Electrical Anderson Plug

Rod.F

Member
Jan 23, 2012
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Hi just wondering should the lights & Radio work in caravan when the Anderson plug is connected from car to caravan without having the 7 pin connected .

Thanks
 

chartrock

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What sort of van are we talking about @Rod.F? Does it have a battery setup in the van? If there is a battery in the van then the anderson plug should have no bearing on the lights as they should just be connected to the battery. What is the amderson plug connected to? Usually it is either for powering the fridge or charging the battery and it would not matter if the 7 pin connected or not.
 
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rodney

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Apr 23, 2014
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Maybe I have seen a few people put the Hotwire into the Anderson plug so if this was done it would do what your saying
To check see if you have two wires or three wires coming out of the ando
 

Drover

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Actually since the van only has one wire doing both jobs at the plug and doesn't split till later on in the harness checking the plug won't show it up unless the van was rewired.
The only way to check is to fault test , ie; plug one socket in at a time, with battery switched off and turn light etc on. Quicker to check fridge with a multi meter though.
 
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Rod.F

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Jan 23, 2012
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Sorry it is a 2009 discovery & yes it has a battery system in it i was just thinking as i have made a extension lead with anderson plugs on either end so when free camping i could have connected so it drains my spare Battery in tow car all 12 v things in van do work when my 7 pin is connected .
 

chartrock

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If it has a battery in the van then all the 12V gear should run whether or not the 7 pin or anderson is plugged in, If you do connect the tug via the anderson with your extension then the two batteries may balance out but it will not disconnect from the van battery as the Setek unit in the van controls all the 12V lighting etc in the van,
 
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boots33

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Jun 25, 2011
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@chartrock is correct , if you have a battery fitted to the van then you should have power to your lights even when the vehicle is disconnected. The three things to check first will be:

Check that your master switch is on (if fitted).

Check that the main Battery fuse in the setec is ok. It is one of the blade fuses you see on the front of the setec, from memory the one on the right i think. it will be a heavier rating than the rest.

Have a look at the positive wire attached to the van battery, you will likely have an inline fuse on that wire somewhere near the battery. Check to see if it is ok.
 
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Drover

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After stating a number of times that the 12pin works fine running power to van, well it just had a meltdown, terminal must have loosened up and cooked, 20,000plus Kms no problem till now, so Anderson will be fitted. At least I don't have to buy new plugs.
I think giving the plug a bit of sideways movement to disconnect caused the pin to close up.
At least it didn't melt the wiring like what happened on a 40ft trailer once, not nice.
 
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Crusty181

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After stating a number of times that the 12pin works fine running power to van, well it just had a meltdown, terminal must have loosened up and cooked, 20,000plus Kms no problem till now, so Anderson will be fitted. At least I don't have to buy new plugs.
I think giving the plug a bit of sideways movement to disconnect caused the pin to close up.
At least it didn't melt the wiring like what happened on a 40ft trailer once, not nice.
Same thing happened on our last 16.49. Been relying on the 12 pin for years and never let us down. One day after moving camp fridge was a little warmer than usual and the found the wire into the plug a little worse for wear. We had the 150ltr fridge in that van, as you say @Drover possibly a less than perfect pin/connection with a relatively high draw of the fridge. Wrapped up the melted wire, cleaned the plugs, spread the pins and cause it kept working forget to change it and it lasted a few more years until we sold it.
 
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Drover

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Just come across this weather proof Anderson Plug , certainly will keep the weather out of the plug as I have found after awhile dirt, water and bloody mud wasps' get in.
Available at http://www.sidewinder.com.au/page26.html who happen to have a discount going on at the moment. Around the $11 mark.

sidewinder.jpg
....................................................................wpc5b9c00b_0f.jpg
 
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Crusty181

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Feb 7, 2010
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Just come across this weather proof Anderson Plug , certainly will keep the weather out of the plug as I have found after awhile dirt, water and bloody mud wasps' get in.
Available at http://www.sidewinder.com.au/page26.html who happen to have a discount going on at the moment. Around the $11 mark.

View attachment 34498 ....................................................................wpc5b9c00b_0f.jpg
Ive got a similar one ... but mine has a little pretty red light. The genuine Anderson fits inside the flapper

Auto Elec in Bairnsdale in Gippsland in beautiful, better than QLD, Victoria is good value for all thats auto elec ... pretty good prices to. I get all my crap from them

mbKjJ8YCLtPRw8sFsOsq3hQ.jpg
 
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Meanderthals

Aka PhilD
Mar 16, 2012
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Ive got a similar one ... but mine has a little pretty red light. The genuine Anderson fits inside the flapper

Auto Elec in Bairnsdale in Gippsland in beautiful, better than QLD, Victoria is good value for all thats auto elec ... pretty good prices to. I get all my crap from them

View attachment 34499
Another vote for autoelec on ebay. Have had a few deliveries for many items related to 2nd battery in Ranger, a few Redarc items and 12V alterations to van. All better prices than elsewhere and no delivery included extra cost for freight, and one item was a 30+Kg AGM battery. A happy customer.
A side story: Before I discovered autoelec I was in Adelaide and went to a specialist 4x4 Dealer to possibly purchase a Redarc item. None in stock and delivery would be from their Melbourne distribution point in about 10 days. The 4x4 Dealer I was at was about 2Kms (as the Crow flies) from Redarc's office where they were being made but the 4x4 Dealer's system didn't allow them to source them directly. As I would have been back home in Darwin before that Dealer could have sourced one for me a sale was lost. Found autoelec and with their price on the same item that 4x4 specialist Dealer, and some other suppliers, lost future sales to me.
 

Drover

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Sort of on the same topic, today I put the meter on the 12v pin on the drawbar socket and it had power, I thought that the setec had a diode to stop the van battery sending juice that way ?
Turned battery off,no power on line. Turned on 240 , line shows 12v again ?
So I checked the son in laws Swan, same thing, so it's not just mine.

Views anyone ?
 

Drover

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I'll experiment with it, on the road now, everything working so will wait and see, nothing worse than stuffing around with something on the road and you make a bigger mess...........Having issue with my van cam connection atm, ready to get out the hammer.