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Subject Topic: Alko ATC Question Post Reply Post New Topic
Persongrifterman
30/8/2013 at 12:00am
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Bailey Barcelona XC90 View grifterman's Profile View Profile   Reply to grifterman Reply   Quote grifterman Quote  
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Hi there,

Just been on a ferry to France with caravan for first time. I noticed when I turned my ignition off on the ferry that my green ATC light on the caravan stayed on. Paranoid that it would drain my cars battery I disconnected my caravan electrics. Question is did I need to ie would it actually stay on and drain my battery?

Cheers


Persontango55
30/8/2013 at 12:18am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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All power to the trailer should be isolated when the vehicles ignition is switched off so yes it would have eventually drained the battery due to a constant live current.


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Personjonnmedds
30/8/2013 at 8:26am
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: 2016 Bailey Pegasus Verona View jonnmedds's Profile View Profile   Reply to jonnmedds Reply   Quote jonnmedds Quote  
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I think you need to get the electrics checked on your hitch, as with the post above, the electrics to the caravan are isolated when the ignition is switched off.


PersonAl+Mel
30/8/2013 at 9:41am
 Location: Hants
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270 View Al+Mel's Profile View Profile   Reply to Al+Mel Reply   Quote Al+Mel Quote  
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It is wired to the permanent feed and should activate as soon as the caravan is plugged into the car (Ours acts in the same way as yours). It only uses milliamps in standby mode - though some people feel that the movement of a ferry might cause it to activate. Might be best to unplug the 'van once the outfit is parked.

ALKO ATC FAQ


Persongrifterman
30/8/2013 at 12:53pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Bailey Barcelona XC90 View grifterman's Profile View Profile   Reply to grifterman Reply   Quote grifterman Quote  
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Thanks for posts.

Car is only a couple of years old and had a factory fitted towbar/setup so I suspect car electrics are all fine.   Just never had to leave car hitched and plugged in before the ferry trip. Think I will just unplug to be safe in future.


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PersonJohn Lock
30/8/2013 at 1:16pm
 Location: South Wales
 Outfit: SsangYong Korando. Est. Pursuit 550-4 View John Lock's Profile View Profile   Reply to John Lock Reply   Quote John Lock Quote  
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Just a tip, if I unplug the caravan while it is still attached to the car I place something over the car steering wheel to remind me to reconnect it.

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John


PersonPickled Onion
01/9/2013 at 5:27pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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It unnerved me too first time we went on the ferry with ours, I noticed it when I was about to leave the car for the night, would I be the silly sod who held everyone up in the morning if it drained my battery overnight?? I did the same as others, disconnected it and left something on wheel to remind me to reconnect it again but I needn't have worried as Al+Mel said, in standby it uses very little juice as its only illuminating an LED. Like so many other things it's OK when you know.

Dave



-------------
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.


Personscarletsfan
01/9/2013 at 8:25pm
 Location: Llangennech Nr Llanelli S Wales.
 Outfit: VW Touareg & Swift Charisma 635 View scarletsfan's Profile View Profile   Reply to scarletsfan Reply   Quote scarletsfan Quote  
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It's wired to the permanently live pin so will illuminate if the ignition is on or off.

It's only an LED so should not drain the battery - but I am paranoid and always unplug mine for an overnight stop.

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Click on My Homepage for Blog


Personsnagz
02/9/2013 at 10:48pm
 Location: Wiltshire
 Outfit: sold van so looking for a nice tent View snagz's Profile View Profile   Reply to snagz Reply   Quote snagz Quote  
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Personally, I'd not worry about it, as has been previously said it's only an led.
A lot of cars have immobilisers that have led's on the dashboard when armed, no one considers them to be a drain on the battery.... Unless you got a dicky battery

-------------
Rich



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