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Subject Topic: Any one seen these connectors before? Post Reply Post New Topic
07/4/2018 at 9:00pm
 Location: Buckinghamshire
 Outfit: Knaus Wlik S3
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My towing electrics on the van are 13 pin but have been converted to 12n&s but not with an adaptor but a different tail, it looks like a 13 pin plug but it’s smaller in diameter and has smaller pins I want to replace the 12 n&s end with a 13 pin one but can’t find one to match, took the end to my local caravan store and the salesman said he’d never seen one before and it didn’t match up to anything he had in the shop.



07/4/2018 at 9:56pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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You are probably looking in the wrong place at a caravan spares stockist. That connector looks more like something off a piece of old military radio equipment. I would try Radiospares or some other such electronics suppliers. Definitely not normal caravan equipment.

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07/4/2018 at 10:26pm
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looks like a NATO military connector.....


08/4/2018 at 7:42pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
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Can you not just fit a 13 pin plug in their place.


08/4/2018 at 9:28pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 08/4/2018
Can you not just fit a 13 pin plug in their place.



I thought that, but looking again at that picture I think that a new cable may be needed too, as the one in the picture doesn't look long enough.

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Colin


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08/4/2018 at 10:49pm
 Location: South Wales
 Outfit: Mazda Bongo & Cabanon Pacific
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Not a connector type that I've ever come across. You certainly won't find a ready made converter.

You'll need to disconnect the twin cables from the plug part and replace them with a short length of 12/13 core cable running to a standard 13-pin trailer plug.


09/4/2018 at 8:31am
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 08/4/2018
I thought that, but looking again at that picture I think that a new cable may be needed too, as the one in the picture doesn't look long enough.



They are an industrial locking fitting, RS would help but I'd suggest you don't bother and just fit the new 13pin. Ideally want to reduce the amount of joints you have anyway, to reduce chance of connection failure. If the existing cable isn't long enough, I'd either replace the whole length or use a weatherproof junction box beneath the front of the van and terminate a new length to the existing wiring in there. Run new cable to hitch and fit your 13pin plug. Advantage also, if the new cable ever gets damaged accidentally, its an easier fix again due to the junction box.


Post last edited on 09/04/2018 08:45:01

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!


09/4/2018 at 2:31pm
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go to an auto parts stockists or Halfords and ask for a 13 pin convertor my mate had one on his Mondeo cost was about £8


09/4/2018 at 4:52pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011
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That's a 15 pin connector, so never a standard fitting. I would agree with reducing the number of connections, and replace with modern 13 wire cable and 13 pin plug. That will make future troubleshooting easier for you and anyone else who works on the van.


10/4/2018 at 10:30pm
 Location: Buckinghamshire
 Outfit: Knaus Wlik S3
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I did look under the van with the intention of replacing the whole lot but it’s not connected as I expected and if I cut the connector off the vans box the wires are not long enough for me to do anything with.
I have been looking for a 12/13 pin junction box tho but haven’t been able to find any that big, my aim is to run the 13 core that is already there into a new box just before the a frame then run new 13 core upto the coupling, can anyone link me to a junction box with 12 terminals?


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10/4/2018 at 11:19pm
 Location: South Wales
 Outfit: Mazda Bongo & Cabanon Pacific
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You will probably be best with a general purpose adaptable box like this, with suitable glands at the entry points.

Ideally, crimp connect the two cables, but a good quality 'chocolate block' connector could be used at a push.

However you do it it's still an extra cable joint in the chain so personally I'd be inclined to retain the connector that's there as the neatest solution. While we can't identify its type or intended application it looks to be of decent quality.


11/4/2018 at 9:46am
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Does the existing cable not terminate somewhere inside the van? I had to replace one of the 7 core cables on my last van as it had got damaged, and I found where it came into the van under one of the seats at the front. It was connected with scotchlock connectors (probably not original) so I replaced them with a "chocolate block" connector and ran the new cable from that.

I do wonder about the rated current carrying capacity of that 15 pin connector. Those pins don't look very heavy when compared to a proper caravan socket. On the other hand, presumably it has worked up to now.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


11/4/2018 at 10:34am
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
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Gosh! The things you learn on UKCampsite!

For years I've always called them 'choc blocks' ... never realising that it was an abbreviation for 'chocolate block' ... obvious derivative ... just never sussed ..

Thank you Pridot/Colin D.


11/4/2018 at 9:51pm
 Location: Buckinghamshire
 Outfit: Knaus Wlik S3
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The existing cable had a box under the van but it’s connected with some type of molex connector that would be even harder to source, and if I cut that connector off there isn’t enough of the wiring to go into a new connector, I think I’ll cut the existing cable close to the old box and solder onto new cable in the junction box, I prefer soldered joints to anything else


11/4/2018 at 11:01pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Soldered joints are indeed probably better than anything else electrically, but they can be a problem in as much as they turn a flexible multi-strand cable into a solid one which can fail under vibration. However, if the cable is well supported either side of the joint it shouldn't be a problem.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin



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