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Subject Topic: Towing & 13 pin socket
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PersonAndyDW
10/5/2021 at 9:25am
 Location: Lincs
 Outfit: Coachman Wanderer 19 View AndyDW's Profile View Profile   Reply to AndyDW Reply   Quote AndyDW Quote  
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Hi All

Just bought a newer van, Coachman Wanderer. At the moment all I have on the car is a 7pin socket.

Would I be able to get away with a conversion plug or are they a problem ?

A local towbar/electrics company has told me a conversion socket would be no use to me as the van has ATC and without a power supply to the ATC it might apply the brakes.

How does that one play out though when nothing's connected and your're using the motor mover !!!!

Thoughts please.

.................
Andy


PersonDaveS1
via mobile 10/5/2021 at 9:43am
 Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
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I don't know about the ATC but why not get your car fully wired? Without it you'll have no fridge or battery charging. I just can't contemplate arriving on site with warm beer!
DaveS1


PersonAndyDW
10/5/2021 at 9:49am
 Location: Lincs
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Hi Dave

We arranged to pick up the van on the 27th. Been phoning round the usual towbar companies and auto electric companies able to wire me a socket up.

No one can look at it till at least 10th June !!!

They all say work has just gone manic.

Might have to postpone van pick-up for a couple of weeks.

..............
Andy


Personblueexpo97
10/5/2021 at 10:03am
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"A local towbar/electrics company has told me a conversion socket would be no use to me as the van has ATC and without a power supply to the ATC it might apply the brakes".


Don't understand how it can possibly apply the brakes if has no power.

-------------
XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
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PersonMonty15
10/5/2021 at 10:18am
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I've got ATC on my van, and whilst the outfit is generally a very stable tow, it has kicked in a few times when for instance a sudden cross wind gust has caught the van, I'd seriously consider getting your car socket fully wired to a 13 pin when you can to take advantage of the significant benefits of ATC. It offers great peace of mind!

As to towing with it electrically disconnected, so long as there is no power to it, I can't see how it could possibly activate the brakes as it's an electrically driven motor that applies the brakes.

There are activation fault conditions (detected during start up self test) where even with the power still connected you can safely tow with it in a (self)deactivated state, so yes, it is possible to tow with it non-operational.

If in any doubt, it is possible to easily remove a operating link (as required under some fault conditions) to completely isolate the device from the breaking mechanism and safely tow. Should you later want to re-activate the ATC, you only need to re-install the link. Read the manual on how to do so. Link here if you don't have a manual: http://www.al-ko.com/shop/media/uploads/AL-KO_ATC_Handbook_1.pdf

Good luck.


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PersonAndyDW
10/5/2021 at 10:37am
 Location: Lincs
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Hi

Thanks for replies. As I have never had anything to do with a system like this I am absolutely clueless. I'll have a look at that link Monty, many thanks.

.............
Andy


Personbessie500
10/5/2021 at 10:43am
 Location: Lancashire
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Hi Andy I had the same problem a few years ago, the ATC will work fine with the conversion socket

Bessie


PersonAndyDW
10/5/2021 at 10:57am
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Oh, ok Bessie. Thanks for that. It would enable me to get the van collected and then get a 13pin plug put on later at my leisure.

ATC working fully and split charge would be good.

Were not planned to go anywhere until July so enough time to get it done.

..........
Andy


PersonColin21
10/5/2021 at 11:07am
 Location: East Herts
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Quote: Originally posted by bessie500 on 10/5/2021
Hi Andy I had the same problem a few years ago, the ATC will work fine with the conversion socket

Bessie


Surely that is only the case if the O/P has the twin 7 pin sockets? If there is only a single 7 pin socket, as for a trailer, the ATC won't work. A single 7 pin socket will only work the road lights.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Personbessie500
10/5/2021 at 12:25pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 10/5/2021
Quote: Originally posted by bessie500 on 10/5/2021
Hi Andy I had the same problem a few years ago, the ATC will work fine with the conversion socket

Bessie


Surely that is only the case if the O/P has the twin 7 pin sockets? If there is only a single 7 pin socket, as for a trailer, the ATC won't work. A single 7 pin socket will only work the road lights.



No I only had 7 pin electrics on my 2011 Mondeo, I had the same caravan as the op, using the adapter the ATC worked

bessie


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PersonMonty15
10/5/2021 at 12:32pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 10/5/2021
Quote: Originally posted by bessie500 on 10/5/2021
Hi Andy I had the same problem a few years ago, the ATC will work fine with the conversion socket

Bessie


Surely that is only the case if the O/P has the twin 7 pin sockets? If there is only a single 7 pin socket, as for a trailer, the ATC won't work. A single 7 pin socket will only work the road lights.



Agree with Colin, ATC/fridge/charger not going to work from a single 7 pin '12N Type', there is no power pin connection, only basic lights, not even reversing lights! You'll need the auxiliary 7 pin '12S Type' socket as well, and OP didn't mention having one of those!

The adaptor should work basic lights OK on single socket, or all systems with dual sockets.


PersonColin21
10/5/2021 at 1:59pm
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Back in the 1970s before the advent of all the current electrics and gadgets I rigged up a basic split-charge system on my Mk2 Cortina using what was then the "spare" blue wire in the 7 pin socket. I fed a heavy duty cable from the car's battery to the socket via a relay energised by the car's ignition switch, so that the link was broken between the car and caravan when the ignition was turned off. It worked fine, but the blue wire in that socket is no longer "spare". I have the twin-socket set-up on my current outfit.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonBettytheBasecamp
10/5/2021 at 8:25pm
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Ran last weekend with an adapter to the 7 pin I’ve currently got as I can’t get it properly changed until this week. No problems with it at all. Got round the warm beer issue with a couple of ice blocks along with the beer in the fridge.

Granted no reverse lights or ATC but we were only going a relatively short distance.


PersonPaul and Nikki
via mobile 10/5/2021 at 9:37pm
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I have 13 pin caravan electrics and 7 pin car electrics, works fine but I struggle to get anyone to convert to 13 pin car electrics, seems there isn’t enough money in the job for anyone to do it


PersonAndyDW
11/5/2021 at 6:04am
 Location: Lincs
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Quote: Originally posted by Paul and Nikki on 10/5/2021
I have 13 pin caravan electrics and 7 pin car electrics, works fine but I struggle to get anyone to convert to 13 pin car electrics, seems there isn’t enough money in the job for anyone to do it


I have no problem getting someone to do it, just that 4 weeks waiting is a bit longer than I had anticipated !!!

Quoted £148 for 13 pin with split charging.

.............
Andy


PersonBettytheBasecamp
11/5/2021 at 12:50pm
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That's about what I was quoted.

Quote: Originally posted by Paul and Nikki on 10/5/2021
I have 13 pin caravan electrics and 7 pin car electrics, works fine but I struggle to get anyone to convert to 13 pin car electrics, seems there isn’t enough money in the job for anyone to do it



I tried the usual websites in the first instance and they were all saying they were booked solid and only interested in fitting full towbars so I tried the local garages, particularly those doing 4x4s (lots round here in the rurals) and had more luck getting someone happy to do the work.



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