ATC remaining armed whilst on long ferry crossing

StephenTrish
StephenTrish Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited May 2016 in Caravans #1

Just made a 28hr crossing to Spain and back and I disconnected the 13 pin plug from the car as I was worried about the green ATC light remaining "on" and draining the car or caravan battery. Can anyone tell me which battery supplies the power for the ATC
and if there is any need to worry about that battery being drained within that 28hr period

Comments

  • Richard M
    Richard M Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited May 2016 #2

    Your car battery supplies the power to the ATC system on your van, it uses very little power, but you did the right thing as an insurance against a flat battery in my opinion.

  • StephenTrish
    StephenTrish Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited May 2016 #3

    Thanks for that information Richard.  The last thing I wanted was a flat car battery with all those 30 tonners behind me on the the lorry deck !

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #4

    As to the current draw of an led indicator, its probably no more than 20mA. So over a period of 25 hours it would have only drawn 1/2 an amp, the car battery would not have noticed it. Disregarding this, I would have pulled the plug anyway.

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited May 2016 #5

    You did the correct thing i.e. Removing the plug; when the ATC is on standby mode (not actually operating) the current draw is as said only a few milliamps, but when activated (actually working and doing it's job) it draws 10-15 amps or there abouts. If
    you left it connected while on the ferry crossing it would of activated every time the ship rocked on the waves during the crossing which = flat car battery with no doubt.

    Colin

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited May 2016 #6

    How AL-KO ATC works

    https://youtu.be/YpOTWjPmyCw

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited May 2016 #7

    I have to say atc saved us and caravan the other day.

    We were on A75 around issoire started to overtake an empty cattle wagon ,we were doing no more than 55mph.

    We really started to fish tail quite badly 

    Took foot off accelerator to loose speed naturally 

    I didn't touch the brake but it was getting worse, atc then kicked in .Very scary moment .

    All other hgv were fine .

    Anyone else had that happen with cattle wagons ?

    Seems to be 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #8

     ....

    Anyone else had that happen with cattle wagons ?

     ....

    No Wink. Neither with car transporters that others seem to have problems with.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #9

    Always disconnect electric lead when on Harwich - HH ferry, just force of habit really

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited May 2016 #10

    Just as a point of interest on our new car with factory fit tow equipment the permanent feed shuts down after six hours or if the battery discharges to a pre determined level whichever occurs first. All clever stuff will see if there are any downsides no
    doubt.

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited May 2016 #11

    Just as a point of interest on our new car with factory fit tow equipment the permanent feed shuts down after six hours or if the battery discharges to a pre determined level whichever occurs first. All clever stuff will see if there are any downsides no
    doubt.

    One thing the manufacturer has overlooked with that system is; how does the AL-KO ATC clear it's log as it needs to be connected to the towcar for several hours on standby mode for it to clear. I know it's log does not get full that quick if you know what
    I mean but this has still been overlooked in my opinion.

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited May 2016 #12

    One of my next projects is to make the caravans' rear stop lights come on automatically when the AL-KO ATC operates; this is to warn other road users that the caravan is experiencing difficulties. I intend to do this by the following method; A PNP transistor will be signalled by the ATC when it activates (this adding no electrical loadings to the ATC's electronic circuit) this transistor will control a changeover relay which in turn will feed an auxiliary supply to the stop lights and at the same time it will disconnect the normal feed to the stop lights from the towcar. This changeover relay is a big must to stop the auxiliary feed from feeding back into the towcar which could corrupt the towcars' ECU to say the least.

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