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SimonT
Member Since: 31 Mar 2006
Location: Alicante, Spain ... or Offshore!
Posts: 137
  
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| Towing Electrics - A Novices question |
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I am looking to fit a tow bar soon for a trailer and so have been looking at towing electrics. Can someone please shed some light on the difference between single & twin electrics and 7 and 13 pin connections.
Thanks in advance ... Monday is a hard way to spend one-seventh of your life
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 Fri Sep 25 2009 5:18pm |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Warwick
Posts: 10472
 
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Single electrics (also called 12N) is generally for a trailer only, the additional socket in twin electrics (12S) is for caravan additional power. These are both 7 pin sockets, and are the UK standard/normal fitment.
13 pin electrics are the European standard/usual fitment, but have a much more robust socket arrangement with a bayonet locking plug, and is a single socket containing all the connections found in twin electrics.
At one stage, and not sure if this is still the case, the twin electrics (12N + 12S) were not available from Land Rover due to a supplier problem.
Adapters are available to use a standard 12N plug with a 13 pin socket. 06 D3 SE / 04 Mini JCW / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
Go shopping for stickers, hi vis vests, sat-nav video input cables, new style FBH terminals, clothing, key rings and more 
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| Fri Sep 25 2009 5:26pm |
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countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 4736
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The 7 Pin are the old standard which most trailers, caravans etc use at the moment. From this year most new caravans, trailers etc are using the 13 pin version, which has all the connections which used to be on the two seperate 7 pin connectors.
One of the 7 pin connectors is for your tailboard lights, the second 7 pin socket (grey one) is for permanently live12V supply to the caravan, switched fridge power & caravan battery charge, reversing light.
The reason they swapped to 13pin is that it is a bayonet fitting and does not suffer from the single earth pin burn out of the grey 7 pin socket. You can buy converters either way. If it were me I would buy a 13 pin kit as it is easy to install and then buy a 13pin to 7 pin adapter or change the plug on the trailer. I must admit the 13 pin socket is a much more secure fit and makes better connections. I just swapped mine from 7 pin to 13 pin. Please support Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. They make a difference.
http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk
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| Fri Sep 25 2009 5:28pm |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Warwick
Posts: 10472
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13 pin electrics are definitely the way to go, they are far better quality. 06 D3 SE / 04 Mini JCW / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
Go shopping for stickers, hi vis vests, sat-nav video input cables, new style FBH terminals, clothing, key rings and more
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| Fri Sep 25 2009 5:30pm |
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SimonT
Member Since: 31 Mar 2006
Location: Alicante, Spain ... or Offshore!
Posts: 137
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Well there you have it then. The forum at it's finest!
Thanks guys.
(Should this be added to Wiki?) Monday is a hard way to spend one-seventh of your life
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| Fri Sep 25 2009 6:52pm |
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TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1115
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Also, nearly all the bike rack's (being made in Europe) now have 13 pin sockets, it is the future, embrace it ahead of the curve! 
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| Tue Sep 29 2009 3:00pm |
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Clubber
Member Since: 11 Aug 2008
Location: Teesside
Posts: 59
 
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Does anyone know if it is possible to retro-fit towing electrics to a D3? Presumably all D3's are capable of accepting a removable tow bar or, if not, can this be retro-fitted also?
Cheers,
Bri
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| Mon Sep 05 2011 12:05pm |
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maddogsetc
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 126
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Quote:Does anyone know if it is possible to retro-fit towing electrics to a D3? Presumably all D3's are capable of accepting a removable tow bar or, if not, can this be retro-fitted also?
Yep, I did this last year. Wiring kit available for about £100 ISTR.
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| Mon Sep 05 2011 12:10pm |
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Clubber
Member Since: 11 Aug 2008
Location: Teesside
Posts: 59
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Great stuff, thanks Maddogsetc!
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| Mon Sep 05 2011 1:02pm |
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TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1115
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The loom just plugs into connectors at the rear of the D3, and you take out two rubber grommits and fit the loom out through behind the light cluster, and bolt/clip it in position beneath the bumper/chassis.
Tow bar fitting involves removal of the plastic plug (10 seconds) and fitting of the bar (20 seconds, inc working out the key has to stay fitted until its on the car)
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| Mon Sep 05 2011 4:01pm |
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michael calvert
Member Since: 03 Dec 2011
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 38
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just posted same question in a different topic. where does the 12s loom connect into? cant see a feeder socket for it at the back of my d3 2005 d3 base 7 seater, awaiting additions!
detachable tow bar & wiring, awaiting fitting
roof bars, on there way
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 7:03pm |
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TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1115
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remove left panel (clips in, left when looking into boot form behind car). There are two connectors clipped to the body, with grey plugs in that go nowhere, these are the loom plugs.
Did you look at the instuctions on the land rover manual site? I think it has a picture....
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 8:20pm |
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michael calvert
Member Since: 03 Dec 2011
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 38
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Can only locate one of the plugs, must have dropped down inside the wing a bit-I'll check again tomorrow
Re the manual and pics-don't suppose you have a link do you?? 2005 d3 base 7 seater, awaiting additions!
detachable tow bar & wiring, awaiting fitting
roof bars, on there way
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 11:24pm |
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