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Plugs

your cars single 7 pin plug is purely for the exterior lights on your caravan, but will power the lights on any trailer you may be towing.
your caravan has 2 plugs, 1 for the exterior lights...and the other one is for the internal electrics, (fridge, interior lighting, power to charge up the caravans battery while it is being towed etc)
if you want to power all of these internal electrics while it is being towed you will need to have a 2nd supplementary socket installed on your car.
 
The wiring you describe was typical of folks who had a tow bar fitted for just towing a trailer or trailer tent. (as you just need the trailer lights working.) Generally this socket was black. The grey plug on your van will need a grey socket. More recently cars and vans come with a single 13 pin socket.
Mel
 
If you are adding to the car to provide wiring for the 12S grey socket on the caravan, why not consider upgrading both to 13 pin plug / socket, once connected with the twist action much more secure than the push-fit 12N and 12S. If you google 'Images of 13 pin caravan electrics' then colour-coded diagrams are available.
 
I endorse AudioRob's comments. The 13 pin connector is so much better. With the 7 pin ones you can have connection problems and the pins can get so hot they melt. You may find it easier to find the junction box and run a 13 wire cable from there rather than trying to get two cables into the plug.
 
I would agree that if you update the car electrics then get a 13 pin socket fitted. You can get a decent converter for just under £30 to connect to the caravan rather than having this converted if you wish, but avoid the very cheap ones which can be very poor quality. It possibly depends on how long you intend keeping the caravan as to whether it is worthwhile converting this.
 
I agree with all comments made here , the 12 pin is a far better idea .I would just like to add as I have been a victim of the 12 pin turning and not able to reconnect. I have a green docking station for the 12 pin so if the plug should turn for any reason ie when unplugging, the docking station will realign the plug. Just a thought for you .
Regards Sir Roger .
 
I have noticed that on the newer 13 pin socket there is only 1 spare terminal (Terminal 12) assuming you have reversings lights and all other circuits connected so how is your reversing camera wired in (if you have 1 of course) ?
would you use a seperate small plug for this?
 
My rear view camera mounted on the caravan is hard wired and has 4 pin plug to connect from the camera to the monitor, the cable runs inside the right hand side awning rail.
20180912-151203.jpg

20180912-151218.jpg
 
My rear view camera mounted on the caravan is hard wired and has 4 pin plug to connect from the camera to the monitor, the cable runs inside the right hand side awning rail.
20180912-151203.jpg


20180912-151218.jpg
 
My reversing aid comes courtesy of Berghaus, it’s output is akin to dyslexic semaphore, not recognisable in Scouting for Boys (or girls these days), accompanied by high frequency audio output around 110db when the arms start gyrating.
 
otherclive said:
My reversing aid comes courtesy of Berghaus, it’s output is akin to dyslexic semaphore, not recognisable in Scouting for Boys (or girls these days), accompanied by high frequency audio output around 110db when the arms start gyrating.
Click to expand...
At least your Berghaus knows to be be visible in your mirrors 😗
 
Dustydog said:
otherclive said:
My reversing aid comes courtesy of Berghaus, it’s output is akin to dyslexic semaphore, not recognisable in Scouting for Boys (or girls these days), accompanied by high frequency audio output around 110db when the arms start gyrating.
Click to expand...
At least your Berghaus knows to be be visible in your mirrors 😗
Click to expand...

Dusty d , your lucky, My Organic reversing Help, is great until out of site, doesnt realise you have to move around.
And DO Not Tell Her that. .
 
EH52ARH said:
Dusty d , your lucky, My Organic reversing Help, is great until out of site, doesnt realise you have to move around.
And DO Not Tell Her that. .
Click to expand...

My helper might as well be on another site too Hutch, passers by wave back at her (she does not appear to be doing anything that relates to reversing a caravan) 😛

I won't grass if you won't 😉
 
Some of us reversing aids are simply leaping about to avoid being crushed by a rapidly reversing van manouvered by someone who “knows best”. 😗
Mel
 
Gabsgrandad said:
My 'organic' reversing aid also tends to disappear as soon as any 'lock' is put on. --- Dynamo would be proud of her!
Click to expand...

I am more than Happy to pitch up , and let Elaine take the dogs off, so I can *** out and but a new Hook up,cable that I had left in the garage. Oops
 
I had to have father-in-laws wall re-built when using SHMBO to direct me, she said she was watching other side.

However it was not due to reversing lights, I was going forward, and the second socket only works reversing lights, OK it could do split charging, work the freezer, and vacuum warning etc. However I am not really worried about that, I don't tow for long enough.

We find if fridge was on before we leave, still cold enough after 5 hours towing without power including the ice cream. Same on return, when we get home plugged in and often not emptied until next day.

For split charging to work with modern car you need an inverter, without an inverter it is so little energy transferred just not worth the effort, and reversing camera easier to have wireless.

I do have 13 pin, pain in the neck, as have to use converters for trailer and push bike light board. Some day I will replace with 13 pin plugs, which will mean the converters will no longer be required.

When the reversing light held the over run brakes off, then the second plug was required, but today it's not done electrically and I would not reverse at night without some one assisting. So one plug is really enough.
 
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