13 Pin extension lead
Hi,
I am going on my first trip without EHU. I am exploring the solar panels option but would also like to be able to connect to my car to charge the leisure battery on occasions but without the need to have the car parked right next to the tow hitch.
I have tried to find a 13 pin electric extension lead to buy so I can park the car next to the van and still hook up but I can't seem to find an extension to purchase. Do they exist or is there a reason they shouldn't be used.
Thanks in advance for your advice 
Comments
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You can connect van to car via such a cable, and, without engine running you can power the van from the car battery. Best done only in an emergency.
To charge the battery in the van from the car would involve having the engine running, which is not likely to make you popular with other campers.
Best get a good solar panel.
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Engine might well need to run higher than normal tickover speed to provide any real charging and there will be a voltage drop so any such cable should not be too long and should be thick.
20 years ago I generally toured without a caravan battery but the car was only powering lights and water pump and was driven daily. Did not have mains electrics either
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Hi Robstix.KjellNN hits the nail on the head. Why would you want to charge from the car? OK - in an emergency you may want to or have to but I have not had to do it in 3 years plus. If I ever do, I will just hook up as normal.' Best get a good Solar Panel ' was the comment and I concur entirely. If you are thinking of going non EHU, the heart of the operation is a good (powerful) SP and preferably a Safefill cylinder(if you want to save money) As a starting point I would recommend 120w. I have a 135w and I will be fitting a 200w on my next van. The SP, if its got enough ummph, will keep your battery charged to the max. That's the next thing - a good battery. A 110ah battery in good condition will give good service for lights, pumps etc. I fitted a second 110ah battery. What's the point of making all that lovely free electricity if youI cant store it anywhere? So, you shouldn't really need a special lead - best spend you money on good quality non EHU kit. Hope this helps.
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Hi Robstix.KjellNN hits the nail on the head. Why would you want to charge from the car? OK - in an emergency you may want to or have to but I have not had to do it in 3 years plus. If I ever do, I will just hook up as normal.' Best get a good Solar Panel ' was the comment and I concur entirely. If you are thinking of going non EHU, the heart of the operation is a good (powerful) SP and preferably a Safefill cylinder(if you want to save money) As a starting point I would recommend 120w. I have a 135w and I will be fitting a 200w on my next van. The SP, if its got enough ummph, will keep your battery charged to the max. That's the next thing - a good battery. A 110ah battery in good condition will give good service for lights, pumps etc. I fitted a second 110ah battery. What's the point of making all that lovely free electricity if youI cant store it anywhere? So, you shouldn't really need a special lead - best spend you money on good quality non EHU kit. Hope this helps.
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In the bad old days I remember putting the leisure battery in the boot of the car and attaching a cable to it with alligator clips and driving around charging the battery that way. I have probably still got the cable for it with a 7 pin plug hidden away in the garage. I haven't even thought of doing that recently - I am far too old to lug the battery round like that (they are a good deal heavier now!) As Merve and KjNell have said there are simpler ways of doing it that are more neighbour friendly too.
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Before the advent of blown air and now Alde I caravanned for 15+ years with no need of a battery for the caravan - never use a TV in the caravan except at Christmas. I simply used an extension lead to connect to the tow car on site. On a few occasions when having 9 days away near the coast I carried a battery so that when I drifted off site at 6am to fish a tide for a couple of hours the family had lights and water pump whilst the car was away. Similarly the last holiday that I had with my late wife we took a battery as although we were away for 7 weeks I had to pop back into work for 2.5 days or so. Didn't need to recharge it though as generally used the car.
I agree though if you want more power to the battery rather than using car battery then a Solar Panel sounds a good idea
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Before the 'invention' of EHUs and electricity in cvans, we used to run a TV in the van from the car battery via the old type single towing electric socket and a home made extension cable.
These days I'd go for a SP if I was intending to be off EHU for more than a couple of days.
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A long time ago we too had a 'spare' leisure battery in the boot of the car that was charged as we drove and swapped them over every couple of days. We also ran the van directly from the car 12 S plug but wouldn't now. I think your best bet is a solar panel.
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As the car when connected up disables the caravan electrics I cannot see connecting up to the car is workable. To charge the battery from the car would take a very long time with the engine running as the charge you get is usually not that great. I would look at solar panels but you need over 100 amps and a regulator so not cheap.
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just buy a 13 pin plug & socket, some cable and make your own, its easy
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Hi all,
Many thanks for all the reply's. It seems connecting to the car is not the way forward so I will be purchasing a 120W solar panel and see how we get on.
Two weeks in the south of France on the edge of a lake should be a good test
Just hope the pine trees the camp site is in lets enough sunlight through to get a good charge.Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
Happy caravaning
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With your intended 120 watt panel you will find even in the shade in summer it will charge a large 110 amp battery. Whilst direct sunlight does the job quicker I have found on very heavily overcast days in December the panel easily keeps pace.
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Whilst a solar panel may suit your requirements, you can easily try your extension cable for a fraction of the cost.
Just connect a 13 pin plug to a 13 pin socket with a substantial 2 core cable. Connect pin 9, positive, of the plug to pin 9 of the socket and pin 13 negative to pin 13. Your habitation relay will not operate as you have no connection to pin 10.
As others have said you will need to guard against a flat battery in your car.
Hope this helps.
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