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Just a word of warning for anyone who has a 13 pin plug (or is getting one fitted). It's worth checking whether the fitter is using a 13 core cable, or using the old twin electric cables and squeexing them in. Our towbar fitter did the latter, which has meant the waterproof seal on the back of the socket, is stretched and not watertight; this had allowed water into the back of the soket, causing some shorting across the terminals (the indicator buzzer, whines at the moment even without the van connected).

Anyway I've bought a length of 13 core cable, and new socket, and intend to splice old and new cables together within the boot of the car - however speaking to our local caravan shop when I got the cable I was the fourth person this week having the same issue. Last thing you want when hitching up the van to go away is to find that the electrics are flooded!!!!

Does this mean the adaptors which are available also allow water in through the seal? They've got two cables going into the rear of the 13 pin plug. Advice would be appreciated.

I'll be in for problems if they're a problem, the cable rubbed though on the road surface last summer & I spent an hour in a lay by on the A30 having to cut through the remaining cores, strip them back & tape them together to get home. The adaptor is now the perfect length but I'll have to replace the length of 13 core if I need to replace the cable to avoid water ingress through the adaptor.

BB

Quote: Originally posted by stephenn280575 on 19/2/2011

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Connector block should be in an enclosure. Taping it up is not satisfactory I am afraid. I did mine using a small box with stuffing glands for the cable entry points and it is sealed. With little or no chance of shorting out etc

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