Collecting a vw passat estate diesel in march and have previously had twin electrics for the tow bar. What are peoples preferences. Is twin worth the extra. Does it matter that the fridge isn't running and the battery isn't charging whilst you are moving between sites????
single or doube electrics or new 13 pin decisions decisions.
- Thread starter Robfooty
- Start date
It depends how far you are travelling and where. If travelling abroad I would always want the fridge working. If you use the battery on 5 van sites I would want it charged when travelling.
I got the 13 pin socket fitted on my car because it is quite neat but it cost me
I got the 13 pin socket fitted on my car because it is quite neat but it cost me
No contest - 13 pin.
Bought a replacement car in November so wired it for 13 pin and converted the caravan.
New caravans from Sept this year (2008) will have a 13 pin plug.
Bought a replacement car in November so wired it for 13 pin and converted the caravan.
New caravans from Sept this year (2008) will have a 13 pin plug.
13 pin seems preferable then - should I get the van converted to 13 pin as well at the next service or will it affect the warranty?? I would assume I would have to have an adaptor as the van has 2 cables.
An adapter will work but introducing extra joints/connections reduces reliability.
It's not that difficult to wire both caravan cables into a single 13v pin plug.
It's not that difficult to wire both caravan cables into a single 13v pin plug.
We have just got a Passat Sport Estate 4-motion with 13 pin socket,with convertor to twin 7 pin, as current van is so wired. The 13 pin to twin 7 pin converter supplied by VW still does not power the fridge (the wiring is in place in the 13 pin socket and in the 7 pin plug - have checked on Caravan Club website). There have been other posts ref issues of compatibility/completeness of wiring, so beware they complete the job properly - still work in progress for us. Watch out also for "normal" warning for indicators - VW system monitors bulb failure, as opposed to "positive assurance" (beeping/sounder) when caravan indicators used (which we finally discovered yesterday).
Also - if VW are fitting the towbar, be careful to specify the type of towbar you need (swan neck or flange type) otherwise they will fit swan neck by default.
Hope you enjoy the car.
Ann
Also - if VW are fitting the towbar, be careful to specify the type of towbar you need (swan neck or flange type) otherwise they will fit swan neck by default.
Hope you enjoy the car.
Ann
When I bought my new car in 2003 it came with the 13pin socket. They supplied an adapter to connect the two caravan cables up to the 13pin socket. These adapter cables are readily available to buy, So I suggest you go for the 13pin and the adaptor and leave your caravan wiring as it is because when you come to sell you may have to reverse the changes you make.
Additionally, i'm not sure what the issue is regarding connecting the fridge. My 13pin socket does power the fridge, but only when the ignition is on and the engine is running.
Additionally, i'm not sure what the issue is regarding connecting the fridge. My 13pin socket does power the fridge, but only when the ignition is on and the engine is running.
Following on.....
In the TechTalk section of Januarys CC&C mag there is an article on towbar wiring.
They say that during their recent Towcar Awards trials of the 20 cars that came fitted with the continental 13 pin socket only 5 manufacturers had wired them correctly.
The article goes on to say for members who are ordering a new car, ask the dealer to confirm, I suggest in writing, that the cars wiring will be fully compliant with UK caravan requirements.
Alternatevely, if you already have the car, ask a reputable towbar specialist to check it.
In the TechTalk section of Januarys CC&C mag there is an article on towbar wiring.
They say that during their recent Towcar Awards trials of the 20 cars that came fitted with the continental 13 pin socket only 5 manufacturers had wired them correctly.
The article goes on to say for members who are ordering a new car, ask the dealer to confirm, I suggest in writing, that the cars wiring will be fully compliant with UK caravan requirements.
Alternatevely, if you already have the car, ask a reputable towbar specialist to check it.
In view of the fact that UK caravan manufacturers will be changing to the 13-pin arrangement in future and the twin electrics will then be gradually phased out, I think it would be quite worthwhile replacing the twin 7-pin with a 13-pin plug.
Regarding the fridge, in order to save costs, unfortunately some car manufacturers leave out a connection to pin No. 9 (the one for the fridge) in their trailer wiring harness, others don't. It depends on the manufacturer.
Regarding the fridge, in order to save costs, unfortunately some car manufacturers leave out a connection to pin No. 9 (the one for the fridge) in their trailer wiring harness, others don't. It depends on the manufacturer.
The standard pinning arrangement of a 13-pin socket is quite clear, so if cars are delivered incorrectly wired up, then this is entirely due to a mistake on the part of whoever connected the socket to the wiring harness.
Pin No. 1 is the left land turn signal
Pin No. 2 is the rear fog lamp
Pin No. 3 is earth for pins 1 to 8
Pin No. 4 is the right hand turn signal
Pin No. 5 is the right hand rear lights and number plate illumination
Pin No. 6 is the brake lights
Pin No. 7 is the left hand rear lights
Pin No. 8 is the reversing lamp
Pin No. 9 is permanent 12v, i.e. for the fridge (This is normally independent of the ignition)
Pin No. 10 is for charging the caravan battery and should only be active with the ignition on
Pin No. 11 is normally vacant but sometimes used as earth for Pin No. 10
Pin No. 12 is also normally vacant but is sometimes used as a signal for the towcar electronics that a trailer is connected
Pin No. 13 is normally earth for pins 9 to 13 (but only for pin 9 if pins 11 and 12 are wired up)
Pin No. 1 is the left land turn signal
Pin No. 2 is the rear fog lamp
Pin No. 3 is earth for pins 1 to 8
Pin No. 4 is the right hand turn signal
Pin No. 5 is the right hand rear lights and number plate illumination
Pin No. 6 is the brake lights
Pin No. 7 is the left hand rear lights
Pin No. 8 is the reversing lamp
Pin No. 9 is permanent 12v, i.e. for the fridge (This is normally independent of the ignition)
Pin No. 10 is for charging the caravan battery and should only be active with the ignition on
Pin No. 11 is normally vacant but sometimes used as earth for Pin No. 10
Pin No. 12 is also normally vacant but is sometimes used as a signal for the towcar electronics that a trailer is connected
Pin No. 13 is normally earth for pins 9 to 13 (but only for pin 9 if pins 11 and 12 are wired up)
ps. In order to be able to check which pin is which, here's a pic of the car's towbar socket, viewed from behind with the lid open:
Hi Lutz
thanks for your help. CC Tech Sheet on Towbar Wiring states that Pin 9 is for Interior lights (permanent supply), and that Pin 10 is for Fridge (ignition controlled), with Pin 11 being Return Earth for Pin 10. There are wires connected to all (except Pin 12 : Sensing Device) in the 13 Pin socket on the car; the 13 Pin to twin 7 Pin converor lead (now) has the appropriate wiring in place (12S Pin 6 : Fridge; Pin : Return Earth for Pin 6), but the fridge still doesn't work !
If this is correct, it seems that the 13 Pin wiring into the car is incomplete. Any views/experience on this ?
Thanks again.
Ann
thanks for your help. CC Tech Sheet on Towbar Wiring states that Pin 9 is for Interior lights (permanent supply), and that Pin 10 is for Fridge (ignition controlled), with Pin 11 being Return Earth for Pin 10. There are wires connected to all (except Pin 12 : Sensing Device) in the 13 Pin socket on the car; the 13 Pin to twin 7 Pin converor lead (now) has the appropriate wiring in place (12S Pin 6 : Fridge; Pin : Return Earth for Pin 6), but the fridge still doesn't work !
If this is correct, it seems that the 13 Pin wiring into the car is incomplete. Any views/experience on this ?
Thanks again.
Ann
Concerning the power to the fridge whilst using 13 pin systems:
On my Volvo which had 13 pin electrics, the garage had to move the earth for the fridge from pin 13 to 12 inside the adapter lead to solve the fridge not working.
But when I got my Saab with 13 pin electrics, I had to change the wiring back over (from 12 back to 13) in order to make the fridge work with the Saab's electrics.
On my Volvo which had 13 pin electrics, the garage had to move the earth for the fridge from pin 13 to 12 inside the adapter lead to solve the fridge not working.
But when I got my Saab with 13 pin electrics, I had to change the wiring back over (from 12 back to 13) in order to make the fridge work with the Saab's electrics.
Hi Ann
Pin 9 is a perminant 12v feed and pin 10(fridge feed)is ignition controlled.I had to pay extra to have the relays fitted for the fridge to work so in the 12s conector lead i swap the fridge to pin 9 .This means the fridge works all the time so much remember to disconnect when engine not running .Get a test meter and switch the engine on and see if you have 12v on pin 10 first as you might have the same problem as me no relay.
Pin 9 is a perminant 12v feed and pin 10(fridge feed)is ignition controlled.I had to pay extra to have the relays fitted for the fridge to work so in the 12s conector lead i swap the fridge to pin 9 .This means the fridge works all the time so much remember to disconnect when engine not running .Get a test meter and switch the engine on and see if you have 12v on pin 10 first as you might have the same problem as me no relay.
Just been looking at cable supply and am concerned that it seem difficult to obtain suitable 12 core cable ie. with at least 5 of the cables heavy enough to carry the high potential currents.
Another question, is there a colour code for the 13 pin plug / socket?
Another question, is there a colour code for the 13 pin plug / socket?
Many 13 pin din sockets are only wired for lights. For a Bmw or Mercedes you must get an additional relay fitted to the the car to power the fridge and charge the battery. This powers pins 9 through 13.
Our VW dealer tried to fix the problem (no fridge power supply) - but gave up and followed my suggestion to use Chester Trailer Centre (who did our X-Trail). CTC found that NONE of the 12S system had been wired up in the Passat.The VW dealer agreed to pay for twin 7 pin to be fitted and for replacement of the swan neck towbar for a flange type (which is what we wanted from day 1). Cannot recommend CTC highly enough. Would love to know if the Passat estate used in PC's TCOY was wired correctly, as have read somewhere that 15 out of 20 cars were incorrectly wired !
Ann & John
Ann & John
It appears that pins 9 to 13 on some caravans are wired up differently to cars and some cars are not wired up at all or only partially, but the pinning I described in my reply above is the standard one for the car industry. This may need modification on a case-by-case basis if the caravan is wired up differently (as per CC Tech Sheet, for example). Note that because of these apparent differences, one would need to double check every time one changes the caravan.
Hi there
I DO WISH THEY WOULD GET A STANDARD A STICK WITH IT?
When you talk to people on sites as you do the amount of problems
with 13 pin plugs and there sockets is worrying.
Steve
I DO WISH THEY WOULD GET A STANDARD A STICK WITH IT?
When you talk to people on sites as you do the amount of problems
with 13 pin plugs and there sockets is worrying.
Steve
I fully agree. I live in France and have just returned to caravanning after a break of 10 years. I'm amazed this debate is still ongoing. I'm still trying to get my Citroen dealer to fit the "standard" 13 pin Volta Jaeger socket to the car instead of the Multicon supplied by Citroen with the Brink (Thule)detachable tow ball. I may resort to a cool box for the fridge contents while driving!
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