Tow bar electrics

Adm013 · Jul 19, 2020

Hi,

I have a few queries about the tow bar electrics on my truck. (UK 2019 NP300)

It was spec'd new from dealer with 7 pin tow bar electrics.

I tow around an Ifor williams tipping trailer, and it is forever going flat, should the 7 pin have the ability to trickle charge the battery on the trailer through the existing navara loom? Currently the trailer only has connections to the pump so I guess I would need to retro fit something to trailer loom to facilitate this? Anyone come across this?

I have heard of people fitting an Anderson plug from the battery and having it hard wired to the truck but preferably I would like to use existing wiring if possible. However if needed I would go down this route. Anyone done this?

Another not so important point, when sticking it in reverse should the parking sensors not go off? A bit of a first world problem....but still.

Thanks!

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gfromleeds · Jul 19, 2020

Does the trailer have a second plug?
The standard black 7pin plug is for lights only! Any power transfer would be done via a gray/white 7pin plug usualy used for caravan charging
As for the sensors some manufacturer installed sensors electronically detect the trailer is pluged in so disable the reversing sensors so not to distract you

Adm013 · Jul 19, 2020

Hi there,

No just the one plug.

I thought that about the sensors aswell as my Disco used to turn them off automatically, also reading another post it seems that the majority if not all tow bar fitting is subbed out from nissan. So perhaps this coding wasn't done.

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landmannnn · Jul 19, 2020

The turning off of the reversing sensors is done in the towing socket. The one I have has a little switch thing that opens the switch when the trailer is plugged in. (Not that I have wired that switch in on mine)

You might need to buy a new socket.

As above, the normal thing is to have a 7N plug and socket - you have that already. Adding a 7S plug and socket will allow you to power an auxiliary battery and have reversing lights on the trailer.

The latest standards are a 13 pin plug and socket which does it all, just to complicate things.

Adm013 · Jul 19, 2020

Thanks, yeah my trailer is a 13 pin with a 7 pin adapter......

Seems that the simplest solution may be to to change the 7 pin to a 13pin loom on the truck.

If I did change over to 13 pin my next question would be running the 12v supply to the battery on the trailer. Would this work in the same way as an alternator does and charge the battery which in turn powers the hydraulics, or would the 12v supply power the pump directly and use the battery as a back up. Ideally the first option, but not sure how the system is set up to work as standard.

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gfromleeds · Jul 19, 2020

If the 13pin is wired properly there is a permanent live and a engine running live! I would imagine the trailer is wired to take power from the engine running live, so itll charge the battery only whilst the engine is running, then gets the hydraulics power from its own on board battery.

Adm013 · Jul 19, 2020

gfromleeds said:
If the 13pin is wired properly there is a permanent live and a engine running live! I would imagine the trailer is wired to take power from the engine running live, so itll charge the battery only whilst the engine is running, then gets the hydraulics power from its own on board battery.

Yeah thats what I was thinking. Change to 13 pin might be the way forward.

Thanks

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landmannnn · Jul 20, 2020

Either way you will be definitely able to use the +12v from the trailer plug to power the hydraulics.

Charging the auxiliary battery will not be very successful due to the smart alternator. That's a whole new topic.

Tow bar electrics

Adm013

gfromleeds

Adm013

landmannnn

Adm013

gfromleeds

Adm013

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