13 Pin extension lead

A long time ago we too had a 'spare' leisure battery in the boot of the car that was charged as we drove and swapped them over every couple of days. We also ran the van directly from the car 12 S plug but wouldn't now. I think your best bet is a solar panel.

As the car when connected up disables the caravan electrics I cannot see connecting up to the car is workable. To charge the battery from the car would take a very long time with the engine running as the charge you get is usually not that great.  I would look at solar panels but you need over 100 amps and a regulator so not cheap.

just buy a 13 pin plug & socket, some cable and make your own, its easy

 ....and a pair of jump leads for when he/she flattens the car's  battery 

Hi all,

Many thanks for all the reply's. It seems connecting to the car is not the way forward so I will be purchasing a 120W solar panel and see how we get on.

Two weeks in the south of France on the edge of a lake should be a good test :) Just hope the pine trees the camp site is in lets enough sunlight through to get a good charge.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment.

Happy caravaning :)

With your intended 120 watt panel you will find even in the shade in summer it will charge a large 110 amp battery. Whilst direct sunlight does the job quicker I have found on very heavily overcast days in December the panel easily keeps pace.

Whilst a solar panel may suit your requirements, you can easily try your extension cable for a fraction of the cost.

Just connect a 13 pin plug to a 13 pin socket with a substantial 2 core cable. Connect pin 9, positive, of the plug to pin 9 of the socket and pin 13 negative to pin 13. Your habitation relay will not operate as you have no connection to pin 10.

As others have said you will need to guard against a flat battery in your car.

Hope this helps.