Bad connection

[kay4]

Hello

I would be grateful of some advice!

We have just brought our first caravan so we are new to technical problems it throws at us, we have had a dual socket towbar fitted and plugged in both the black and grey sockets, it seems that the grey socket which gives power from car battery to caravan when towing does not work. We have used amp checking device to check that the amps are working on the towbar socket and that works but its just not giving power when hitched up to the caravan socket. Can anybody shed some light on this!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Is it giving a 12V supply to the fridge?

With post 1996ish vans the habitation relay in the van is triggered by the fridge supply and cuts off the van internal 12V electrics when the car ignition is on/engine running .

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Hi,

Just a thought. Depending on the year of your caravan depends on how the 12S (grey) socket should be wired. I think the change happened in 1999 but any caravan dealer will tell you the exact date. Therefore if your car is wired post 1999 and caravan is pre 1999 you will have problems and vice versa.

Certain connections on the 12S will only work when the car engine is running. This is because they work through a relay. For example if your caravan fridge did not operate through a relay on 12 volt, when you turned of your car engine your fridge would soon flaten your car battery.

Hope this is of help.

Hamer

 

[WatsonJohnG]

If the socket is wired to the old standard plus the dedicated fridge earth return to the centre pin (7 black) then it can be used for both old and new caravans