7 point plugs burnt out

Hi John. Not sure where you have found the instance of a manufacturer wiring up the way you describe, especially to run a three way fridge. Most have the fridge and battery charge wires through an Anderson plug or through the heavier pins in a 12 pin plug. I have them through the 12 pin without a drama now for around three years. Cheers,Bob.

My 2006 Windsor was wired uo through the black 7 pin plug and my mate just bought a 2010 Paramount with the same wiring.

We both had to change over to an Anderson plug.

My mate had to insist to the caravan dealer that the 7 pin wouldn't work and get him to re-wire.

The dealer thought I was lying when I told him my plug melted.

They are out there.

Bill

If the electrical load and the battery size in the van is small a standard trailer plug should be adequate....

But the syetem and wiring needs to be correctly designed to limit the current to arrouns 10 amps.

the pins in trailer plugs are good for arround 15 amps.

Personally I do not like the plastic flat trailer plugs, they are simply not as well a desiged item as the traditional round plugs

If you have large batteries or you have heavy drain items in the trailer a standard trailer plug most certainly will not be adequate.

A fridge is a heavy drain item

Mostly 50 amp anderson plugs are used for the connection

cheers

You will find that most caravan manufacturers do no have much idea how to wire up 12 volt or rather auxiliary power to a caravan.

We don't see any real issues with 7 pin trailer plugs in general BUT if they are used above their recommended current rating then there could be a problem.

We see a lot of new and used caravans and campers that have below standard shonky wiring and components, the main cause of this is most use unskilled so called trades people to do their work and in most cases they use the cheapest components around.

7 pin flat plugs and socket have a 15amp max rating and the standard round ones have a 30amp max rating per circuit...... They say they can handle this current constantly but I would take it with a pinch of salt and say it should be peak current.

Anything with deep cycle batteries should have a minimum of 6B&S cable through a suitably rated plug and socket that can handle at least 25% more current then needed.

Most installations we will use a3B&S cable and a 175amp Anderson style plug and socket

This is one of the ideal reasons for using a DC-DC charger the charge aux batteries in a caravan or camper..... you have a greater chance of knowing you maximum current load and with a DC-DC charger as it will limit the amount of current to the batteries.

For example if you have a 3 way fridge that most caravans have, they will draw on average 20amps constant, throw in a battery or two and you have another 20 to 30amps plus.... this nearly exceeds 50amp Anderson style plugs and sockets and well exceeds nearly all trailer plugs and sockets by a long shot.