Loose white colored wire at the television antenna connection

[countrygirl]

We have the 3124KS model and had a problem with receiving cable television this week while camping. Our TM has the televison connection on one side of the extra three drawer chest of drawers/dresser located in the living room. We eventually took out the bottom drawer of this chest of drawers/dresser and noticed that one wire is unconnected. It is a white wire. We "think" the white wire goes to the 12volt hookup that is located there.

Does anyone know what this white wire actually goes to or does? Is there a problem if we do not connct it or reconnect it???

I have been searching the forums looking for an answer to what our problem in but have not found the answer.

If you have a suggestion we would love to hear it.

We seldom use the television but took it along since there was cable availabe. We eventually just ran the coaxil cable up into the camper and hooked it directly to the tv and it worked fine. But...we should not "need" to do this.

Thanks for your help in advance!

[commodor47]

I believe the white wire should be connected to the back of the power antenna wall plate. That plate is part of the powered antenna system. When using a campground TV cable connection make sure the power button on the wall plate is in the off position. The only time you need to turn the power button on is when using the Wineguard amplified roof antenna. Perhaps the attached thumbnails will be helpful. Let us know if this resolves the wall plate issue - the problem could also be in the coax cable between the wall plate and the outside cable connector.

Dick

[countrygirl]

Thanks Commodor47! We will investigate further tomorrow and will post what we find. BTW...your pics are fantastic...should be BIG help!!!

[rotor_wash]

Just replaced mine and for a polarity check, the directions say the green light will not come on if you hooked it up wrong. Pretty much foolproof. As a reminder to watch cable, the amplifier must be off.

[countrygirl]

I hope these pics turnout a clickable thumbnail size...if not I will redo them. The first pic is inside the chest of drawers showing the connection. I looked in there an thought YIKES I only have one black wire and should have at least two and would prefer three. So we opemed the outside vent for the upper part of the fridge.

There are two wires reduced to one wire and then the one wire becomes two wires again. I did not open the cover of the television connection cover plate at the king size bed.

I need to know what this means and plan to call the factory tomorrow. We bought the camper new...and it is long out of warranty.

Suggestions please!

[countrygirl]

Update of photos.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by countrygirl

I hope these pics turnout a clickable thumbnail size...if not I will redo them. The first pic is inside the chest of drawers showing the connection. I looked in there an thought YIKES I only have one black wire and should have at least two and would prefer three. So we opemed the outside vent for the upper part of the fridge.

There are two wires reduced to one wire and then the one wire becomes two wires again. I did not open the cover of the television connection cover plate at the king size bed.

I need to know what this means and plan to call the factory tomorrow. We bought the camper new...and it is long out of warranty.

Suggestions please!

Just to be sure we understand. Your photo shows two different devices. On the left is a white box with two yellow cables going into/out of it. This device is a 120 VAC duplex outlet, and appears to be proper. So this is not part of your question, right?

On the right in the picture is the Winegard antenna plate, and the end of the loose white wire. As Dick / Commodor47 said, the loose white wire is the 12VDC negative (return) for the wall plate. It has apparently pulled out of its push-on crimp connector. This connector is hidden in your photo, but it looks just like the with the yellow sleeve in the foreground. Dick's earlier photo shows it properly connected. The fix is to pull off the old connector (from which the crimped wire has escaped) and discard it, crimp the bare end of the white wire into a new connector, and push the new connector onto the terminal where the old one was removed. This is not a big deal, and not dangerous in any way - but it is annoying for sure. It is why I don't like crimp connectors, as I have said in the past.

If you don't already have a crimp tool and a set of connectors, you should. Get them at any hardware store, or at WalMart in the trailer and RV section, for only a few bucks. For example

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...Id=56872433343
or
http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...Id=56872581863

And above all, don't panic. This is minor.

Bill