connecting up new grey 7 pin cable

[Thelma65]

hi there - i have just been to towsure today and bought me 3 meters of new 7 pin cable that connects the caravan to towbar electrics - all good and ive now threaded through and into the caravan quite nicely -

however looking at the cable that im trying to connect to (old to new with a chock block - it seems that the old cable im connecting to was 5 core instead of 7 core?

Does this really matter? as im no electrician but the new cable is 7 core and it seems some of the colours in the cable are different colours also -

im now confused and wonder if i have bought the wrong cable or whether i can still use this so long as i connect the correct colours up to the chock block?

im not sure if i have explained this very well ?? but any thoughts or help?

many thanks

carl

 

[Sproket]

If you have a look on here about 12s wiring maybe it will be of some help as you now know what comes down each wire from the car.

 

[Sproket]

Have you disconected you old cable from the van ???

Have you taken the old grey 12s plug off the end ???

have you taken a photo of how it was wired up inside the van ??

 

[Thelma65]

Have you disconected you old cable from the van ???

Have you taken the old grey 12s plug off the end ???

have you taken a photo of how it was wired up inside the van ??

yes- i cut the end plug off so i can see the connections -

i have fed new 7 core through but i think i just need to match up the connections as per before and make sure the 5 same leads connect into the 5 same pin sockets in the adapter

as for the inside the van im connecting the old 5 core to the new 7 core with a chock block

hopefully that makes more sense

?

Also if im messing around with this cable can i get a shock from it? is any of this live - or is it only live when the car is running?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Its quite usual to have 5 core cable fitted on manufacture now since the changes in 1998ish when habitation relays were introduced etc

Just connect the 5 cables to the same colour on the van and all will be OK

 

[Mikey1]

The old 5 core didnt carry the extra earth or the reversing light,just use 5 cores when connecting at the terminal end and connect all 7 into the plug,dont forget to tape up the unused ones.

 

[Dustydog]

Carl

Have a look at Tony Maris site. I've done his mod and never had a problem since.

There is a cure for this. See the following taken from Tony Maris's website www.towitall.co.uk

12s Pin Burn Out. Is There a Cure?

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Mikey

The new 7 pin plug only uses 5 cores as the pins 2(old blue) and 5(old brown) are according to my diagram spare now.

I think that newer vans (some of mine have )only come ex works with 5 core grey cable for that reason

Regards

 

[vauxhall2]

here too

http://www.towitall.co.uk/trailer_wiring/instructions.htm
hi john.............

 

[Gareth111278]

Don't forget to disconnect the caravan battery first!

Not like i did!! LOL