Caravan Electrics - What and Why

[@aussie-all-the-way]

Should be more of this type of video. As a bloke who use to do caravan handovers to customers it infuriated me hearing of dealers who just said here's your keys, give us the money, now bugger off. Well done Adel RV.

[@mcc19606]

I am new to caravanning and am a bit daunted by what's involved (I'm a simple old bloke). I have Liked and Followed a number of help sites. But I find I keep coming back to your channel, as it's succinct, easy to follow and just plain enough for me to understand. Mike

[@campingbegins]

Good info mate! I'm just getting started on an old Caravan reno... Will be watching more of your content

[@tingleping]

Thanks, great summary of the basic got to knows & helpful for novices!

[@mindofown]

Helpful to know this stuff for a first time caravanner

[@79series]

Great clear advice. Thanks

[@adelaiderv]

Thank you

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU FOR DETAILED VIDEO

[@reelshortfishingadventures5837]

Just getting my Ute setup for when we purchase a caravan so essentially you only need an electric brake.12 pin flat plug and a grey Anderson plug for power to the van as you drive ?, do you have to use the rebating camera if the caravan has one or is it more of personal choice ?

[@HankProductions]

Great video. Thanks mate

[@raybeeds2877]

Hi I already have a reverseing camera on my caravan and the rear view mirror monitor can I setup a reverseing camera on my car using the same monitor and wireing Cheers Ray

[@470Matty]

A standard 7 pin flat on a trailer will plug into a 12 pin on a vehicle without the need for an adapter.

[@stevendowling8312]

Yep, forgot to spell that out better. I should have said adapter for 7 round.

[@SalvoDan]

Some 12-pin receptacles have spring-loaded flaps with lock in to 12-pin plugs, but interfere with 7-pin plugs. Most 12-pin plugs on vehicles are incorrectly wired by "Dodgy Brothers Auto-Electrical and Vehicle Fire Service" or one of their subsidiaries and should be properly inspected and tested prior to connecting to anything other than a 6x4 box trailer.

[@72superlead]

Is it ok to run ALKO ESC on pin 2 of a 7 pin flat? 4mm wire installed on my truck

[@frankcastellano9890]

thanks guys

[@PhilKeevers]

Great video. I have just purchased a 20ft supreme classic Caravan, There is an Anderson plug on my new Caravan Which I understand I will need to run an Anderson plug wiring on my towing vehicle but do I also need AES Fridge wiring on to my towing vehicle?

[@adelaiderv]

It depends on what fridge you have. Is it a compressor or 3-way? The 3-way fridge will need an ignition source from the car to the fridge to automatically select the 12V option. A compressor fridge runs off the house battery of the caravan and does not require an ignition feed from the car.

[@leemcclounan7183]

Can you run a small jayco with a anderson plug but the car doesn't have plug off a adapter from cigarette lighter

[@frankgannaway2445]

Appreciate your easy to understand video on caravan plugs. I'm about to pick up a new Jayco with an Anderson plug separate to run the fridge. I'm also buying a new Ford Everest, which has to be adapted to accept the Anderson plug. Can you please explain what size wiring is needed & also fuse/relay set up is required. Thanks Frank

[@adelaiderv]

Hi Frank, thanks for the question. 6mm automotive wire and a 50amp fuse. The van has it's own relay…just double check you Jayco has the relay in the van. Cheers

[@petermurphy5138]

Steve, may I suggest that the caravan industry try to standardise on the Anderson SB50 plug colours; Grey = DC/DC charger in caravan to charge caravan battery (when tow car engine is running), Red = 3 Way absorption fridge power (when tow car engine is running), Yellow = Caravan Electronic Stability Control (ESC) (when tow car engine is running), Light Blue = Caravan/Tow Car portable solar panel input for charging. The advantage of using different colours for different purposes is they wont drain tow car battery when not supposed to, wont plug unregulated 12v into the incorrect input/output, the SB50 plugs being colour coded don't interface with different colour plugs (they are keyed differently).

[@stevendowling8312]

Thanks Peter, that would be nice, but the industry is a long way off talking to each other to standardise this at the moment.

[@keithoztournut7042]

A bloody good idea, good on you. 👍👍

[@petermurphy5138]

@@Mick_4591 what type of fridge do you use?

[@SalvoDan]

The problem with Standards are that their are so many of them. Some people prefer Green Anderson Plugs for Solar (because it is good for the environment - like lentils). Some use Blue, Red and Yellow for other purposes. Some people use grey Anderson plugs for everything and paint them (which defeats the purpose of colour coded Anderson plugs). The good thing about Anderson Plugs is that they have a flat, rectangular face on them that is perfect for a label maker. While not idiot-proof, labelling your plugs does make them idiot-resistant.

[@danfava8670]

Can I ask if you can plug a solar blanket into the grey Anderson plug on the caravan when camping? The one that connects to the car Cheers

[@deniskay170]

can you plug portable solar panels into your aux anderson plug that goes to a dc-dc bmpro 30amp charger

[@wwfgumby]

I thought the grey Anderson plug was to charge the caravan battery and the fridge was powered by the larger pins and heavy wires in the 12 pin plug.

[@AusyGreen]

Great Start, but you could do an advance video with an explanation of what the current pins are used for and what the spare pins can be used for (such as ignition recognition for dc to dc chargers). you also omitted to mention other Anderson plugs (such as blue for powered disk brakes), and why they need to be all directly attached to the car battery. I have been enjoying info tubes, but maybe you could have a basic and in depth videos?

[@adelaiderv]

Good idea! We have just started these 'info' videos...starting with basics. We are looking at expanding the information given, but we need to find one of our auto electricians to get in front of the camera.

[@stevendonnison7]

I totally agree 👍

[@stevendonnison7]

A great video, with some great information, and as a previous comment had suggested, there needs to be some more details. This video reminds me of my experience when I bought a second hand caravan from a private seller in Adelaide (I'm in Melbourne by the way). I had a 7 pin on my car, and the people I bought it from ended up towing it to a nearby caravan park for us, so we could get to an auto electrician, but after running around in search of a 12 pin plug, and then having some information about how to wire it up, I ended up wiring it up as a 7 pin for the drive home, and then I had to contact the company (Swift) as no one could help me with a wiring diagram. Anyway, I have been searching high, and low for someone to answer one question that's been nagging me since we got the van. I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, and I am constantly annoyed by the reversing sensors, which won't shut up whenever I put the car in reverse with the caravan hooked up. No one seems to know how to wire it up. I know there's a sensor, or something that needs to be hooked up, but finding out any more information is where the brick wall sits. Any help, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@adelaiderv]

Thanks Steven, glad you enjoy our videos! It sounds like you need an auto electrician to do a "Sensor Cut", then once that is done you can have a "Read Switch" added to the plug. All the best!

[@stevendonnison7]

Cheers. The problem is that all the sparkies I've spoken to haven't a clue when it comes to a Jeep. Another idea which came to mind while reading this, is that I haven't tried a towbar installer, followed by a Jeep dealer, which might be the most expensive option.

[@colinl9018]

@@stevendonnison7 Best bet, sell the Jeep and buy an Isuzu Mux. Problem solved.

[@chappysprojects2627]

Hi, I picked up a caravan 12/2017. It is fitted with a std 7 flat plug and one grey Anderson plug which has two wires connected for each - and pos terminals of the plug. The van does have dexter esc. As I have on my tow car, one grey a/plug then red a/plug the 7pin flat plug then one grey a/plug. The previous owner said the red a/plug was for esc Alco I think. should I remove the two wires from each terminal and have two a/plugs. your help would be appreciated.

[@adelaiderv]

Unfortunately without seeing the wiring we're unable to give any advice. If you contact your local 12V auto electrician they may be able to advise.

[@KellyWilcox-r9d]

I have a 12 pin plug but only 7 pins wired on my new car, the caravan is a 12 pin can I just run 7 pins?

[@adelaiderv]

If you have a 3-way fridge you will need to rewire your vehicle to have ignition wires so you fridge can run on 12V while travelling. If you have a compressor fridge you can you an adaptor from 12 to 7-pin as there is no wiring required to power the fridge. We may make a video on this subject in the near future.

[@garethgoodwin407]

Hi Steven Love your videos! One quick question please. If I have a caravan with a 12 pin plug and want to get a new caravan, how is the conversion to isolate the fridge connection, via an Anderson Plug, dealt with on my car? Do you take anything from the 12 pin and transfer over to the Anderson Plug or do you need a new cable for the Anderson plug? Thanks

[@adelaiderv]

Hey Gareth, I wish the system was universal for all cars and vans, but it isn't. Get a wiring diagram for the new van and get an auto sparky to do a hot wire check.

[@annieyoung2290]

I have a 7 pin plug and an Anderson plug on both car and van, I took my van out on its maiden voyage, when I set up camp, I my car wouldn’t start because the battery was drained. The fridge was off, and the car wasn’t connected for long without running. The battery in the van had no charge after a 3 hour drive. Have you any idea what may have caused this? On my travels home, I didn’t connect the Anderson plug, just the seven pin, and there was no problem starting my car. I’m baffled,

[@adelaiderv]

Hi Annie, this would normally happen because you do not have an isolator running from the Anderson plug. This would turn the power feed off whenever the car is off. A lot of caravan wiring is now done via the car's ignition which will stop the flow of power when the car is off. It is worth having someone check the fridge and your wiring.

[@annieyoung2290]

@@adelaiderv Thankyou

[@BryanM63]

You can plug a 7 pin flat from a trailer into a 12pin on a car without an adapter. The plug is designed to do this

[@SalvoDan]

... as long as they are both wired consistently.

[@alexpetrov8871]

Should name this video - caravan plugs explained. It is more about plugs than about electrics.

[@noelwhittle7922]

@ 2:48 " Traction Control" .... such a misused term these days, when Electronic Stability Control ( ESC ) is what's actually being discussed.

[@fatspider2718]

you are stating that you are giving out facts to the public then please do so, you do not need an adapter to connect a 7 pin flat to a 12 pin flat, 12 pin female flats are all made to accept a 12pin male or a 7 pin male these are the sort of videos that only confuse joe - public.

[@AussieAdventurer]

Dratz- I just spent 29 minutes writing a few questions and suddenly I see- leave a comment 🤔🫣😞🤣 So rather then repeat everything I say Great video and it helped a lot 👏👏👏