D2 towbar electrics

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Kaijun

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Location
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I am wondering if someone has installed PF jones 13-pin electrics https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292540303687. Its instruction is not clear on power connection. The seller said the manufacturer has no specific instructions, just connect to the battery. Obviously this is not correct, it should be connected at some point where power starts to supply once the engine starts.
 
Kaijun said:
I am wondering if someone has installed PF jones 13-pin electrics https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292540303687. Its instruction is not clear on power connection. The seller said the manufacturer has no specific instructions, just connect to the battery. Obviously this is not correct, it should be connected at some point where power starts to supply once the engine starts.
Click to expand...
You need to clarify whether or not you want to use the car's electrics to charge a leisure battery and/or other supplementary stuff on the thing being towed.
As far as just ordinary towing is concerned. A 13 pin connector is only the same as a 7 pin except it gives you reversing lights and is standard on modern towables.
My car trailer has them and I had an adaptor fitted to it so that I could plug it into my old 7 pin socket. It works fine.
Here is a wiring diag thatg shows you what to connect up if you want ignition live or permanent live, or both as well as the rest of the stuff.

13-pin wiring diagram | Fitting instructions | ECS Electronics

Connecting the electrics is a vital step in fitting a towbar. With our 13-pin wiring diagram and table we make your job quick and easy!
www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk
If you want ignition live it may well be best to connect it direct to the battery but via a relay driven by the ignition live.
 
Kaijun said:
I am wondering if someone has installed PF jones 13-pin electrics https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292540303687. Its instruction is not clear on power connection. The seller said the manufacturer has no specific instructions, just connect to the battery. Obviously this is not correct, it should be connected at some point where power starts to supply once the engine starts.
Click to expand...
There will be a permanent live and a switched live.
The permanent live is usually wired to a light in the caravan/horse box.
The switch live is used for fridges and charging the caravan/horse box battery.

Some older vehicles don’t have a plug for the extra of the 13pin so wires need running from the back to the nearest supply. D2 I don’t know.

But if you are a little bit electrical competent it’s not difficult.

Just as a side note. The permanent live is very handy for trickle charging the battery or even supplying 12v to the systems when your battery is flat so you can get into the car with the fob cos the manual key don’t work 🤔

J
 
Stanleysteamer said:
You need to clarify whether or not you want to use the car's electrics to charge a leisure battery and/or other supplementary stuff on the thing being towed.
As far as just ordinary towing is concerned. A 13 pin connector is only the same as a 7 pin except it gives you reversing lights and is standard on modern towables.
My car trailer has them and I had an adaptor fitted to it so that I could plug it into my old 7 pin socket. It works fine.
Here is a wiring diag thatg shows you what to connect up if you want ignition live or permanent live, or both as well as the rest of the stuff.

13-pin wiring diagram | Fitting instructions | ECS Electronics

Connecting the electrics is a vital step in fitting a towbar. With our 13-pin wiring diagram and table we make your job quick and easy!
www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk
If you want ignition live it may well be best to connect it direct to the battery but via a relay driven by the ignition live.
Click to expand...
I intend to charge leisure battery/fridge, if two pins of the relay (voltage control mentioned in the instruction) are connected to the positive, the battery could be flat. The control pin should be controlled in some way see pic. I also attached the instruction. I have checked your link, there is no info for D2.
 

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Kaijun said:
I intend to charge leisure battery/fridge, if two pins of the relay (voltage control mentioned in the instruction) are connected to the positive, the battery could be flat. The control pin should be controlled in some way see pic. I also attached the instruction. I have checked your link, there is no info for D2.
Click to expand...
My link was only intended to show you which pins to use.
If you look back at it you'll see that pin 10 connects to "ignition live" and pin 11 to earth for pin 10.
I am assuming that you want the power to go to your leisure battery/fridge. My suggestion was that instead of taking the power direct from the ignition live, you use the ignition switch to control a relay that then connects this pin to the battery. This will allow more power to get to the fridge etc but it will still stop the fridge etc draining the towing vehicle's battery because as soon as the ignition is cut, the relay will open thus cutting the power to the fridge etc.
If you'd rather just take the power direct from the ignition live, then fair enough.
Don't think I can make this any clearer.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
My link was only intended to show you which pins to use.
If you look back at it you'll see that pin 10 connects to "ignition live" and pin 11 to earth for pin 10.
I am assuming that you want the power to go to your leisure battery/fridge. My suggestion was that instead of taking the power direct from the ignition live, you use the ignition switch to control a relay that then connects this pin to the battery. This will allow more power to get to the fridge etc but it will still stop the fridge etc draining the towing vehicle's battery because as soon as the ignition is cut, the relay will open thus cutting the power to the fridge etc.
If you'd rather just take the power direct from the ignition live, then fair enough.
Don't think I can make this any clearer.
Click to expand...
Yes, the pin 10 goes to leisure battery/fridge in caravan. In car side, from STC50178, I see C572-1 is used to control the towing relay and C572-1 is controlled by ignition
 
sierrafery said:
Maybe if the PO modified it to be permannent, there is no permannent live socket in the D2 from factory, all are through the aux circuits relay... al least on mine
Click to expand...
I have tested the pin 7 or 6 of 9-pin connector in rear o/s has permanent 12v, it could go to pin 9 of 13 pin socket.
 
Kaijun said:
I have tested the pin 7 or 6 of 9-pin connector in rear o/s has permanent 12v, it could go to pin 9 of 13 pin socket.
Click to expand...
OK... it was a misunderstanding in terms then cos you said "socket" first and for me socket doesnt mean connector or multiplug when referring to circuits
 
I'm sure the workshop manual extras instructions shows taking a power supply wire from the fuse box in the engine bay as a means of supplying sufficient power to run fridges etc.
If the socket behind the indicators does have a permanent live then it may be a low Amp supply - worth checking that out.
 
Well done to @AndyPoole and @JohnKeane for underlining what others including myself have found.

My D2 was used for some serious towing by its previous owner, caravan to Spain very regulalrly. He was meticulous in having it serviced properly and there was the relay under the bonnet and the feed direct from the battery via it. He had a second towbar socket which was disconnected when it came to me but it had passed through one more owner between him and me.
This is the old school way of connecting up leisure batteries etc.

So for one final time, do this and disregard the 13 pin wiring as that is set up for a more modern car. You could possibly use it for reversing lights in some way but unless you want to blow fuses and overheat wires.....
 
Thank you for your useful info. post-99 caravans have incorporated split-charge, 12S socket is not needed. Does it mean the pin 9 of 13-pin socket can be wired (>2.5 mm) to the battery straight way?
 
Kaijun said:
Thank you for your useful info. post-99 caravans have incorporated split-charge, 12S socket is not needed. Does it mean the pin 9 of 13-pin socket can be wired (>2.5 mm) to the battery straight way?
Click to expand...
(Can't believe I am still posting on this thread.)
What you need is one of these:

1728561033126.png

www.eurocarparts.com

Maypole Adaptor 7 Pin 12N&S Vehicle To 13 Pin Trailer | Euro Car Parts

Maypole Adaptor 7 Pin 12N&S Vehicle To 13 Pin Trailer at the lowest UK prices from Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 for Car Accessories, Car Styling & Car Care. Buy today Online, In store or by Phone + Branches Nationwide – Next Day UK Free Delivery.
www.eurocarparts.com www.eurocarparts.com

Which will connect your single caravan plug to two 7 pin sockets.
You can then put another socket on and connect it up as has been described above a lot now.
Or follow this:

To connect a post-1999 caravan plug to an older vehicle with two plug sockets, you can try these steps:
  • Fit a split charge relay
    Ensure that power to the caravan only flows when the car's ignition is on. This prevents the car battery from running out of power during a long tow.
  • Check the wiring
    Caravans manufactured after 1999 have different wiring than those made before 1998. For example, the caravan battery is charged via the green cable while the car is running, and the car charge line is unused.
    Consider compatibility issues
    The fridge negative has been separated in post-1999 caravans, which may cause compatibility issues with some older cars.


    and scroll down there are LOADS of "how to"s.
    Thousands of caravanners have done this. It ain't rocket science.
 
Last edited:
Kaijun said:
Thank you for your useful info. post-99 caravans have incorporated split-charge, 12S socket is not needed. Does it mean the pin 9 of 13-pin socket can be wired (>2.5 mm) to the battery straight way?
Click to expand...
We all seem to be confused, well I am.

Do you have a tow socket/s on the car at the moment?
What are you actually trying to do?

All the info has been posted for you to work it out surely 🤔

Yes, both the switched/permanent lives and each of those pins earths are 2.5mm wire.

J
 
marjon said:
We all seem to be confused, well I am.

Do you have a tow socket/s on the car at the moment?
What are you actually trying to do?

All the info has been posted for you to work it out surely 🤔

Yes, both the switched/permanent lives and each of those pins earths are 2.5mm wire.

J
Click to expand...
I am going to install PF jones 13-pin wiring kit as mentioned at the beginning. I know how to wire the socket, but its instructions are not clear on split-charge connection on the battery. I attached the instructions.
 
Last edited:
Kaijun said:
I am going to install PF jones 13-pin wiring kit as mentioned at the beginning. I know how to wire the socket, but its instructions are not clear on split-charge connection on the battery. I attached the instructions.
Click to expand...

And I read the instruction's and those from @sierrafery . Admittedly they are not the best, but if you have it in hand and the car in front of you, it should be a bit self explanatory.
What split charge?
I think you are confusing yourself.

I am struggling.
Fit it as stated for a 13pin and the caravan/horsebox should match?

J
 
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