Soggy 13 pin plug problem
Hi all we have just got back from checking the caravan at the storage site. I found the alarm light flashing a code to indicate the 13 pin plug had been interfered with. I checked and found the lead had dropped down from under the tow hitch cover. I removed
the green alignment cover that I leave on, to find the whole lot full of water and very rusty, even the plated pins were brown. I have dried it all out and sprayed with WD 40 but I think I will need to replace the plug. Are some of better quality than others?
After resetting the alarm it has stayed OK.
Comments
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Thanks rogher, the battery is OK, it is kept topped up by a 100watt solar panel. The condition of the pins in the plug looks poor, many are brown, and not the silver of the others and it does not wipe off. I did dismantle the plug and found some of the screw
fixings for the wires are rusty as well. If I plug it into the socket on the car it will contaminate them as well. I have wondered how the water got in as the gland where the wire enters was screwed up tight. It must have entered around the rotating part of
the barrel, there is an o ring but I think that is where it came in, and could not drain out as the alignment cover cap was on and has a rubber seal. The lead was hanging down over the side of the A frame, I had tucked it under the cover but somehow it had
fallen down.0 -
In that case, I’d replace the plug and, to answer your original question, I’m sure there are variations in quality. Having understood the shortfalls of your existing one I’d check that a replacement is unlikely to suffer the same result. The grommet that
the cable feeds through at the back of the plug should be a tight fit. You may need to lubricate it (spit) to get the cable through.0 -
I have seen two types of socket, one had silver coloured pins and the other had pins that were either brass, or brass coloured. Obviously if they are brass then being non ferrous would make better contacts. Ask at your local towbar fitter if any are actually made with brass pins. If your pins have become discoloured and rusty, then they aren't brass
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Thanks all for your replies. When we bought the van a year ago I asked them to change the two 7 pin plugs for a single 13 pin as our car already had the 13 pin socket. They fitted a complete new plug and single cable back to the wiring connection in the
caravan at no charge; however the caravan It is now just out of wty! But I will ask them about the problem. I will try and look for a better quality plug and work out how to make sure the plug and cable stay under the cover in future!!0 -
I went back to the caravan storage site yesterday and have arranged for the plug to be replaced when the caravan has it's service soon, they have a trained service engineer on site. I have also wrapped a bungee cord around the wire to stop it moving from under the cover.It is so frustrating not to be able to change the plug myself but I have very active psoriasis on my fingers which makes doing this too painful at the moment! I spent nearly all my working life repairing photographic equipment; so wiring a 13 pin plug would not worry me.
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