13 pin plugs

[Thedoog]

Hi, We have just taken the plunge and bought a new van, a Lunar dealer special. I have just realised that it will have a 13 pin plug. Is it easier to get the car changed or buy an adaptor. Any idea how much it would cost to have the car altered.

thanks
Steve

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Steve

i assume you have been using black and grey plugs on your current van, in which case you can connect the grey and black cables into a 13 pin socket at minimal cost, if you have to take your existing van back when you collect your new one then an adaptor may be the best bet to get you home. Since changing to 13 pin we have hardly had a problem.

 

[Hutch]

When I changed my Caravan , from the two plug to a 13, I am luckily able to do it myself, but the 13 pin can catch people out with the strange plug and twist factor, if you dont fully twist on removing , you cannot always get the plug back in, but companys sell, green plugs to help.

 

[Thedoog]

Hi yes I looked in there shop the adaptor was 30.99, I am thinking about the extra length caused by the adaptor. But yes you are right about the actual exchange day,I will wait until the swap is done.

 

[Martin24]

Making the assumption that you won't be collecting the van straight away, I would just get on and have the car changed over before you collect. That way it's all sorted and a much neater job. No idea of the price as I changed the car before getting a van with 13 pin so had the car to 13pin first. The adaptor I used for a short period was just a pain from the extra cable. The only time I wouldn't bother and just get an adaptor is if I was about to change the car.

 

[JamesH]

I experienced a lot of trouble with my black and grey plugs/sockets so I eventually decided to change to the 13pin system. It was the best thing I ever did, never had any problems since.
I had the work carried out by a local tow-bar fitting company, as it was a cold February and I didn't fancy doing the job myself.
In February 2014 the job cost £75. That was to change both the car and van over from two 7 pin to one 13pin system.

 

[MichaelE]

I would change the car to 13 pin, never had an issue with 13 pin but did have on the old type, melted earth pin etc.

 

[KeefySher]

As it is a new 'van, ask your dealer to throw in the adapter and the pin alignment 'tool'. You can get them both for under a tenner, so hardly a deal breaker for the dealer.

We had to hire a Discovery to tow our new 'van on it's first holiday. We bought a 13 to 7n 7s adapter, used a cable tie to attach the adapter to the stabiliser handle to secure it out of the way. 700 miles of towing, no issues.

Once you have the adapter you can keep it in case you change your car for another with 7n & 7s again, or someone else tows your van for you.

Depending on your car, you don't say what it is, it could be pricey to change to 13 pin.

The pin alignment tool is something you get with the 'van imo. A £1.25 retail item should be in the pack you get with the 'van. We were advised that the 13 pin 'van plugs often move alignment this tool saves lots of hassle. And yes it does happen as we found at Xmas when trying to leave site for home.

 

[Raywood]

We had the same problem and I just use an adapter. You will need one simply to get the caravan home unless the dealer can change the plug for you. What you do then is up to you but I am leaving things until I change the car but it may depend on how long you are going to go before doing that.

 

[Thedoog]

I have just rang the chap that fitted my towbar and he can supply an adaptor from 13 to 7 pin. So I am getting the plugs swapped on Saturday. One less thing to worry about.

 

[ThePolisher]

13pin far better than two 12 ones. Been on 13 pin for about 9 years now.

Lunar Dealer Specials? Is it an Eclipse? Collected ours 5 weeks ago, love it!

 

[ThePolisher]

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/28459-convert-your-tow-car-to-13-pin-electrics
Article on here about how to do it!

 

[Thedoog]

No its a Conquest from highbridge caravans, roll on May.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

No its a Conquest from Highbridge caravans, roll on May.

Had my Conquest 462 from them nearly 4 years ago. The van's going in to my local dealership soon to have the front and rear panels replaced/repaired respectively under warranty. I guess your van sidewalls will be to the new construction, but what are the front and rear made of?

 

[Thedoog]

In the brochure it only mentions the sides are one piece aluminium. It does not mention the front and rear panels is this a common Lunar problem or were you unlucky?

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Overall I'm happy with the van, other than the cracks. It has been a common problem across several manufacturers where they used ABS plastic rather than GRP panels. Cracks (2 or 3 inches long) tend to radiate from holes which were drilled into the ABS to take fixing screws, where the holes were either too small or mis-aligned thereby putting stress on the outside edges of the hole. The cracks are first noticed when you get up close and personal to the panels when polishing the van.

 

[RayS]

I would get the car changed to 13 pin. Adding an adaptor just increases the number of jpins which can get dirty, loose etc
The 13 pin plug and sockets are superior to the old 7 pin types as the plug is held into the socket with a quarter turn action and is positively locked.

The adaptor is also vunerable to theft e.g at motprway service area or similar and you would be completely stuck without it.

 

[chrisn7]

As others have said go to 13 pin. I used an adapter for a long time on my old van, but this creates a lot of extra connections which all have the potential to fail, cause voltage drop and so on. Remember too that your car will have a black and a grey multicore cable, which would also be better swapped for a new single cable.
Although its fiddly a swap over may be straightforward since you would be following an existing working installation, but a lot depends on the standard of your existing installation. These are often poor with much use of those wretched scotchloks. Have a look at where the wires from the 2 car sockets are connected to see what is required.