Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Wiring diagrams

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Wiring diagrams

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7593
Printed Date: 22 Jun 2025 at 2:04am
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Topic: Wiring diagrams

Posted By: howmanyds
Subject: Wiring diagrams
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2016 at 12:47pm

Does Forest River provide wiring diagrams or service manuals?
I want to determine if I can put my battery shutoff switch inside the Rpod behind the TV.
I also need to find the best way to route wires for some 12v plugs I'm going to install.

Replies:

Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2016 at 2:11pm

No such thing as wiring diagrams or brand specific manuals. FR's motto is "Let no two pods be built the same". What little factory documentation that may exist has never been seen by users.

You can place the battery cutoff pretty much anywhere it physically fits, but you'll have to find, identify, and trace the wiring. The cutoff must go between the battery and the power panel/converter, leaving the converter to power the pod when the battery is disconnected. Keep in mind that, if you significantly increase the length of the wire you should increase the size of the wire (i.e., go from #8 to #6 or #6 to #4) all the way back to the battery or converter to control voltage drop.

Adding 12V outlets is easy. Just run new #12 or#10 AWG wires from the new location to an unused fuse on the converter panel. Sometimes you may have to go under the floor and caulk the holes.

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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2016 at 11:02am

You can get a remote control battery switch and mount it close to the battery, that way you don’t have to runs new wires inside the trailer. Amazon carry’s them Marinco 701-MD RV Trailer Camper Motorized Remote Battery Disconnect $179 or Blue Sea Systems 7700 ML-Series Remote Battery Switch with Manual Control $145. I think both of these are expensive for something as simple as a battery switch. The auto reset breaker in the positive cable from the battery that came with my trailer is only 50 amps, so based on that you do not need a very large battery switch.

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JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
2 Paynes in a Pod

Posted By: howmanyds
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2016 at 11:08am

Great.

Is the converter in the power panel? I don't want to accidentally go between the two since I don't know what a converter would look like.

Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2016 at 8:37pm

The converter is part of the power panel. Technically they are different, but they are both within the brown enclosure. Just intercept the leads between the battery and the back of the power box.

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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Posted By: howmanyds
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2016 at 11:42pm

How do I get to the wires behind the power panel? Do I need to remove it?
My 183G has the "pantry" cabinets on the other side and the walls are stapled in place. I could remove them and restaple of need be. There's probably a 4" space between the cabinet wall and the power panel wall.

Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 7:48am

I can't speak directly to the 183, but generally the panel has to be removed. It has several screws holding it in from the front. Be sure the battery is disconnected and the Pod is unplugged from shore (house) power first.

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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD