The correct 12pin wiring instructions can be found at our Help Centre at cespro.com.au
Without the specifics of cable sizes and not knowing if this has been installed correctly on the car, there isn't much that we can say for certain but we can give you some information on the plugs and our harness.
While the issue of pin 8/10 melting is not common, we do get a request for assistance once every month or two.
This can start to happen on either or both sides of the plug and is usually caused by the following issues:
- A loose wire in the plug or socket.
- Dirt/dust in the sockets prevents a good connection.
- The use of cleaning products that leave a non-conductive film on the surface, such as WD40 Multi-Purpose.
- Insufficiently sized wiring on the car side.
- Earth not making a good connection in the car. This ground should be taken from the battery or Ground point in the engine bay.
- Poor connections made at the fridge
- Damaged pins. The pins are slightly springy and, if knocked, may need to be reopened to bring their springiness back; this should be checked every time the 12pin is connected. Most commonly, this happens when "twisting" the plug out rather than pulling is straight, often when the connection is very close to the hitch.
- Connecting to the same cable as the grey Anderson, drawing too high a current from the line. Pin 8/10 should have a connection to the vehicle battery/grounding points as per our wiring instructions.
Modern 3-way fridges usually use around 14 amps per hour on DC.
The large 5 connectors in 12-pin plugs are rated at 35 amps. They are designed to run higher loads, such as the fridge.
We have very few issues reported when the plugs are maintained well, the tow vehicle is wired to our specifications, and we have tens of thousands of units in use with the same configuration.
Regular maintenance should be carried out on the 12-pin plug, which should be inspected every time it's connected.
- Make sure the socket and pins are clean, using a spray-on contact cleaner that leaves no residue (not WD40 general purpose).
- Check that the pins on both sides have a gap between them. If they begin closing up, open them using a small flat driver. These should be springy and allow the plug to "grip" the socket.
- Every few trips or after corrugated roads, open the 12-pin plug and socket to ensure that no screws have shaken loose.