12 pin plug

RUSSELL-5458 · Veteran Member

12 pin plug

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Russell, providing the cable to that pin is of heavy enough cable and the cable from plug to fridge is heavy enough as well, should be OK. Keep in mind current loss over that distance.

I changed my cables. I put heavy cable from battery to a separate Anderson plug on back of tug then heavy cable from that direct to fridge and all works as I like and with no noticeable current loss. I disconnected the fridge cable in the plug.

All works well for me.

Phil C · Guru

Hi guys and welcome Russell.

Dougwe is correct in saying you need the larger dia cables for that circuit. However when you are on the road, from what I can understand, its probably best to have the fridge run from the circuit provided from the tug. Its not difficult to consult Mr Google to get the correct pin outs and suggested wire sizes. Whatever you do dont skimp on this unless you want a warm beer at the end of a days travel.

Cheers

Jaahn · Guru

Hi Russell,

A question to answer, is what is the continuous current rating for the pins in the plug. If you are exceeding this or even running close to it then you may or will burn the pin contacts and it will fail. hmm That is independent of the size of the wires needed for low voltage loss.

The normal sized anderson plug used is rated at 50 amps.

What 12 pin plug is it ?? Type ? Brand ?

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 19th of September 2015 05:30:03 PM

Spydermann · Senior Member

Pinouts for pins 1-7 are an industry standard. However, pins 8-12 are dependent on the van and can vary from van to van. One of my pins in the 8-12 range (9?) is the +ve to charge the van battery. The fridge and other 12v item then run off the van battery. Only need the one heavy wire to the van battery. I am assuming the electric "smarts" in the van only drag the appropriate current from the car to the van. I do know that the wire on the car for the power to the plug is heavy duty (pin 9?). I am assuming the wire on the van is already appropriate size.

RUSSELL-5458 · Veteran Member

Thank you for the reply

I have just bought the latest ranger so i will have to find out a bit more abour what wireing they have on the 12 pin plug.

Russell-5458

Olley46 · Guru

I was running all my electrics through a 12pin plug and the main power sauce pin to the van eventually melted the plastic this happened twice, so I fitted an Anderson Plug and haven,t had any trouble since.

Lance C

Spydermann · Senior Member

RUSSELL-5458 wrote:
Thank you for the reply
I have just bought the latest ranger so i will have to find out a bit more abour what wireing they have on the 12 pin plug.
Russell-5458

As per my pic, I've just bought a Ranger XLT and was assured that the wire to the 12 pin plug carrying power for the van was of suitable gauge. However, that may have been "sales-speak". Pins 8-12 were wired as per my basic van requirements. When I got my prior vehicle (falcon ute) wired, there was a relay and extra heavy wiring to my 12 pin plug. I'm hoping that the Ranger comes standard with this.

Mutt · Veteran Member

I was told it was ok to run the fridge through a 12 pin plug. After 2 months I went to unplug the van and the 12 pin plug on the car and van had melted together and I couldn't get them apart. Replaced it with 7 pin flat plugs and an Anderson plug. End of problem. NO. The fridge stopped working on battery power. Checked the fuse at the battery end. That was ok. Next I checked the fuses in the front boot of the van and the fuse box had melted in there and also had badly scorched the timber panel. Fitted an in line circuit breaker no problems since. The fridge is working perfectly.

RUSSELL-5458 · Veteran Member

Thank you

Russell

Mutt · Veteran Member

I have also fitted a heavy earth lead from the Anderson plug to the chassis. The only earth before was the one for the lights. The biggest problem with caravan manufacturers is that they are using domestic (house hold) electricians to wire the 12 volt wiring in vans and they don't understand the difference. This is why there is so many problems with van wiring. The brake away braking system battery was dead flat when we got the van. It had never connected so it could charge. It's time the caravan industry woke up to it self and stop customers paying out hundreds of dollars because of their faulty workmanship.

Possum3 · Guru

Agree with Mutt - I requested Avida to utilise my Anderson for fridge rather than their standard 12 pin setup - Huh? they mucked up the wiring caused ESC to apply brakes when cornering - after 4 trips back to them I agreed to let them do it their way - I still have major electrical problems - so it will be Barristers at 40 paces if they can't sort it out.

-- Edited by Possum3 on Sunday 20th of September 2015 03:21:31 PM

03_Troopy · Guru

I doubt some of them use any sort of electrician, going by how my Avan was wired. It was a totally amateurish job, that's for sure.

dogbox · Guru

what size wire actually fits in the 12 pin plug

Olley46 · Guru

I think you would just about fit 6mm wire in the 12 pin plug,my choice would be an Anderson Plug after my exsperiance,with the plug melting.

Lance C

PeterD · Guru

Cable up to 6 mm2 will fit into the large pins. However if you use 6 mm2 cable, it you have to remove it from the pins after you have screwed it into place then you probably will not be able to reinsert it again.

If you wish to use larger cables, terminate the cable with around 75 to 100 mm of cable that will fit the pin. Even though you will get a lot higher voltage loss per meter in the smaller cable that voltage loss over 100 mm will not be much loss in the overall length of lead.

snapper49 · Senior Member

Larger pins on 12 pin are 35 amp
Have run chargers and fridge through them for quite a few years never had a problem
those that have may need to look at the quality of the plug you are buying

03_Troopy · Guru

snapper49 wrote:
Larger pins on 12 pin are 35 amp
Have run chargers and fridge through them for quite a few years never had a problem
those that have may need to look at the quality of the plug you are buying

When yours melts, make sure you get another quality one too biggrin

Mutt · Veteran Member

The 12 pin male and female plug I had melt together we're Narva brand.

iana · Guru

The socket I have to fit to the vehicle was supplied (given) by Jayco. In this package there are two special heavey crimp terminals for earth return and +12v. The crimps have special ends designed to go into the terminal fitting.

Allany · Veteran Member

I have just gone through this delema and discovered that the 12 pin plugs i looked at in Supercheap had a rating of 35 amps on the heavy terminals
I ended up going with a 9 pin plug and socket
It has two terminals for the fridge rated at 50 amps
Also the 9 pin plug is compatible with the flat pin 7

Allan

-- Edited by Allany on Thursday 24th of September 2015 07:49:07 PM

PeterD · Guru

Allan, can you please supply details of these 9 pin connectors, I am not aware of them (preferably with a link.) The Dometic fridges over 20 litres seem to be taxing the 12 pin connectors with their large pins only being rated at 30 A.

03_Troopy · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Allan, can you please supply details of these 9 pin connectors, I am not aware of them (preferably with a link.) The Dometic fridges over 20 litres seem to be taxing the 12 pin connectors with their large pins only being rated at 30 A.

Look Here.

PeterD · Guru

Thanks, I have e-mailed the importer to find a source of them on the Central Coast.

Allany · Veteran Member

Peter
I purchased mine at Supercheap Auto
They were around $32 each
They are on their web site
www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/KT-Cables-Trailer-Socket-9-Pin-Plus-50Amp-Plastic-Flat.aspx

Allan

03_Troopy · Guru

Or $12.50 on ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/9-Pin-Trailer-Plug-with-In-built-50-Amp-Trailer-socket-KT943-/301745020501?hash=item4641679e55

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/9-Pin-Trailer-Plug-with-In-built-50-Amp-Trailer-plug-KT944-/301745020428?hash=item4641679e0c

PeterD · Guru

Thanks again for those.

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

While it's obviously me clicking the wrong link but I was only able to find the plug not a fixed socket on the eBay links.

Here is a link showing both at the same time. Lol: www.ktcables.com.au/product-category/trailer-plugs-sockets-9-pin

Cheers, Tom

03_Troopy · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
While it's obviously me clicking the wrong link but I was only able to find the plug not a fixed socket on the eBay links.

Here is a link showing both at the same time. Lol: www.ktcables.com.au/product-category/trailer-plugs-sockets-9-pin

Cheers, Tom

Tom, The KT-943 is the fixed half (bolts to the tow bar) with female contacts, the KT-944 is the trailer plug that attaches to the caravan.

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Thanks for the heads up ........... Time to give myself a clip around the ear for not seeing what I'm looking at. Lol