ECU to control 12s pin 6 or euro pin 10
I may of come up with the answer with my latest invention; Small ECU to control the ignition controlled supply to 12s pin 6 or europlug pin 10. This electronic circuit will control said power supplies on any vehicle which cannot control this function with
optimum performance by any other official means.
Historically, 12s pins 2 & 6 were controlled by a simple relay/relays which were signalled by connection to the IND terminal of the towcars' alternator, this old system worked with optimum efficiency, this method is not possible upon most modern vehicles.
Very few modern vehicles are programed to control these supplies directly from the vehicle ECU via a factory (franchise) tow electrical loom.
This meaning that we are down to using methods like a Voltage Sensing Relay (VSR) which give so many problems, ie not being mounted in the correct position within a vehicle to give optimum performance (at the rear of the towcar & not at the front, just to
mention one), not being adjusted correctly upon installation, needing periodic adjustment to compensate for vehicle battery deterioration which can effect their trigger point and then compatibility problems with vehicles fitted with smart alternators, just
to name a few reasons.
If there is positive feed-back to this, I may consider making said ECU's to order.
I have come up with the following, which is currently installed within my own towcar. A small electronic circuit incorporating an integrated circuit (IC) Chip which is used to control the said power supplies in the following manner; Towcar ignition off,
no power to 12s pin 6 or europlug pin 10. Ignition on, no power to said pins. Ignition on and engine started, still no power to said pins, after the towcar engine has started to warm up & put initial charge back into its own battery (after approx 3 minutes),
power is then switched through to the caravan via said pins. When engine is terminated, the ECU starts a fresh cycle. There is a very thin 0.2mm² (for easy routing) wire that connects from the ECU to the small connection upon the towcars starter motors' solenoid,
this is to temperary terminate the said caravan supply during cranking if your towcar is fitted with auto stop/start or if you were to have left your ignition switched on for several minutes without starting the engine, this stops any attempt of the vehicle
starter from ever being able to draw cranking power from the caravans' leisure battery.
To this end, this circuit has only five connections & the relay contacts are 40 amp rated, connections as follows; constant live supply (must be 2.5mm² cable), output to 12s pin 6 or euro pin 10 (must be 2.5mm² cable), standard chassis earth connection,
standard ignition switched supply (could be taken from rear wiper circuit) and then as said, connection to starter solenoid. No electrical adjustments to the ECU's circuitry need to be made ever, its set up for life once installed.
Snowy