BogMonster Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 I am sure I saw a post somewhere about trickle charging vehicles not in use through the towing socket, as a neat solution for easy connect/disconnect. But unless I am mistaken, there's no way of doing this in a standard 7 pin socket is there? As far as I can see there is nothing on a 7 pin that would be permanently live? I'm thinking it must have been a 13 pin or other type, but just checking I am not missing anything obvious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 12S caravan sockets have a charging pin so tow vehicle can keep a onboard caravan battery charging while driving. https://www.westerntowing.co.uk/blog/caravan-12s-wiring-diagram/ Pin 2 live 12v with ignition on & Pin 4 permanent live says direct from battery, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 3 hours ago, western said: 12S caravan sockets have a charging pin so tow vehicle can keep a onboard caravan battery charging while driving. https://www.westerntowing.co.uk/blog/caravan-12s-wiring-diagram/ Pin 2 live 12v with ignition on & Pin 4 permanent live says direct from battery, When car and trailers were required to have fog lights and the back the blue wire was used for the fog lights and for caravans there was the intoduction of a second 7 pin plug to take electrics for fridges and other powered accessories. The plugs have now been changed to 13 pin plugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 12s sockets still around on older vehicles & trailers, so the info is still valid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 OK thanks. All my vehicles and trailers have standard 7 pin electrics, so that destroys the idea anyway. I thought so - just checking I hadn't missed something obvious! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 On the 7 pin trailer connection, pin 54G (Blue) is "extra / not used" Many people use that to feed a "live" to the trailer. However, please note they're not for serious Amps.. We have the electric tipper on a separate lead to charge it's battery while driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 Ta. I have a repurposed solar panel from an electric fence energiser which keeps my tipper topped up If it needs work to the vehicle electrics then I won't bother, it was an attractive option to charge Defenders in the garage without taking the seat out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Oh yes - solar panels are very useful. But we find that tipping a load of concrete 8-10 times a day needs additional power into the battery in the trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 There is the permanent live (purple wire fused I think 15A) in the right rear end, with all the lighting connections. That is doing duty running a fridge for us but it could easily take a charging connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 2 hours ago, BogMonster said: Ta. I have a repurposed solar panel from an electric fence energiser which keeps my tipper topped up In the Falklands? 😳 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 10 hours ago, Snagger said: In the Falklands? 😳 Er yes... Latitude is the same as London so daylight hours are the same season for season, I would guess on average there's probably more sunshine hours than the UK - and it certainly has a lot less smog to carve through 😛 My father runs his farmhouse off-grid using a solar power array and it produces about 10% more than the rated maximum output in direct sunshine. I just leave this 30W energiser panel plugged in for a few days (it's weatherproof and regulated so won't boil the battery) and it's charging wherever I park it - which is usually nowhere near mains power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Just tongue in cheek, but it always looks wet and windy in photos and on tv... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted September 10, 2019 Author Share Posted September 10, 2019 It is always windy, but actually less annual rainfall than much of the UK I believe. It's also a lot cooler (more like Shetland) because we're sat in a cold ocean current coming up from the Antarctic, whereas the UK has the Gulf Stream. Doesn't bother the battery charger though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverdrive Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Arjan In the UK the blue wire is for the rear fog lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 If you don't want to lift the seat to connect a charger, just use the cigarette lighter socket. I wired up an old 12v accessory plug to use with a charger. Depending on the accessory plug type and the power of the charger, you may want to replace the fuse in the 'nose' of the plug with a 'solid' connection. Regards Diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Cig lighter in both mine is switched off the ignition, so wouldn't work with that off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romahomepete Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Be careful using a cigarette lighter plug and socket, the connections between the parts is not the best, they can get hot and must not be used for more than 10n amps. The Germans produce a plug and socket with a far more positive connection but personally I would use Anderson connectors Peter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Do the brake lights stay on with the key out? Bit of a fudge but you could wedge the brake pedal down and plug the charger into the brake light connection. You'll lose a few amps of the chargers output to the bulbs though. Your brakes might start sticking too 😂 Personally I would just put one of the ctek sockets on the seat box or an Anderson connection so you can jump start too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 "Arjan -In the UK the blue wire is for the rear fog lights" In Dutch, sorry, but this is the "sort of standard" on this side of the Channel.. # 1 (L) = Yellow = Indicator Left # 2 (54G) = Blue / brown constant live # 3 (31) = White = Earth # 4 (R) = Green = Indicator Right # 5 (58R) = Brown = Rear lights / side light Right hand side # 6 (54) = Red = Brakelights # 7 (68L) = Black = Rear lights / side light Left hand side Colour can vary but having towed trailers everywhere on 7-pins they always have the same function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted September 14, 2019 Author Share Posted September 14, 2019 Hmm. Will check the sockets with the meter. I have two Defenders, a Shogun and a Thailand-build ROW spec Ford Ranger, so they may not all be the same. Otherwise I'll give up and just stop being lazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Being on "the other side" you may have a different wiring.... However, I've towed many UK trailers and never problems.. Care to share some pics of your beautiful, if windy, part of the world ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Put an Anderson socket at the back, very very handy for jump starting and powering tipping trailers or trailer winches etc one of the most useful things you can do to a landcover IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Just to add, in Bhellgium there's no permanent live in the 7-pin connector either, as that pin is used for the mandatory rear fog light, just like in UK. If you don't want to take out the seat (which I can fully understand!) to charge, can't you reach a permanent 12V under the bonnet? Like the alternator or a relay? I use that to connect the charger to the Elan and Excel, as it's easier than getting to the battery in the trunk. Filip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 On 9/14/2019 at 7:32 AM, Romahomepete said: Be careful using a cigarette lighter plug and socket, the connections between the parts is not the best, they can get hot and must not be used for more than 10n amps. In my experience they won't take more than about 4A continuous without melting, mind you trickle-charging the battery should be way less than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 On 9/14/2019 at 11:53 AM, muddy said: Put an Anderson socket at the back, very very handy for jump starting and powering tipping trailers or trailer winches etc one of the most useful things you can do to a landcover IMHO And one on the front as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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