12 pin car connections to SWIFT Alco <span class="highlight">Caravan</span>

Submitted: Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 15:22
ThreadID: 110218 Views:5717 Replies:6 FollowUps:10
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My Fridge in my Swift Caravan is not operating on 12 volts when connected to my Car, even with the engine running , I believe a 12 volt supply should be fed from a VSR ( Voltage Sensitive Relay ) when the car engine is running . I have measured the Voltages from the socket on my Car , 12 volt permanent supply on pin 8, nothing on pin 9, earth on pin 10 . Should I get a 12 volt reading on Pin 9 with the engine running but not connected to the Caravan ???
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Reply By: Lorraine Williamson - Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 15:44

Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 15:44
Just by coincidence I sold my Swift caravan a week ago and I checked the wiring diagram that I had retained and the fridge must have an earth on Pin 12. If your wiring is from the Swift factory an earth to Pin 12 should get you out of trouble.

Good luck
Fergie
AnswerID: 542033

Follow Up By: Dutchysenior - Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 17:34

Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 17:34
Hi Fergie, Did what you suggested "NO GO " according to the diagram I have , Pin 12 is a spare and not used, Remember this is a 12 Pin oblong socket (Five Large round Pins at the top ) , Pin 8 red/white, is shown as a 12 Volt 30 amp fused permanent output, Pin 9 Orange, 12 Volt + ignition fed via a Voltage Sensitive Relay, 30 amp fuse, and Pin 10 white/black, Earth for position 8 & 9 Looms ? they are the only Pins used for the top row ?? Pin 9 the orange lead is obviously the supply to the fridge via a VSR when the engine is running ? my query is should there be a Voltage on this Pin if the car is not connected to the Caravan ??
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FollowupID: 828262

Reply By: SDG - Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 22:35

Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 22:35
Will check my swift tomorrow for you. From memory I have a permant power from my plug, but not sure which number. One of the larger pins on a 12 pin plug.
AnswerID: 542060

Follow Up By: Dutchysenior - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:57

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:57
Hi SDG, That will be great if you could measure the Voltage's from Pins 8,9 10 straight from the cars socket , with and without the engine running ??? as I want to find out if the 12 volt from Pin 9 which comes via a VSR (Voltage Sensitive Relay ) is on the Pin even though the Van might not be connected to the Car ?? but the cars engine is running ?? as I have no voltage on that Pin at all !! That Pin I believe supplies the fridge ??? That will show me whether for certain the fault lies with a faulty VSR.
Regards Dutchy
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FollowupID: 828307

Follow Up By: SDG - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 16:38

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 16:38
Hi.
Checked car and trailer connections.
earth return is on 10.
My power supply is on 9. It is constant through a Sidewinder relay? Turns off when voltage hits a certain point. Car off is 12.79v Other pins no wire connected.

Several suggestions.

Do car and trailer correspond?

Blown fuse at relay. If power, fuse in camper end?

Is the terminal clean?

Is wire connected coming out of VCR? Could have come loose.



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FollowupID: 828323

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 22:54

Saturday, Nov 22, 2014 at 22:54
The wiring on pins 8 - 12 will be what ever you ordered when you had the socket installed on your tug. You can have 12 V on pins 8 and/or 9 and earth on 10. Whether they are live all the time or switched by VSRs or simple relays depends upon what instructions were given to the installer.

I have mine installed with a relay switched on with the engine running on pin 9 for the fridge and a relay switched with the accessories on pin 8 for the DC/DC charger. Having the battery charger switched via the accessories line allows you to give the battery a little charge to run some lights when you are having battery problems (came in handy when the battery gave out when across in WA.)
PeterD
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AnswerID: 542061

Follow Up By: Dutchysenior - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:47

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:47
Hi Peter D , It was good of you to help, if you read my follow up to Fergie, you will realize our predicament !! all we told the electrician was to wire up a socket to connect to our Swift, ( we actually gave him the connections diagram ) he wired it up originally with a round plug as per an Aussie standard electric brake system, thus it went back and instead of doing the wiring again, they added another two wires ( ONLY ) to feed the Van for Pins 8 & 9, no earth return !!
This seemed to work for our first trip if I connected a thick wire with two crocodile clips , clipping one end on the Van ,the other to the cars tow bar ?? , then what happened was the two wires he put in fell out ( very good job ) and it hasn't worked since ??? Regards Dutchy
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FollowupID: 828305

Reply By: Lorraine Williamson - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 08:17

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 08:17
Hi Dutchy,
I think you misinterrupted what I was trying to explain. The Swift van uses No. 12 as an Earth to the Fridge.Check your van plug and see if No. 12 has a wire connected. Can you do a continuity test from Pin 12 to your chassis on the van? Also check the car has all the same wires and plugs connected (90% of electrical problems is a faulty earth).
Good luck this time.
Regards Fergie
AnswerID: 542070

Follow Up By: Dutchysenior - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:37

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:37
Hi Fergie
Thanks again for your follow up , it is really good of you to try and help, when I connected an earth to Pin 12 on the Car and then connected up Van and car , that would have put an earth on Pin 12 to the Van thus putting an earth to the fridge ?? NO GO !! At this stage I suspect the VSR is not operating and supplying a 12 volt ssupply to Pin 9, but where this darn thing is so I can check it is another story . The obvious answer is to talk to the electrician that installed it !! but the trouble we have had with them would make your hair curl !! This is WA , not the Eastern States , You have a vast amount of fully trained and qualified technicians over there, over here, we are as yet to meet one !! It is a long story, only to say we bought our BRAND NEW Van 6 months ago , used it twice for 2 x 2 week tours and are still trying to remedy our fridge fault !! my wife insists we don't take it back to the electrician who wired it in ???? in case they do even more damage, thus why I am trying to fix it myself !! I am a retired British Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer (Radio ) in the good old glass valve days , so know a little about electrics !! the basics don't change much ??? Regards Dutchy
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FollowupID: 828303

Follow Up By: SDG - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 16:42

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 16:42
Find your car battery. Follow wires. Should be one going to the VCR, which I have been told by an auto electrician, should be as close as possible to battery.
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FollowupID: 828324

Follow Up By: Zippo - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 17:14

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 17:14
Dutchy, where in WA are you located?
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FollowupID: 828327

Follow Up By: Dutchysenior - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 18:40

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 18:40
We are in Lady Brand Lifestyle Village in Greenfields, (Mandurah )
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FollowupID: 828334

Reply By: Lorraine Williamson - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 17:40

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 17:40
Hi Dutchy,
Why don't you google Swift Caravan and get the wiring diagram for your model of caravan. Unfortunately I have already deleted any details regarding the Swift caravan, seeing as we traded ours in.
You must remember that the Earth from the Fridge MUST BE EARTHED TO THE CAR!
Good luck
Fergie
AnswerID: 542103

Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 18:57

Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 at 18:57
I would not take any notice of what Swift have done with their connectors unless you were using European standard plugs. Dutchy has stated that he is using a 12 pin plug that appears to conform to the Oz standards. If you are using that connector then it should be wired up to the Oz standards.

Australian Standards for Trailer Connectors.


PeterD
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FollowupID: 828336

Reply By: Dutchysenior - Monday, Nov 24, 2014 at 18:52

Monday, Nov 24, 2014 at 18:52
Hi to All
At last I managed to find out the cause of my problem, but I would like to say that perhaps without all of your help I would still be in no mans land ???
I finally tracked it down to the Caravan Connector, when I took off all the plastic covers , to check each individual lead ? I found the cause of the problem on Pin 9 ,which was not making contact !! the screw which tightens up the wire to the Pin was tightened up on the plastic covering ?????????? Hence no earth return !!! I believe this was mentioned as a possible cause !! I would like to Sincerely thank all of you for taking the time to help, I think this Forum is absolutely marvelous !!
All the very best and have a great Xmas !!
OVER & OUT
Peter & Pam
AnswerID: 542156

Follow Up By: Dutchysenior - Monday, Nov 24, 2014 at 18:57

Monday, Nov 24, 2014 at 18:57
Many Many thanks to all !!!
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FollowupID: 828394

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