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Subject Topic: Strange problem!! Post Reply Post New Topic
04/8/2013 at 10:31pm
 Location: Waters edge Wakefield
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp Citroen Picasso
View crazylegs's Profile View Profile   Reply to crazylegs Reply   Quote crazylegs Quote  
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Well it is to me anyway, lol.
We have just returned to caravanning after a few years break and I have acquired a 1985 ABI Marauder, now the van is great, but I have a strange problem when towing.
When I plug the cables in, it has a black and a grey one, the fog lights come on and I cant turn them off! It seems as though it only happens when the grey plug is in. Our other caravan had the fog lights activated through the black plug, so it seems strange, to me anyway!
I am wondering if it wired wrongly, (the tow bar electrics I mean).
Any help will be gratefully recieved.
Thanks
Mark


04/8/2013 at 10:42pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Phil Ness's Profile View Profile   Reply to Phil Ness Reply   Quote Phil Ness Quote  
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I would say almost certainly it is wired wrong. The black plug is for all the vehicle lighting and the grey is for caravan auxiliaries such as fridge and charging. You need to find out which is wired wrong, your car or the caravan.


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04/8/2013 at 10:45pm
 Location: NE Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix + CRV
View oxter's Profile View Profile   Reply to oxter Reply   Quote oxter Quote  
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Sounds like an earthing problem. Check the wiring and clean up the terminals.

Good luck.

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playing at tinkies


04/8/2013 at 10:46pm
 Location: Waters edge Wakefield
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp Citroen Picasso
View crazylegs's Profile View Profile   Reply to crazylegs Reply   Quote crazylegs Quote  
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I wondered if it was because it is an old caravan and maybe the wiring has changed over the years?


04/8/2013 at 10:53pm
 Location: None Entered
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Unless somebody has "adapted" the caravan wiring to suit their vehicle in the past then all the lights should be on the black plug. I would start by getting your car checked, an mot centre can do this or do you have a friend with a trailer or caravan you can plug it into to check? If that checks out ok then you need to see if the loom on the caravan has been messed with.


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04/8/2013 at 11:07pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 530
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There is a slight difference in the wiring for older caravans. I think the change over year is 1997. It's in my Haynes Caravan maintance book which I cant check at the moment as it's in the caravan but if you google pre 1997 towbar wiring you'll get the answer. Have you just had a new towbar fitted?, if so they may have done it to the post 1997 spec.

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Rose


04/8/2013 at 11:07pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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sounds like a wireing fault on the car or the caravan........see

http://www.a-tconsulting.co.uk/caravan_tech/12n_wiring_details.html



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


05/8/2013 at 10:25am
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit:  Hobby 650 Ec low profile motorhome
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Greetings,

Thinking back to the 80's I don't remember the 'vans of that day having a 'Twin' Grey and black cable system (Did they? Senile old s*d that I am)

It could be that in a previous life with another owner, the 'van was given extra electrics in the form of a 'new' grey cable.

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How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!


05/8/2013 at 3:57pm
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75
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I believe under the single plug system, one of the pins was for the carvan interior supply.

When rear fogs became standard that pin was used instead. The caravan interior feed, fridge, charge and reversing lights all went onto the 12S (grey) plug.

Its easy enough to check using the pin diagram and a mulimeter or a test lamp.



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DS-There's more to life than football!!!


05/8/2013 at 4:50pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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The grey which is the 12S plug should activate the reversing lights (if fitted) and not rear fog lights. The rear fog lights should be connected to the black which is the12N plug so there is a possibilty that the grey plug is incorrectly wired up. The links below show the pin connections and what they are linked to.

 

12N wiring diagram (black)

http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Trailer_12N_wiring_diagram.html

 

12S wiring diagram (grey)

http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_12S_wiring_diagram.html



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05/8/2013 at 9:49pm
 Location: Waters edge Wakefield
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp Citroen Picasso
View crazylegs's Profile View Profile   Reply to crazylegs Reply   Quote crazylegs Quote  
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Thanks for all the replies, I will check the wiring at the weekend .



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