Cracked 12S Plug - can I DIY it?

[Joann]

The plastic casing on our 12S plug on the caravan has cracked, but still works, is this something I can do myself or do I need to get an engineer?
Our car ( and our previous caravan) has a 13Pin connector would it be a difficult/expensive job to change the caravan over to a 13 pin as well, we use an adapter at the moment but the cables are long and we have to fasten them up with velcro.

 

[Tony_5041742]

If you can wire a domestic 3 pin plug you should be able to change a 12N or 12S socket. The main things are pretty obvious, firstly make double sure you know which wires go to which pin (ie use a wiring diagram or make sure you wire up the new plug exactly the same as the old one, not too hard as the individual cables are colour coded), and also make sure the individual wires are cut to the right length.

I can't imagine that fitting a 13 pin socket is too hard, but as I've never done it I'll keep quiet!

 

[mat1]

You can remove the outer casing without having to rewire the plug.
Unscrew the plastic nut at the cable end and prise the casing open.
This will reveal a rubber gromet the coloured wires and the plastic disk that the pins and wires are fastened to.

By a new plug and simply replace the outer casing.
The plastic disk will only fit back in the outer casing one way so don't panic.

Changing to 13 pin has been covered numerous times on here, including pictures and diagrams, so best to do a search.

Mat

 

[Joann]

Thanks for the help, will do that, the wiring looks fine it is just the plastic case.
Cheers
Will also search for changing to 13 pin as suggested.
Regards

 

[Delt1c]

Not always as simple as just changing the outer casing, I have just changed the 12S and 12N sockets on the van, different manufactures plugs have slightly different iner mouldings and are not always interchangable. Any problems with the plugs and i always change the whole thing. Just make a note of which wire goes to which terminal , and dont forget to disconect the battery before you start.

 

[AdifferentJim]

Replacing your 12N and 12S plugs with a single 13 pin one is straight forward enough and would do away with the need for any additional adaptor. Getting the two cables into one plug is a bit of a sqeeze but they will go.

Remove the two existing plugs. Trim the wires to the appropriate lengths and connect to the correct pins. Wrap the cables in self amalgamating tape where they enter the plug to give a water resisting seal. Connect up and drive off.

The right wires to pin locations can be found on the web. I can't remember where I got the one from when I did mine but it clearly showed which wires went into which terminals and what they were for. All in glorious Technicolor.

If your interested I can dig it out and either post it or e-mail it to you.

 

[Joann]

Thanks or all the help, I am going to swap the cracked plug to a new one tomorrow. I have a wiring diagram somewhere in a magazine.

Regards
Joann

 

[B4bill]

Joann,
no need to trawl through mags, the wiring diagrams are all here
http://www.a-tconsulting.co.uk/caravan_tech/13_pin_wiring_details.html
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acatalog/7pin_12N_Wiring.html
http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_12S_wiring_diagram.html

 

[Joann]

Thankyou, saves me raking through a pile of back issues.

 

[Joann]

Rewired it today, very pleased with self