ATC connection on the ferry ?
Hi
I have just renewed our caravan insurance and noted that it states that the electric hitch cable (which effectively indicates that the ATC is connected) should be always connected when the 'van is attached to the car tow bar to avoid invalidating the policy cover. This is fine when we are on the road but what about when our outfit is on the ferry? I understood from previous member posts that it is better to disconnect the cable on sea crossings (24 hours) in case the battery drains and the car won't start. This would disconnect the ATC and if we had a rough sea crossing and the car and caravan moved, who would pay for any damaged sustained between an impact between vehicles on the ship ? We always apply the caravan handbrake before leaving the deck and my female logic tells me that the ATC is only actually operative when the car engine is running - or am I wrong?. I did ask the question of the insurers but the underwriters never got back to me !
Any thoughts or comments anyone?
Comments
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I would think the ATC is "active" without the engine running as it becomes live as can be heard and noted the led changing from red to green when the 13pin plug it attached to the tow vehicle,
I do not think it needs to be connected when on a long ferry journey if the hand brake on both the car and caravan are applied
Ps put a note on the car steering wheel as a reminder what you have done , before you try to leave the ship
Also remember the fridge will be off when on the ferry
Do not set alarms as they Will be activated by ship movements
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My Merc has the same switches as Another David's Merc ..... but as said, locking the car without the alarm is not as simple as locking the car with the key. The key hole in my driver's door is purely to allow you to UNlock the car if the battery was flat. 🙄
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ATC will have no effect on a stationary van. Many modern cars e.g. Mercedes GLC cut off the power to the ATC automatically after around six hours our Volvo is far less than that to conserve power so its often not possible to keep the ATC powered up anyway. When the weather is bad (assuming all vehicles have brakes applied fully) you`ll be more concerned about arriving than the ATC I always disconnect and put the caravan brake on.
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The ATC unit takes just 50MA in standby mode, just enough to power the LED so it is unlikely to flatten the battery whilst on the ferry. It is also worth remembering that when the error logfile is full (solid red), it needs to be connected to a permanent 12v power supply for a period of 12 hours in order to clear.
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This is always a problem, and a stupid set up by Alko. How can you leave the van connected to a permanent 12v supply for 12 hours, given that the car electrics cut off after a short time of no engine running?
Or does the error log clear when the van is mains connected, feeding 12v to the ATC system through the converter?
Leave the car engine running for 12 hours? Any advice please?
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"Never occurred to me to put the 'van handbrake on when on a ferry. I rather assumed that being hitched up to 2500 KG 4 x 4 would stop the van"
Except, most hitches will be the over run type with a bit of "end play", so the van could be endlessly shunting that on and off, and moving masses inflict increase loading. My handbrake is fully applied and my 13 pin electrics are disconnected, not least as during the trip there is no need to power the van.
"It is also worth remembering that when the error logfile is full (solid red), it needs to be connected to a permanent 12v power supply for a period of 12 hours in order to clear."
So we are told, but it does not seem to be needed in a healthy set up? Mine has never in its now 12 year life ,required me to instigate a log memory clear. It certainly works, doing the pre use check and turning green, and on most tows reminding me with that assuring little tug, it is watching me.
I feel there is a level of self clearing in normal use, or a ginormous memory installed as I have never left it connected for 12 hours.
Plus, surely during the 12 hours, or the two hour tow, there must be some clearing of dated data progressing, not it all removed on the dot at 12 hours?
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Except, most hitches will be the over run type with a bit of "end play", so the van could be endlessly shunting that on and off, and moving masses inflict increase loading. My handbrake is fully applied and my 13 pin electrics are disconnected, not least as during the trip there is no need to power the van.
Good point Ocsid. Never thought about that.
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