13 pin socket

Nicholasb
Nicholasb Club Member Posts: 5 ✭
edited April 2016 in Caravans #1

Just wondering if you can get twin sockets changed to a 13 pin socket on the caravan?

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #2

    Just wondering if you can get twin sockets changed to a 13 pin socket on the caravan?

    Course you can. Either change both 7 core cables to a 13 core & rewire the lot to the caravan or use onne of these

    clicky

    I assume you meant plugs Wink

  • Peteno8
    Peteno8 Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited April 2016 #3

    I asume that you have 13 pin socket on car and two 7 pin plug on caravan, if this is the case all you need is an adapter sold by Amazon and others. I used a very neat and tidy adapter that plugs into the car socket and accepts the two 7 pin plugs directly.
    It is a first rate bit of kit made by 'Eric Jaeger' current price is £26.00. There are no extra leads with this method.

  • MJ730
    MJ730 Forum Participant Posts: 184
    edited April 2016 #4

    Our new van has a 13 pin plug but our car has 2 x 7 pin sockets so just use an adapter.

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited April 2016 #5

    I asume that you have 13 pin socket on car and two 7 pin plug on caravan, if this is the case all you need is an adapter sold by Amazon and others. I used a very neat and tidy adapter that plugs into the car socket and accepts the two 7 pin plugs directly.
    It is a first rate bit of kit made by 'Eric Jaeger' current price is £26.00. There are no extra leads with this method.

    Write your comments here...yes I use this type of adapter tow bar fitter gave it to me when I got towbar fitted saves changing electrics on van.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited April 2016 #6

    Just be careful with the adapter. They are very heavy and can easily become detached and dangle down onto the road. Ours did on the M40 and damaged the wiring to the caravan, which needed replacing. After that we used a bungee to make sure it would never
    reach the road.

  • Kerry Watkins
    Kerry Watkins Forum Participant Posts: 325
    100 Comments
    edited April 2016 #7

    We were the same as Steve. Our can,e was dangling on the floor and we did not realise until a kind person told us!  Spent the following morning cutting the cable and re-connecting the adaptor one wire at a time. Now we hold up the cables with cable ties
    and have had no further problems.

  • Nicholasb
    Nicholasb Club Member Posts: 5 ✭
    edited April 2016 #8

    Thanks, I had an adapter but it ended up dragging on the ground so both caravan sockets need replacing so I was wondering if they could be changed to a 13 pin.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited April 2016 #9

    Yes, they can. You can do it yourself if you're techie minded.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #10

    But apparantly you have to take the new wiring right back to the fuse box.

  • 19chris77
    19chris77 Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited April 2016 #11

    Yes they can be re wired no problems i have done quite a few now for customers that have upgraded their vans I think last one was about £50 including parts

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #12

    For a number of years I towed with a 13 pin on car and 2 x 7 pin on caravan.  Used an adaptor and had no problems.  Yes the adaptor is a little heavy but twisting it round the jockey wheel pole ( above the A Frame) solved that.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #13

    We use adapter cables with no problems.....

  • bigherb
    bigherb Forum Participant Posts: 65
    edited April 2016 #14

    No need to rewire. You can fit a 13 pin plug that will accept the two 7 core cables, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-for-Caravans-with-2-Cables-/201516164351?hash=item2eeb4ca4ff:g:PTcAAOSwa-dWsK0N

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited April 2016 #15

    No need to rewire. You can fit a 13 pin plug that will accept the two 7 core cables, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-for-Caravans-with-2-Cables-/201516164351?hash=item2eeb4ca4ff:g:PTcAAOSwa-dWsK0N

    Write your comments here...

    Like this

  • 19chris77
    19chris77 Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited April 2016 #16

    Yeah we are aware of adapters etc but the these are not what I would class as a permanent solution only a temp I carry a adapter but only for emergency situations or to help out others.

    As a auto electrician i know more connections more chance of problems

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #17

    No need to rewire. You can fit a 13 pin plug that will accept the two 7 core cables, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-for-Caravans-with-2-Cables-/201516164351?hash=item2eeb4ca4ff:g:PTcAAOSwa-dWsK0N

    That's just the same as the live link I made in my reply Cool

  • crannoghome
    crannoghome Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited April 2016 #18

    If you do buy the conversion plug in MollysMummy's link, be aware that the wiring information given is out of date. Pin 12 was originally unassigned, but was officially given the trailer detection function in 2012 (ISO 11446:2012).  This is done by electrically
    connecting pin 12 to pin 3 (ground) - a simple loop of wire inside the plug is easiest.  It's what tells your car's electronics that it is now towing something so changes various functions to suit, such as turning off the reversing sensors or enabling the
    car's trailer stability function.

    I did this on our caravan with one of these conversion plugs and it only took a couple of hours with a small screwdriver.

  • Lyke Wake Man
    Lyke Wake Man Forum Participant Posts: 238
    edited April 2016 #19

    easy to put in a new cable, do away with the old 12n &12s

    I had  the old 7 pin & a few times when checking the lights  before setting off, left indicator not working, wobble it, its now working, change to 13 pin euro all lights work everytime

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited April 2016 #20

    If you do buy the conversion plug in MollysMummy's link, be aware that the wiring information given is out of date. Pin 12 was originally unassigned, but was officially given the trailer detection function in 2012 (ISO 11446:2012).  This is done by electrically
    connecting pin 12 to pin 3 (ground) - a simple loop of wire inside the plug is easiest.  It's what tells your car's electronics that it is now towing something so changes various functions to suit, such as turning off the reversing sensors or enabling the
    car's trailer stability function.

     

    This is not always the case, certainly not with Land Rover and most if not all caravans have nothing at all wired to pin 12.

     

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #21

    No need to rewire. You can fit a 13 pin plug that will accept the two 7 core cables, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-for-Caravans-with-2-Cables-/201516164351?hash=item2eeb4ca4ff:g:PTcAAOSwa-dWsK0N

    Write your comments here...

    Like this

    Our service engineer wouldn't fit one of these, because he said it wasn't acceptable and that a new cable to suit the 13 pin plug should be installed. 

    I know nothing about electrics, just repeating what a trusted engineer told me.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #22

    .....Our service engineer wouldn't fit one of these, because he said it wasn't acceptable and that a new cable to suit the 13 pin plug should be installed. 

    I know nothing about electrics, just repeating what a trusted engineer told me.

    I replaced both 7 core canbles as I thought it was a better job, but from an electrical point of view, both methods are the same ....... IMHO

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited August 2016 #23

    How about doing it yourself (DIY), it maybe better than going to your local Scotch-Lock-Mob lol.

    https://caravanchronicles.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/upgrading-to-13-pin.pdf

     

Categories