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12N7 Pin and 13 Pin System - Linking The Lights of a Towing Vehicle to the Trailer

The 12N 7 pin system has been used for many years throughout Europe and links the road lights of the towing vehicle to the road light of the trailer, a mandatory requirement.  The 12S 7 pin system is a supplementary system primarily for caravans where power is required to the caravan to run the fridge, charge the caravan battery etc.  Caravanners will, in most cases have 12N and 12S electrics.

The 13 pin system has been gradually introduced over the past 10 years into continental Europe and does exactly what the 12N and 12S 7 pin systems do but through one plug.  This system is beginning to become more common in the UK, e.g. BMW and Mercedes dealers (and others) will fit a 13 pin socket when fitting a towbar, and from September 2008 all UK built caravans will have a single 13 pin plug fitted as standard.  Ring do a full range of adapters where the trailer and towing vehicle electrics are not compatible.