RV Repair: Solenoid, solenoid coil, hotwire

Question
I am trying to hook up a solenoid for 1 1988 Holiday Rambler.  I have hooked it up but there isn't any power going to the the switches inside the motorhome which tell me how many volts the battery is charging.  Can you tell me how to hook up the solenoid?  Maybe I have it hooked up wrong.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  

Answer
Hi Gary:
I am going to assume that the solenoid you are hooking up is the battery disconnect solenoid powering up the coach. If that is not so then you need to tell me. The battery disconnect solenoid normally has four terminals on it, two big ones and two small ones. If there is only one small one then the solenoid coil, what makes it work, is internally grounded and needs only a hotwire to work. The two large terminals are the battery terminals that get hooked together when the solenoid is energized.It does not matter which get hooked where as it is just making a connection. The two small terminals one is hot and the other one is ground, it does not matter which you hook to which. It works both ways. You have to remember that the house(coach) battery needs to be charged for the solenoid to work. If it is not then the solenoid will not work and you will not have any power to the coach or any of the meters or lights.
Check the house battery and if it is charged then there is a wiring problem somewhere and you'll need a good volmeter and some time to find the trouble. Look to see if there are voltages where they need to be and if there is not try to find why not. Fix those things you find wrong. Good luck.
Bill