Urgent help needed

[Terrano03]

Hi, I have only had my terrano 3lt diesel for a few weeks, love it as family had one for years. Any way onto my problem, I tow my caravan so used the terrano this week we are in Derbyshire, however I had only the normal black plug for electrics, and my caravan has to have the gray 12s also. I have gone out today and got the cable, bracket, plug and a 12s smart dual relay. But I can not find on the site or net where to wire into the back of the terrano. Please if you can help, as the caravan is my life line as I take my 5 year old away as I gave him my kidney 3 years ago, and it is our only safe way of being out and about, the terrano allows us 12 month towing and all we need. But I need to attempt this tomorrow as need to drive again on Saturday morning. Please can you assist. Kind regards

[Sweety]

Sadly I don't know as i've not done it yet but i'm sure one of the members in the know will be along soon with the info:thumb2

[solarman216]

Zippy656 is your man he is a caravan engineer, send him a PM, Rick

[Lazy-Ferret]

To wire in the S socket, you will need to run a fairly heavy gauge wire from the Battery at the front of the car to the rear, as the Nissan does not have one of sufficient amperage for this. This is the worst part to do. Make sure you have a fuse at the battery end of the cable.

Basically, you need the permanent live from the front to the box you have bought. That then splits it out to a feed for the fridge, battery charge, and perm live. You will need to pick up the reversing light wire, but that is already at the back.

Unfortunately, there are 2 ways of wiring the 7S, depending on the age of the caravan, the newer way has 2 returns, one specifically for the fridge, and the other common for the rest. The original way was to only have one common return for everything.

Assuming your car wiring is still the same as my 1999 2.7tdi, the Orange with 2 white dots is the Reversing lights.

[Terrano03]

Thanks for replays, my caravan is a 2008 .

[Sweety]

Clive can I ask why do you need a feed from the Reversing lights for the caravan charging system:confused: Also if you wired up the 7S plug for the later set up 2 returns would it still work on older vans ?

[Lazy-Ferret]

Clive can I ask why do you need a feed from the Reversing lights for the caravan charging system:confused: Also if you wired up the 7S plug for the later set up 2 returns would it still work on older vans ?
You don't need the reversing lights for the charging.. It is just to run the reversing lights on the trailer, plus any other reversing aids you may have, like camera's, etc. There was never any provision for reversing lights on the 7N, so they put them on the 7S. For many years, it was the only reason I had the S at all...

Basically, the S had Pre 1999, and Post 1999, not clear about what happens if it is 1999 though...:doh

Before 1999,
Pin No. Cable colour Function
1 Yellow Reversing light
2 Blue Ignition positive (for battery charging)
3 White Common Return
4 Green Power feed for internal 12v equipment (not fridge)
5 Brown Spare
6 Red Refrigerator (via relay in car)
7 Black Spare

After 1999,
Pin No. Cable colour Function
1 Yellow Reversing light
2 Blue Spare
3 White Return for circuits connected to Pin 4
4 Green Power feed for internal 12v equipment or to charge caravan battery via a relay in the caravan (not fridge)
5 Brown Spare
6 Red Refrigerator (via relay in car)
7 Black Return for circuit connected to Pin 6

So no, it should not matter, but the fridge would probably not work on a new van, plugged into an older socket.

[firebobby]

Depending on how far your towing, I would not let this stop me towing my van. At most, you will be towing 5-6 hrs, so once on site, you just plug the mains in and let that charge your battery.
You can get the plug done once you return.:)

[Blocky10]

Depending on how far your towing, I would not let this stop me towing my van. At most, you will be towing 5-6 hrs, so once on site, you just plug the mains in and let that charge your battery.
You can get the plug done once you return.:)

+1. I've towed my 92 Van for years without a grey plug. I ran the fridge on 12 volts while towing and switched over to 240v when on site. I have a grey plug on my 06 van and a socket on my 04 3ltr terrano and will be using it this coming week for the first time.


Sent from my C1905 using Tapatalk

[Terrano03]

The two reasons are, I have to carry medicine that needs to be kept cool at all times, but the main reason is, my bailey Indiana 08. Has a towing assist "ATC". And that does not run from the black, it only runs from the grey.....

[zippy656]

did email help?

[Banshee]

did email help?

Good lad zippy :thumb2

[zippy656]

Good lad zippy :thumb2

i can but try


wife says im very trying.....

[rustic]

Running a decent cable to the back is not that big an issue.
I ran mine down the nearside, under the carpet, ie remove the plastic trim at the bottom of the door frame, lift the carpet, and it fits quite nicely.

I fitted a relay box with fuses in the front passenger footwell, but you could fit this behind the rear panel, where the jack is stored.
I fused the thick cable at the battery end with a Mega fuse.

With the right tools and cables etc, it could take a few hours.
Or you could just rig a temporary cable...

Rustic

[Banshee]

i can but try


wife says im very trying.....

:lol

[RobN]

See Sweety's thread Tow bar Electrics.

Ideally have the relay as close to the towbar as poss.

[Sweety]

You don't need the reversing lights for the charging.. It is just to run the reversing lights on the trailer, plus any other reversing aids you may have, like camera's, etc. There was never any provision for reversing lights on the 7N, so they put them on the 7S. For many years, it was the only reason I had the S at all...

Basically, the S had Pre 1999, and Post 1999, not clear about what happens if it is 1999 though...:doh

Before 1999,
Pin No. Cable colour Function
1 Yellow Reversing light
2 Blue Ignition positive (for battery charging)
3 White Common Return
4 Green Power feed for internal 12v equipment (not fridge)
5 Brown Spare
6 Red Refrigerator (via relay in car)
7 Black Spare

After 1999,
Pin No. Cable colour Function
1 Yellow Reversing light
2 Blue Spare
3 White Return for circuits connected to Pin 4
4 Green Power feed for internal 12v equipment or to charge caravan battery via a relay in the caravan (not fridge)
5 Brown Spare
6 Red Refrigerator (via relay in car)
7 Black Return for circuit connected to Pin 6

So no, it should not matter, but the fridge would probably not work on a new van, plugged into an older socket.

Cheers Clive that sort of makes sense to me:augie:doh is the return the earth wire ? Fitting large sound systems in cars is far easier than this tow bar lark:lol

[Lazy-Ferret]

Cheers Clive that sort of makes sense to me:augie:doh is the return the earth wire ? Fitting large sound systems in cars is far easier than this tow bar lark:lol

They are not too bad once you get your head round what is going on, and the same rules apply, like over size all the wires to reduce volt drop, and keep connections to a minimum.

Yes the return is the earth. Unlike cars, caravans do not use the body as an earth, so you have to run 2 wires to everything. Basically, the fridge draws a high current and was causing the original Single earth pin on the socket to get hot, as it was having to carry the current of not only the fridge, but the battery charging as well, so they decided to separate it out.