Converting 'van to 13 pin electrics

[tug100]

Hi all

I am in the process of converting my sterling europa 2005 van to 13 pin electrics to save having to use an adaptor when connecting to my new car which has 13 pin towbar wiring.

My plan is to run new 13 pin cable into the van and attach the new 13 core cable to the relevant wires from the 12n and 12s using a terminal block (often referred to as chocolate block), but to me the simple white blocks with screw terminals.

The terminal block I have bought is 15amp. Like this...

http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/electric/product_19118/W4_Terminal_strip_15amp_12_way.aspx?aff=122
Can anyone tell me whether 15 amp block is high enough rating. The reason I ask is that the 12s + feed runs through a 20 Amp fuse which makes me wonder whether it could melt the block (in the same way the fridge can melt pin 7 on the 12s set up).

Advice from those in the know appreciated.

Martin

 

[PeteVW]

Hi Martin,

For the road light's your 15amp blocks are more than capable.

However,For the battery and fridge power and earth return I would recomend using block's of 30 amp capabilities.

Also use for the permanent live as well.

As you rightly say,most charging relay's run @ 20 amp peak.

Especially on initial start and charge.

Hope this help's a bit.

 

[Sproket]

It is much easier if you stip back the outer casing on your grey & black cable & buy a 13pin plug & wire it in, & then wrap the cables together for about 18" with some....

self-amalgamating tape you won't have any problems .....

13pin wiring diagram

 

[Ancientcaravanner]

I did this on my Swift Challenger 480. I got a cable complete with 13 pin plug on one end and the appropriate plug on the othe to plug straight into the board in the van. It may be worth checking if a similar cable is available for your van. Mine came from Sargents

http://www.sargentltd.co.uk/html/shop.html

 

[steve_374576889]

Hi.i'm looking for a sky light for my avondale avocet 2001 model.its a blue polycarb tint colour with a sliding up type,do you know were i could finf one

 

[raccoon]

Hi Sprocket, a good picture to keep that one. Can I just ask one question for anyone to answer here and sorry for not opening a seperate message.

If I buy the relative sockets do I just wire both sets of cables into each and thats it finnished with, or can I buy a splitter cable with 13 pin at the car end and two sockets at caravan end.

Thats two questions sorry.

 

[Sproket]

Yes !

 

[Sproket]

Just buy a plug & a socket but be careful that you don't get a stay strand of wire crossing over to another terminal... as they are close together...

They wont be all of the same colours as 13core cable....

Take photos of where the wires are in the old plug's & socket's to use as a reference... take it steady & don't rush..

 

[tug100]

Thanks all.

Peter - I'm gonna get a 30 amp block then for the wires drawing most current.

Sproket - I'm not keen to run 2 wires to the socket just 'cos I like a nice neat job, so will stick to original plan to replace grey and black 7 core cables.

Ancient - couldn't see any useful cable on the sargent link. I have already wired the 13 core cable into the caravan plug, so one end is done. Just need to run it into the van and wire it in now.

Martin

 

[cava55]

have had a look on the site and i can find plugs and cable, but not what you got from them did you order it and at what cost, does it just plug in to the panel ? cheers for your help.

 

[DomDom]

K, I did this on our old Swift Conqueror and it's really not difficult to do it from parts.

If you can get a pre-wired 13 pin plug with about 2 metres of cable, all to the good. If not, the diagrams are on the towsure website. Small screwdriver, wire cutters/strippers and a bit of patience is all you need. 15 minutes work to wire a 13 pin plug MAX.

Where they connect in the van itself, you will see the 2 main cables (black & grey) come into the board. I cut these off leaving about 6 inches of the main sheathing so I was left with easily identifiable wires. (both grey and black main sheaths have identical coloured cores so you need to know which one it came from)

Strip back about a foot of the 13 core cable and then also strip the ends of the individual wires ready to go in the chocolate block on the board. Then it's just a process of one by one replacing them. I started with the 7S cable and then did the 7N afterwards. All in it took me about 2 hours including tidying up after. Total cost was about 20 quid which included a bag of cable ties. Jacksons of old arley parts department sold me the whole kit.

 

[tug100]

Job done.

All tested.

Works a treat.

Parts:

13 core cable from Bawtry Caravans

13 pin plug from Bawtry

Choc blocks from B&Q

Cable ties

Bit of sealant for plugging the hole underneath the van now that only one cable enters the van.

Wire strippers from Maplins

Other tools from my toolbox!

Martin