Hi guys, as posted on other threads I have just swapped my 7 pin towing sockets for a 13 pin socket. The car side is fine but on the van the terminals on the grey socket were completely rusted, so much so that I couldn't get a screw driver in the heads and had to butcher the old plug. This wasn't a problem as I was fitting the new 13pin plug anyway but the heads of the connector screws have sheared so I'm going to have to cut the wires off the old plug.

The problem I have is finding the right crimped connectors to use. Most places only seem to do insulated bullets and spades but theses are not what I need. I think I need un insulated pin connectors but am having difficulty finding these. Not knowing properly what they are called Makes it hard to search

Can anyone tell me what I need and where I can get them please.

Thanks.

I think you;re looking for "ferrules" or "bootlace Ferrules".

Try and use the type where the wire goes right through rather than the blue or red ones which are crimped on like a normal spade terminal

Thanks.

I've looked at those but they look different to what I need but they may do the job.

I found a post on another forum with something similar to what I am looking for

http://forum.lro.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=47361

I,think you need a special crimped for these, if I can find them, so will have to check my tools as well.

Where are these terminals going exactly, it's not very clear?

http://img-europe.electrocomponents.com/images/R6139643-01.jpg

Think this is the type of connector he is after Martin

They are on the end of the wires on the caravan wiring which will then go in the back of the 13 pin plug. Push them in and tighten the screws like a plug or electrical fitting.




Thanks.

Can you not twist the wire and put them straight into the holes and then tighten the grub screw?

Failing that you should be able to find what you need here, I use this company quite a lot:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/sect...-terminals

Fish wrote:

Thanks.

I've looked at those but they look different to what I need but they may do the job.

I found a post on another forum with something similar to what I am looking for

http://forum.lro.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=47361

I,think you need a special crimped for these, if I can find them, so will have to check my tools as well.

These type do need a dedicated tool to get crimped correctly. The type Ironhorse linked to are the ones I suggested not to use as the plastic end makes them too bulky for lots of jobs.

You could always get your soldering iron out and just tin the ends

^ +1 for just stripping the insulation back and tinning the ends with solder. Much better job than a potentially dodgy crimp end being fitted.

You don't need them, as above tin the wires if you wish, but neatly stripped and twisted will do fine.

The terminals linked to on the LRO forum are not for this purpose, they are to go inside a connector (plug)

nicedayforit wrote:

^ +1 for just stripping the insulation back and tinning the ends with solder. Much better job than a potentially dodgy crimp end being fitted.

Thanks for the help guys. I have looked at a million different connectors but do need uninsulated as space is tight in the connection block as there are about 10 wires going in and I already had a problem with 1 shorting out and flashing the brakes lights with the indicators as the screw on one was touching the connector on the next one.

I was considering just twisting the wires but thought I'd double check here. I thought about tinning but as the van is in storage I have no power for the soldering iron.

I'll just twist them and put them in for now, if they do go its easy to take them back out and do something else.

Last edited by Fish on 16th Feb 2015 1:58pm. Edited 1 time in total

You can get good 12V or gas powered soldering irons

I just stripped the wire on mine - then filled the whole thing with silicone to help keep moisture out and stop anything working loose over time