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Wiring in a plug for trailer lights

Posted: Tue, 22 Jun 2010, 9:29 pm
by harrys engines
Having just got a towbar for our trusty Citroen ZX...I now need to wire in the plug for the lights on the trailer and caravan...How the hell is this done please :shifty:

Re: Wiring in a plug for trailer lights

Posted: Tue, 22 Jun 2010, 10:21 pm
by Admin
Dead simple, I thought it would be a nightmare when I did my first one but actually it was a lot easier than I thought. What you'll be wiring up is the basic N type socket, the S socket is the auxiliary one that can be used to charge your battery, keep your fridge powered etc. when you have a big posh modern caravan.

Just take the corresponding wires from the back of the 'N' socket into the boot of your car and splice into the correct cable feeding the relevant light. If you can, take time to do it properly with solder and a heat shrink tube over the join and it'll pay for itself in the long run. If you do it the cheap and quick way using cable splice connectors you'll spend ages hunting for breaks if a light fails on you. And don't forget to use a wire grommet where the towing cable wire enters the boot, otherwise it'll chafe against the hole you've drilled.

Wiring diagram for the N type socket:
nplugwiring.gif
It would be a good idea to wire in the fog light even though a Portafold doesn't need one due to its age. In future you might use the car for towing something else and you'll wish you'd wired it in!

Re: Wiring in a plug for trailer lights

Posted: Tue, 06 Jul 2010, 9:36 pm
by harrys engines
done. thought i did well for a beginner!