by argonaut » 27 Mar 2015, 10:09
There is no argument here ... 13pin 'is' the new Euro standard.
It is a technically far superior plug.
Of course you can still fit 12S & 12N, but as there is a new better product, I decided time to move on ( esp as I also need new lighting board)
The 12S & 12 plugs are very poor connection, with no interlock. Having spent many a time having to repair or replace these plugs, have personal experience of this.
The new 13 pin is a very positive twist lock lock plug & socket.
At present you can of course still use the old style plugs, but at some point it will become illegal to fit old style sockets to new cars.
On my last car you could only have a factory fit 13pin option ... with an adapter for older plugs.
Once more & more fit 13pin as standard, the use of 13 pin will become the 'norm'
You could equate it to the old style caravan gas bottles, for years people still used screw on fittings &:spanners... even though quick fit newer designs existed.
Both achieved the same result ... even though one was an improved better solution.
It took a while, but when all caravan manufacturers fitted quick fit as standard, eventually everyone changed.
Now you hardly ever come across old type.
2" tow balls went same way, old 2" balls existed alongside 50mm for years .. even though they were illegal to use (or even to have fitted) with added safety implications that you could mismatch ball & hitch.
The same will happen with sockets.
I held out for a while, decided that advantages now outweigh disadvantages..
FourWinns H210, Volvo 280-C-N duoprop, Monster MTK tower, SBS 2600 twin axle trailer
Tow Vehicle - Landrover Discovery Sport