Just brought a caravan and refitted the towing relay. Last one got water damaged. Gone to plug it in and the sockets don't match. Anybody know what adapter I need for this? 

 

Cheers

 

Chris 

The socket appears to be a 12N and the plug is a 12S.

12N is used for trailer lighting and the 12S is used for the caravan electrics (battery charging, fridge etc.).

The caravan should have a 12N and a 12S plug.

Does your car only have one socket (the 12N)?

Edited 21 June, 20214 yr by Liger1956
More info

And remember to re-align the four segments of the central pin of the socket before trying again (or replace the unit).

 

 

I've found the correct one on the caravan side and wired in the rely everything is working on the caravan. Indicators. Side lights but when the lights are on the brake lights come on and when you hit the brake pedal they flash. Is that something to do with the 12n socket? 

 

Thanks

 

Luke

Sounds like a bad earth somewhere. Check all of the bulb holders on the caravan for corrosion or bad wiring.

I'd recommend a read through the pages on this link, where the pinouts and functions of the different trailer electrical connectors are described.

 

Also, do you know that the trailer socket on your car is working correctly to start with?

No idea if it was working as the relay was removed back in 2017 it was buzzing all the time due to water ingress so I removed it. I had never needed it as I've not had anything to tow until now. Installed a new relay today and everything's working but the when you turn the lights on all the sidelights come on. But the brake light come on instead of the rear lights and when you press the brake they flash. I'm ssuming this isn't correct. Not Fan of electrics lol

got it sored my wiring was fine, somebody had attached the wrong terminals to the bulbs in the back of the caravan

Glad that you got it sorted but it is strange that the caravan was wired wrong. I assume that you checked continuity between the correct pins on the 12N plug, as they are in a standardised format, to the light units on the back of the caravan.

1 minute ago, Liger1956 said:

Glad that you got it sorted but it is strange that the caravan was wired wrong. I assume that you checked continuity between the correct pins on the 12N plug, as they are in a standardised format, to the light units on the back of the caravan.

yes checked and all were outputting 12v when the correct lights were on so when the lights were on only the black and brown were outputting the 12v and nothing on the red(brake lights) but the brake lights were on on the van, think the last owner must have got muddled up when replacing the bulbs