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[2nddaniel]

I was expecting one of the towbar sockets to have a Permanent 12v on one of the pins. I'd like to use it to plug in a trickle charger to keep the car battery maintained when I'm on holiday.
Thanks to this forum I found fuse29 appeared to be for this and put a fuse in. But no joy.
Does anyone have any info / ideas / help?
Thanks in advance.

[Andy B]

The larger of the two red wires should be permanent live when the fuse is fitted .... no idea now which fuse it should be though

[05omegav6]

If it's wired in properly, you should have no issues... if it's connected to A N Other socket/loom like the rear seat heater circuit, all bets are off

[zirk]

Jumped one of mine last year (To open door with remote). using this info -

Towbar Wiring
Socket and plug wiring instruction
Wiring Diagram
12N Normal Socket
1)   Left indicator
2)   Fog
3)   Earth
4)   Right indicator
5)   Right side light
6)   Brake
7)   Left side light

12S Supplementary Socket
1)   Reverse
2)   Battery Charge **
3)   Earth
4)   Power feed
5)   Spare
6)   Fridge **
7)   Earth for pin 6 (1998 on)
**NB It is essential that pin 6 is wired through a split relay from 1998 on!!

Cant remember which pin its was now, but sure it was one of these pairs -
12 Volts -/+ on 3 and 4, if not then 3 and 2/6.

[Andy B]

To clarify ..... which towbar socket are you talking about? Do you mean the one that you'd connect your caravan to ie 12S/grey socket or the plug in the boot that you'd take your towbar wiring from? I was talking about the one in the boot.

[Kevin Wood]

The larger of the two red wires should be permanent live when the fuse is fitted .... no idea now which fuse it should be though

The facelift wiring diagram shows this fed from F5 which should be 30A. Might be worth adding this fuse if not already fitted.

[2nddaniel]

Thanks everyone.
(Andy B: I was talking about the twin sockets next to the towball.)

I was hoping to avoid removing trims, as I usually break something, but may have to explore.
Multimeter showed nothing, nada, zip. No volts between any pins of either socket.
I suppose I'll give in, and buy a Haynes Manual - haven't needed one so far - which is thanks to the myriad posts on this forum.

[Andy B]

Thanks everyone.
(Andy B: I was talking about the twin sockets next to the towball.)

I was hoping to avoid removing trims, as I usually break something, but may have to explore.
Multimeter showed nothing, nada, zip. No volts between any pins of either socket.
I suppose I'll give in, and buy a Haynes Manual - haven't needed one so far - which is thanks to the myriad posts on this forum.

Does this help? 

http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_12S_wiring_diagram.html

[2nddaniel]

Thanks,
But it doesn't help. I have diagrams for both 12s &12n sockets. But I have no voltage present between any of the pins, of either socket.
So they are either not connected the standard way, or I have a fuse blown or missing. (Fuse 29 according to my cars cover panel diagram - replacing this fuse didn't solve it.)
Some investigation of my 'trunk' is on the cards I think.

[Andy B]

Thanks,
But it doesn't help. I have diagrams for both 12s &12n sockets. But I have no voltage present between any of the pins, of either socket.
So they are either not connected the standard way, or I have a fuse blown or missing. (Fuse 29 according to my cars cover panel diagram - replacing this fuse didn't solve it.)
Some investigation of my 'trunk' is on the cards I think.

It obviously depends on how the bloke fitting the towbar in the first place wired it. It seems that towbar fitters like to keep their wiring as a separate entity from the original car's wiring & so are reluctant to use what GM intended for towbar supplies. At the back of your boot, around the middle you'll find a round socket that has all the wires you need ie the 12N supplies plus a large red wire that you've now powered up by fitting fuse 29. You need to find the wire that the towbar fitter used ..... if indeed he did wire any of them up for the 12S socket ..... don't be surprised if he used the boot light feed.  If you want an ignition feed for your fridge/charging supplies, easiest way is to use a voltage sensitive relay rather than the old way of picking up a feed from the alternator to feed a split charge relay.

[Kevin Wood]

It seems that towbar fitters like to keep their wiring as a separate entity from the original car's wiring...

Yep, that way they get to use more scotchloks.

[2nddaniel]

Ewww, scotchlocks.
I used to think they were great, back when I had an Opel Manta.
But as an electrician by trade, Eww.
I hope I Don't find any.

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone, it's all helping me get familiar with were things are, and how to solve things.

[Andy B]

...... when I had an Opel Manta.

I loved my B series Manta ... and the Cavalier coupe before it

[05omegav6]

...... when I had an Opel Manta.

I loved my B series Manta ... and the Chevette before it

Fixed

[Andy B]

...... when I had an Opel Manta.

I loved my B series Manta ... and the Chevette before it

Fixed

[minifreek]

There is a relay behind the glovebox that needs to be fitted for the wiring to become 'live' on the 12S socket... its not as simple as just installing a fuse...

[Andy B]

There is a relay behind the glovebox that needs to be fitted for the wiring to become 'live' on the 12S socket... its not as simple as just installing a fuse...

There's not. Just fitting the fuse powers the larger of the two red wires in the socket on the boot. You'd then fit a 'split charge relay' after it to power the caravan's fridge & charging circuits.

[minifreek]

I had to fit a standard 4 pin relay to mine to get the power to the 12S socket on mine....

Maybe some do some dont .... ?



Might be having a word with you soon Mr B with regards to a potential purchase from yourself....

[Andy B]

I had to fit a standard 4 pin relay to mine to get the power to the 12S socket on mine....

Maybe some do some dont .... ?



Might be having a word with you soon Mr B with regards to a potential purchase from yourself....

maybe the difference between MFL & facelift 

Every time I see that bag of bits in my garage I intend to bring them to your house 

[minifreek]

Oh I forgot about them LOL

Its that locking kit I borrowed from you last year.....

I'll have a bit of spare cash in the next couple weeks and the HG needs doing on my motor so will need the kit again, but instead of borrowing it, I will gladly part with a wad of cash for it.... if you still have it that is...

[Andy B]

.....

Its that locking kit I borrowed from you last year.....

I'll have a bit of spare cash in the next couple weeks and the HG needs doing on my motor so will need the kit again, but instead of borrowing it, I will gladly part with a wad of cash for it.... if you still have it that is...

Unfortunately I sold it last year sometime to a forum member

[minifreek]

Aaaaaaaaaah bugger....!!!! I knew I should have bought it from you when I had the chance....

No worries, I'll get 1 from elsewhere....