please could someone in the know advise me in regard to this. I have a 12n tow hitch on my car. Unfortunately, the caravan I have inheritted has a 12 S type electric hook up.
Is there an adaptor I can sourse to solve this issue or do I have to have my tow bar electrics changed?
please help someone-we want to take the van out and about before winter sets in!
The 12N (Black Plug) is the standard connector for trailers and caravans, and operates the road lights on the caravan and is the minimum needed to tow.
The 12S (Grey Plug) is used in conjunction with the 12N and operates the Fridge (whilst the engine is running) and charges the caravan leisure battery etc.
You should be able to get your local towbar fitter to fit you a 12S for a few quid.
HTH
Paul
------------- "Whether you think you can, or think you can't... You're right"
i don't mean to be thick ( although i admit I'm a caravanning virgin ) but does that mean that the grey plug I am trying to connect to my car from the van is the wrong one? or do I need the 12S on my car instead of the 12n or as well as? Is this what they mean by single and double electrics??
is this why there are two sockets on the front towing bit of the van? should I just be able to get a 12n lead and plug it into the other socket to operate the lights?
I hope this makes sense. There's no one local that can give me a hand and although I;m joining the caravan club, I have to tow the van and get it serviced etc. before taking it out and using it. Bit difficult and illegal with no lights!
and while I'm at it, this would imply that my fridge is electric and not gas?
It takes a bit of getting your head around. The 12N (black) is the normal plug that would be fitted (single electrics) it has 3 female connectors and 4 male. This in theory is all you need to tow and have legal road lights.
The supplementary Grey 12S (twin electrics) won't plug into the 12N socket, and is fiited to run fridge etc.
Do you have 2 leads with plugs on coming from the caravan? Or has the caravan been fitted with sockets?
Cheers
Paul
------------- "Whether you think you can, or think you can't... You're right"
Um, no there only seems to be one grey lead coming from the van. Its the one that definitely won't fit my tow hitch. There are, however, for some reason, two sockets in the front towing bit, with three pin holes ( the grey lead fits into it when the van is standing, so it might be that they are just storage sockets). I don't get it if the grey one is supplementary, why haven't I got a black one?
I will contact the man that fitted my tow hitch tomorrow and confuse him!!! I'm just a wee bit frustrated that I can't go anywhere at the mo.
Sounds like I've got twin electrics coming from the van doesn't it?
So this will power my fridge up whilst I'm towing then?
Do I have to switch the fridge on or put the switches up by the door on car whilst I'm towing or is it an automatic thing?
Why is this so complicated?! I think I need a manual! Its enough to put you off really.
Hi lemmie-so you have had the tow bar fitted to your car?-if you have just the black socket(12N)that is single electrics-normally fitted if you only tow trailers--you can tow a caravan-with just the black lead connected-the lights will work (& you will be legal) but not your fridge & your caravan battery wont charge-if you also have the grey socket(12S)fitted you then have twin electrics on your car---now the caravan--the 2 sockets on the front are indeed storage sockets--are you saying there is just 1 grey lead coming from your caravan & no black lead?--if this is the case it sounds as if the black lead has been ripped out(happens when you forget to disconnect the lead when you unhitch)-so you will have no lights--you will have to get a new black lead & 12N plug fitted to your caravan before you can use it--get that sorted first--then worry about you fridge!--
the penny has finally dropped- there should be two leads!!.
I've just been outside and looked all round front of van. I have discovered the black lead, tucked right up under the a frame bit ( which is covered with storage box) and now feel a bit of a twerp because it fits neatly into the socket on my hitch. Tested the lights and wayhey! They're good to go.
I could have pulled her last night then if I had had the sense to have a bit more of an explore under the front end. I could kick myself, although without the 12n fitted I cannot charge fridge or leisure battery.
I will still get grey socket fitted before she goes into storage, although at least I can get her serviced now asap.
Glad yer got it sorted---the fridge--is -3 way--ie 12v only when you are towing & no other time-the 12v only operates when the car engine is running or the battery would flatten--when your on site & 'van is plugged into the site electric hookup you switch your fridge to work on mains 240v electric---finally if you are on site with no electric then you can run fridge off yer gas bottle----
Well, towed her on the weekend and had a great two days! very relaxing and the kids loved it. Hubby and I are definitely hooked now. Our van was the oldest on the site but we didn't care- we have a retro classic!!!
Got the fridge sorted once on site. However, after about six hours it and all the sockets in the van went off, lights stayed on- thank god! I couldn't figure out what had happened altho' I suspected that it was something to do with fuses. What does the 'aux' switch on the panel mean?
I have retrieved fuses and am off to caravan shop to purchase new ones this weekend, the water pump did not work either so I'm going to try a new fuse and see if that sorts it. I gave the external socket that it plugs into a good clean when we got back too but I guess it could still be that the pump is knackered.
However, could it be something else. I couldn't find a trip switch anywhere in the van or an isolator switch. Any tips, can a regular elctrician check the systems out?
yes an electrician could check your van , Getting it checked/serviced is a good idea if only for peace of mind .posting for a member with a similar van may get you some help as to where your switches are , or someone may be close to you and willing to call round and have a look. remember to check your nose weight too and the handbrake is off /deadman cable is connected and make sure none of your cables are dragging .sorry about that last bit but it was your "caravanning virgin " remark that made me pop in a reminder
Hi Lemmie, it's called a "learning curve" and beleive you me we've all been thro it. Many years ago before vans had automatic reversing facility on the brakes, you had to disable the brakes with a little locking bar before you could reverse it. Guess who did a 600 hundred mile trip with the brakes disabled on the van. Wondered why the front brake pads on the car wore out so quick. Mick
The 240V input should have some sort of fuse or circuit breaker. the power cut could have been due to the site hook up tripping, or your caravan fuse/cct breaker.Did you plug in a kettle or heater?
The pump will normally be 12v so may have its own fuse. Caravans use a pressure switch or microswitches on the taps to operate the pump, these can give problems.
They are relatively easy to fault find on, using a multimeter and some knowledge of electrics! ( Best get help if you don't have that knowledge as even 12v can make sparks and damage things! ) Its the current what hurts!
The auxiliary switch may be for running the van off its own 12v battery, if you can get a hadbook it may help, possibly someone on here may have one?
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
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Topic: 12 n and 12S towing hitch
