After some years of will we/won't we...we did! We bought a 2006 Fleetwood sonata prelude. It has 2 x 7 pin plugs, our car has a 13 pin so i bought an adaptor.to split my cars 13 tp 2x7 and assume the darker plug is for the tail lights...the lighter plug is for the electrics...? I was told i may need a new battery. the previous owner had only one 7 pin on their car. is changing the battery complicared? any other advice?
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Just purchased...waiting delivery!
- Thread starter jayw
- Start date
jayw said:
No just open the battery locker and you will see the battery and it’s terminals. You often have to slide it towards you to access the terminals so have a support ready. I use the caravan step. Disconnect the two terminals and you will see the battery name/ model on its side decals. Then just search the web for compatible types making sure any new one has the same or similar dimensions as battery lockers can be a tight fit. I would check the battery in case all it requires is recharging. Charge it then leave for 2-3 hours and measure voltage using a multimeter.
I think anybody who is in the market for a new ish caravan and is DIY competent for fitting things and fixing things ; a deal could be done with this company for a decent caravan at quite a low price if like recent posts have said if no warranty is included with the way things are ! 🤔
If the caravan battery is sound I do not see why you need to change it, I would get the caravan home and check it first. Basically the dark plug is for most things and the lighter one the fridge and earth. For more advice look up https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/technical-advice/towbar-wiring/
Damian
Moderator
Quote " Basically the dark plug is for most things and the lighter one the fridge and earth."
Not quite right.
The dark plug powers only the road lights and nothing else.
The lighter one supplies the power to the fridge and battery charge circuit, and the reverse light (if fitted)
Also your car must be fully wired in the 13 pin socket, a lot are not so you need to have this checked or the fridge and charging circuits will not work.
Not quite right.
The dark plug powers only the road lights and nothing else.
The lighter one supplies the power to the fridge and battery charge circuit, and the reverse light (if fitted)
Also your car must be fully wired in the 13 pin socket, a lot are not so you need to have this checked or the fridge and charging circuits will not work.
May be too late but I would have the caravan changed to a 13 pin plug and avoid the adaptor - more joints to go wrong.
I have seen such plugs fitted to the caravan wiring directly, or you can add a waterproof junction box mounted under the A frame cover of the caravan. These connection could be much better and with better protection from the weather than the adaptor.
The 13 pin pair is very much better engineered than the previous 2 x 7 pin connectors and, if the conversion is done correctly, you are much less likely to have problems in future.
I have seen such plugs fitted to the caravan wiring directly, or you can add a waterproof junction box mounted under the A frame cover of the caravan. These connection could be much better and with better protection from the weather than the adaptor.
The 13 pin pair is very much better engineered than the previous 2 x 7 pin connectors and, if the conversion is done correctly, you are much less likely to have problems in future.
EH52ARH said:
I use a length of Velcro tape to just support the cable. It doesn’t interfere with the breakaway cable run.
RayS said:
Our old Bessacarr had what was once an up market set up of detachable cables. This meant a 12S &12N socket mounted on the A frame fairing, followed by coiled cables to a 7 pin to 13 pin adapter and then to the car. Talk about multiple potential failure point!
I would definitely agree with changing the van to 13 pin - a time will come when there is a failure and troubleshooting is a darn sight easier with just one plug and one socket.
As others have mentioned, pay the cos t to get the car plug changed to the 13 PIN, I done it to one of my cars myself , easy, enough for myself, a dedicated Towbar person may take maybe an hour. And "Should" connect up all the earth returns correctly, and separetly. and not lump them into one one point.
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