Alko atc power supply

rpenswick
rpenswick Forum Participant Posts: 10
edited August 2017 in Caravans #1

Hello

Just picked up our (new to me) volvo xc60 with a dedicated 13pin electrics system.  All indicators lights etc work fine, but I can seem to get any power to my alko atc unit.  

I cant see any direct connection to the battery or any other similar connections apart from the dedicated unit. Do I need to get a separate split relay fitted to the car to power this unit ?

Thanks 

Richard penswick 

Comments

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited August 2017 #2

    Many 13 pin towcar electrics are only wired as standard for trailer road lighting only. If this is the case with your towcars' 13 pin electrics, which sounds like it could be as your Al-Ko ATC appears not to be active, then you will need to have the caravan auxiliary supplies wired within your towcars 13 pin system. The Al-Ko is supplied through pin 9 and earth returns through pin 13, this is the constant (always live) auxiliary supply to your caravan. For the record, pin 10, earth return 11, is the caravan fridge supply which should only be live when the towcar' engine is actually running, said supply also triggers the caravans' leisure battery to charge from the towcar via pin 9 (earth return pin 13) when the caravans' fridge is running from the towcars' 12v system.

  • rpenswick
    rpenswick Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited August 2017 #3

    Thank you Snowy1

  • gogsl
    gogsl Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited June 2018 #4

    Did you get this sorted. Having just recently changed to rhe new XC60 D4 from a Manual XC60 D5. We have noticed more tail swing frim the caravan towing we never used to feel it at all. The ATC  used to activate when you connected the electrics now it only activates when you turn the engine on and you get a green flashing light. After moving for a few meters do you get a green light.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited June 2018 #5

    Your permanent supply is incorrectly fitted, the voltage should be available at all times.

  • gogsl
    gogsl Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited June 2018 #6

    Was thinking of getting the electrics checked on the car. As dealer fitted towbar. Was thinking of going to independant towbar fitter to get their opinion. Got caravan serviced couple of weeks ago and atc passed.

  • gogsl
    gogsl Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited August 2018 #7

    As a follow up.  Got the towbar electrics checked and they are OK.  With a retractable towbar when it folds under the car the electrics are isolated so if you move the car to the caravan then take the towbar out there is no electric supply.  What I have being doing the last couple of times is fixing the towbar in place them moving the car to the caravan and the ALKO ATC does power up, sometimes taking a couple of minutes but it does it without the car ignition on.  I have noticed that if you leave the car for say 5 minutes all the electrics seem to shut down again until you restart the car

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited August 2018 #8

    When you plug into your towbar the ATC should fire up you can hear it clearly and you should have a constant green light (sometimes flashing green) The light should stay on regardless of whether the ignition is on or not, as per previous posts it is fed from a permanent live source. 

    For all readers I have come across one exception to the above the Merc we have shuts off the permanent live after around six hours to protect the battery so I guess some other cars may be going down the same route. Portsmouth to Caen the ATC remains on, but to St Malo it went off and was difficult to restart, so if I am going to have the ignition off for more than around 6-7 hours I now unplug. 

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