is the inverter charging something inside it.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
275 RV injectors
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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Tenn Stud
Northeast, TN
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jauguston wrote:It doesn't matter one bit what cable you connect first or last as far as sparking is concerned. The reason to connect the ground to the frame last is that connection if furtherest from the batteries and there is less danger of the spark igniting gasses from the battery if it has been charged aggressively and has been boiling. Those gasses are explosive.
Positive or nagative-the last connection may spark. I get a spark that is the inverter charging something inside it.
Jim
THIS MAN IS CORRECT It makes no difference in what order the cables are connected!!!!! If the sparks are that bad he should find what is causing the sparks before hooking the batteries to the coach
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2ndhom
Eugene, Oregon
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Read in my coach manual today that battery/cable hook-up sparking can happen if you have solar charging enabled. It says to locate the solar fuse and temporarily disconnect or cover the panel. GOOD LUCK .... electrical happenings are sometimes a witch-hunt! Tom
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mqpapa
auburn, wa
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Joined: 09/12/2004
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Hello
Sounds to me like you need a drip under pressure(better known as an expert).
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CaBoy
Junction City, OR USA
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Joined: 02/20/2003
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Try this, I had the same issue on one of my other coaches. I would get a noticeable spark when I made the final connection after having the batteries disconnected. Didn't matter which pole, just the final connection. What I found was, if I touched the post with the bat cable & got the spark, if after a couple of seconds I pulled it off & retouched it, no spark. Leave it off for several minutes, get a spark, & that was with the battery disconnect in the off position, What I found out after talking to a technician was that there are sensors & relays that take a charge, even with the disconnect switch off. That is why after the charging current hit them, no further spark unless the connection was off again for several minutes. Give it a try, touch & get the spark, after a couple seconds pull the lead & retouch, if no spark on the second touch, you don't have a problem. good luck.
The older I get, the better I used to be.
1997 Prevost by Country Coach
470 HP Series 60 Detroit / 6 SP. Allison
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
Same Co-Pilot for 43 years
2 Boston Terrier girls, Scooter & Mia
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