12 s earth returns,Question for the experts

[Roy2]

Just a quick question.

My pin 7 Black Earth return for the fridge has gone dead.Continuity all ok to pin 7 on plug but no earth on socket.

Check Wiring and its basiclly goes into a black hole as far as I can see.I am not willing to poke about,need to take it back to the fitting centre,still under waranty.

Problem is,We are away tommorow up North from Dorset,long tow and I was thinking that I could Bridge pin 3 to pin 7 as pin 3 is the main earth,ON THE BACK OF THE SOCKET.

Will this cause any other problems to the other devices?

Any help would be handy.

Ta

 

[Damian]

Roy, as a quick fix for the holiday the bridge would work ok (I know this as that is how the supposedly "expert" electrician who fitted my towbar (Renault Trained and tested!!) did it, and I did not know, in fact he only used 3 core cable to the 12s.

For the long term, get it sorted by the fitter on your return.

 

[Roy2]

Thanks for your reply.

I will be changing the van in Sep for a 2009 model and I have been advised that it will have a 13 pin socket?

So I will have it updated at the same time.

Roy

 

[Damian]

Roy, you will wonder why 13 pin plugs and sockets were not introduced years ago.

They are miles better than the two plug and socket system.

It was only when upgrading to the 13 pin system that I discovered the wonderful world of Renault trained electricians!!

 

[rob_jax]

Quote "you will wonder why 13 pin plugs and sockets were not introduced years ago.

They are miles better than the two plug and socket system."

Basically they were - Jaeger introduced their models of the 13 pin ISO 11446 plug and socket system in 1988...

Perhaps it's more a question of resistance to change in the local market.

Robert

 

[Saladdodger]

Roy.

What do you mean when you say that the earth return has gone dead (pin 7)? Assumming that you mean that there is no connection between pin 7 and the metalwork of the car, I would rather disconnect the original black wire and run another one from pin 7 to a good and clean earth point on the car's metalwork. Short term, the extra wire could be taped to the original (grey) cable.

Your suggestion of bridging pins 7 and 3 could result in overloading the original white wire to/from pin 3.

SD

 

[Roy2]

Done the temp mod on the back of the socket,all systems working ok.

ref to last log,pin 3 may be overloaded.

What does pin 3 earth for? can only think it operates the habitation relay (very small current) and poss trickle charge the caravan batt when on tow,and in use if you run 12 volt from the car when stationary.

Anything else?

 

[Saladdodger]

Done the temp mod on the back of the socket,all systems working ok.

ref to last log,pin 3 may be overloaded.

What does pin 3 earth for? can only think it operates the habitation relay (very small current) and poss trickle charge the caravan batt when on tow,and in use if you run 12 volt from the car when stationary.

Anything else?

Roy.

Yes that is all of the current that the white wire from pin 3 carries but now it also carries the current from your fridge (hope its not a big fridge/freezer). What XS area is the white wire from pin 3. Is it 1.5mm2 or 2.5mm2?