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7 pins + 7 pins = 13 pins?

 
 
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w3526602
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Joined: 10 Jun 2002
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:44 am    Post subject: 7 pins + 7 pins = 13 pins? Reply with quote

Hi,

My Disco has a substantial tow-bar, with two 7 pin trailer sockets. My caravan has a 13 pin plug. No real problem, as I've got a 7/13 adaptor ....only that means there is no leccy to some of the caravan auxilaries (like the fridge) when towing.

TOWSURE list an adaptor that consists of a 13 pin socket with two wires with plugs on the ends. Looks a bit contrived, but I guess it will do the job.
My concern is that the picture of this adaptor sugests that the wires MAY not be long enough to reach both the sockets on the Disco.

Does anyone have any experience?

602

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sus
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

if they dont reach u can get a 7 to 7 ext about a foot long
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teamidris
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Honestly, you'll be strugling Confused

I've been looking around and there isn't much 13 pin stuff about Sad

You can do like above and get a grey 12s male/female to go with the Y shaped 13pin adapter lead to get the length. Or make your own?

The problem seems to be that many trailers have 12s and 12n sockets on the trailer just like those on the car. But 13 pin seem to be a trailer/caravan mounted tail. So anything that isn't normal is rare and seems to entitle the seller to go right deep in your wallet Very Happy

I vote make what you want, or mod the bought in 'Y' by extending the wires. They are nearly as cheap as buying the individual plugs/sockets anyway Very Happy

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cynic-al
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where are the two sockets on the disco? Every car i've had they've been an inch from each other. Do you have one either side of the bar?

I can go measure my lead if it would help you.

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w3526602
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Joined: 10 Jun 2002
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Location: Glynneath, South Wales



PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

I hate electrics, so whenever possible I don't fix it if it ain't broke.

12" extensions? Why? Unless its an admission that my problem is widespread? (OT, but did you know you can get seat belt extenders to compensate for the receiver being tucked out of reach)

The obvious answer is to convert the Disco to 13 pin ...... which means using an adaptor everytime I want to use a cargo trailer. Correction ...BUYING a new adaptor everytime ...... (Anymilitary men here remember how the one bloke in the billet was king ... because hed had the only BATH plug? Very Happy )

What I need is a row of THREE sockets on the back of my Disco.

602

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( Gray )
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Joined: 15 Apr 2012
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Am I correct in thinking that converting to 13pin results in it being tested during the MOT, whereas the 7 pins are only checked for frayed wires/security of fixings etc?
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nivapilot
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

(TChaos marathon runner) wrote:
Am I correct in thinking that converting to 13pin results in it being tested during the MOT, whereas the 7 pins are only checked for frayed wires/security of fixings etc?


Yes
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teamidris
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"What I need is a row of THREE sockets on the back of my Disco"

Which is why I invented this the other week Laughing


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aniesigh
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

started converting a few tw cars to 13pin at work now, and caravans too for people with new cars and older caravans. they're much better than the 12n and 12s plug/sockets, you don't have to wiggle them to get them to work! and you can get a nice simple 13pin socket>7 pin light only socket to keep in glovebox and use if you ever have to tow a different trailer. you always end up trying to loose all the slack when you use the 13pin to 7 pin plug adaptors and end up with 3 times more sets of connections to go wrong than neccesary!
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w3526602
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 4:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

they're much better than the 12n and 12s plug/sockets, you don't have to wiggle them to get them to work!

Hi,

I agree, and so does the caravan press, both internet and glossy mags.

I have an adaptor to convert my 13 pin caravan plug to my 7-pin car socket. The 13 pin connection is very positive, as it locks in place by rotating. But the combined 13 pin plug and adaptor is a bit heavy, and tends to dangle out of the 7 pin socket, resulting in the need to waggle it to make some lamps work. It requires a new cable tie every time I plug it in.

But experience has taught me that disturbing electical "junctions" often leads to doing a complete rewire. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it.

Teamidris .... I like your mounting plate. I'll qualify that by asking if the three pugs are wired in series, or in parallel via a junction box. Pretty please, don't say you used those blue things.

602

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teamidris
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are well yes Embarassed

Just to shoot my own brilliant idea in the face Confused

That's mounted on the trailer. All 3 will go to a Rubolite 120 junction box. (7 pins went on last weekend).
But I had noticed how being in parallel meant I could have a test box so I could power the brake bulbs from the 13pin fridge line to make sure they wern't blown. (just a 13 plug with a jumper wire.

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Xpajun
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Joined: 22 Sep 2008
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1988 Mitsubishi Shogun

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 11:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

aniesigh wrote:
started converting a few tw cars to 13pin at work now, and caravans too for people with new cars and older caravans. they're much better than the 12n and 12s plug/sockets, you don't have to wiggle them to get them to work! and you can get a nice simple 13pin socket>7 pin light only socket to keep in glovebox and use if you ever have to tow a different trailer. you always end up trying to loose all the slack when you use the 13pin to 7 pin plug adaptors and end up with 3 times more sets of connections to go wrong than neccesary!



If you have a 13 pin socket on your caravan, you'll also need to carry a 13 - 7 pin adaptor as well because brake down recovery vehicles will only have the 7 pin (because their accounts won't allow the purchasing of adaptors for the fleet) and they then use a trailer board with the wire stretched along the side of your van and the lead will be too short and they'll plug it into an extension and the plug and socket will bang against the side of your van and make a big dent, while the wire will start to rub the paint off...
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Let Luce
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Convert the caravan to 7 pin, problem solved.
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Xpajun
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Let Luce wrote:
Convert the caravan to 7 pin, problem solved.




That'll be like converting back to solid wheels Rolling Eyes
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Let Luce
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It does solve 602's particular problem though. Cool
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w3526602
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Joined: 10 Jun 2002
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

Here's a picture of my Discovery towbar. Note the two 7-pin sckets, one each side.



And hopefully, here's a picture of the adaptor.



As you can see, the wires look a bit short.

I guess I will have to bite the bullet, cobble one together.

Converting the caravan to a single 7-pin plug will still leave me with no lecky going to the fridge while travelling. Won't charge the battery either.

602

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teamidris
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's not so bad. You only need extend one plug if you have to do anything?
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Xpajun
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="Let Luce"]It does solve 602's particular problem though. Cool[/quote


No it doesn't
1. because the cable contains 13 wires
2. because some of those wires are 2.5mm not 1.5mm and ma not fit into the 7 pin plug
3. because as 602 says putting a 7pin plug on does not allow the secondary electrics to be used on the caravan
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Xpajun
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1988 Mitsubishi Shogun

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

w3526602 wrote:
Hi,

Here's a picture of my Discovery towbar. Note the two 7-pin sckets, one each side.



And hopefully, here's a picture of the adaptor.



As you can see, the wires look a bit short.

I guess I will have to bite the bullet, cobble one together.

Converting the caravan to a single 7-pin plug will still leave me with no lecky going to the fridge while travelling. Won't charge the battery either.

602


You do realise that for the cost of an extension you can fit a 13 pin socket?

The adaptor extensions are available in longer cable lengths than that one Wink

<EDIT> Try here http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/swansea at least you'll be able to try it
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w3526602
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try here http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/swansea at least you'll be able to try it

Hi,

Thanks for that, first I'd heard about it.

I see its in the old FOCUS building. I'm surprised that FOCUS held on as long as they did. Their policy seemed to be to get more people queing at the check-outs than there were customers and staff elsewhere in the store.

602

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RichardD
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.towsure.com/product/Towing_Converter...Euro_13Pin_Towbar

They do the reciprocal one as well.

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jon.g1
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

can i add my 2p's worth, how about replacing the S-type socket (one on left) with a euro 13pin, leave the N-Type socket in place wired in parallel with the standard light pins on the 13pin, i'd personally run a fresh cable with the 13pin and make the connections inside, that way you have the better socket for your caravan, and you retain the 7 pin for a basic trailer
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jon.g1
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The reason i suggested the above was as i'd looked into doing this for a mate.

The first pic shows the supplementary socket on his D3, he has been towing his new caravan using the spliter type shown above, so far he has gone through three of them!! as the grey plugs keep melting. A chat with the local landrover master tech, revealed the same had happened on his own L322 for the previous owner, we concluded that the problem is probably a large current draw through a small contact area of the 7pin sockets (pins splay out) as a result he's thinking of doing the same as below.




in the next to pic's you can see the sockets, the new 13pins is connected to the existing grey cable (not all colours the same) and a fresh length of 7-core is run from the new 13pin and soldered in the truck to the existing 7-core, the result is to sockets with the trailer lighting run in parallel between the two sockets, he can now tow his caravan with the much better 13pin and tow his trailer on the 7pin.



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Xpajun
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1988 Mitsubishi Shogun

PostPosted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just run the 13 pin on my truck but carry a 13-7 plug in adaptor for if I ever need to use a 7 pin and a 13-7 plug in adaptor for if ever the caravan needs towing by a recovery vehicle
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teamidris
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I put all three on the truck to match the trailer. I ran the old wires into a rubolite box along with the powers. Terry winchman thinks I'm daft, but for not much work, both halves fit anything. And I have a redundant system if one plug type fails Very Happy

In all honesty though, if you're linking a flat deep cycle battery to a fully charged car starter, you need baby Anderson plugs! Or one of those self-resetting fuses to protect the sockets/plugs?

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