A couple of electrical questions

[GeorgeandAde]

Hi.We collect our Sancerre in a few weeks time but there are a couple of questions I would like some help with please.
As the car has a 7 pin plug and the van will be 13 pins,im being supplied with an adaptor lead.
1.The Sancerre has ATC,but does the battery have to be fitted to the caravan and the "mains" switch on the vans instrument panel have to be in the "on" position for the ATC to work?(I prefer to carry the battery safely in the car when towing).
2.Can I have the fridge running on 12v when towing without the battery in the caravan?
3.I want to purchase a strip light to use in the awning but most of the ones ive seen on a well known auction site are 12v.As I will have an external power point on the van,should I be looking to purchase a mains strip light?
Hope you can help.
Adrian

 

[NigelHutson]

Hi Adrian,
Both the ATC and the fridge (in 12v) mode are powered directly from the towing vehicle so don't require the battery in the caravan. I personally would have a 12v strip light in the awning (mains power and damp - condensation, could be a bad combination), although there's no reason why you couldn't use a mains one. What about LED, as the power consumption is so low, but the output good these days.

Nigel.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Thank you nigel.
I didnt think to look inside the Sancerre for a 12v point.
Would there be one in there somewhere?

 

[Woody3]

If the battery box door is inside the awning, fit a socket - via a fuse - directly onto the battery and bring the wire out through the same 'hole' as the mains cable.

 

[forestgump]

tow sure have a strip light on offer i think its about £30 .

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Thank you Woody,good idea.
Unfortunatly i am hopeless when it comes to electrics.
Would i be able to buy a "ready made socket via a fuse"?
I imagine i would also need a plug to join into the socket?

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Just found a 360 degree tour of the Sancerre on the internet and i think there is a 12v socket where the t.v.plugs into.
I would imagine that i could just plug the striplight into that socket and run the cable outside into the awning.

 

[NickinFrance]

(I prefer to carry the battery safely in the car when towing).

I'm fairly new to caravaning, so may be missing something here but would have thought a battery was much more secure in the purpose built & fitted battery box in the caravan than in the back of a car.

 

[Easyvanner]

Yikes.
Carry the battery in the car. WHY?
Surely the battery is topped up when connected and tied down safely in its caravan `BATTERY BOX` when towing.

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Quite agree the battery box on the van is the safest place for the battery its enclosed it cannot roll over it cant spill acid and as already been said whilst towing the battery is being charged at the same time
Sir Roger

 

[TopCat1]

Hi G & A,

Firstly the ATC and the fridge are supplied from different terminals in the lead. The ATC will be supplied with a permanent feed through pin 9 on the 13 pin plug whereas the fridge will be supplied via a relay which is ignition controlled through pin 10. When you connect the van to the car the ATC should activate and the light go to green with the ignition off. The fridge of course will only recieve power when the ignition is switched on (engine running).
I, like others, cannot think why you would want to remove the battery when towing! Not only is it in its safest place in the battery box but you will be charging it as you drive. Also you risk injury to youself every time you lift the acid loaded heavy thing!

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Thanks for all the replies....very helpful.
I have constructed a large wooden frame/box for the battery which covers the whole of the floor in the rear of the car(between the front and rear seats which actually sits slightly forward of the rear car axle).
Unless the car actually turns over,there is no way that the battery is going to move where it is positioned.
I may be wrong but i feel that i would rather have the 25kilos of battery in the car rather than sitting behind the axle on the caravan.
I do agree with you that it may be safer in its designated storage box in the caravan.
I also ensure that the battery is topped up once a month and again before we set off on holiday,so I dont really need to trickle charge the battery whilst towing.
One of the reasons in my first post,I asked about ATC,fridge etc.. was that maybe I would have to carry the battery in the caravan,but it seems I dont actually need to whilst towing.

 

[Easyvanner]

As a returnee to caravanning I'm somewhat baffled by the idea that the battery is safer in the car.
Caravan design incorporates a battery box and any balance of the van must assume that a battery will be carried when the plan the build.
I just can't imagine why anyone wants to pitch up on site and then start hauling 25 kg of acid filled battery around and no doubt plenty us have seen the press about overturned caravans and tow cars. As nice as the wooden box might be there is no way would want to tow with an acid filled battery sharing the passenger cabin. Ties down far away in the caravan is far far safer!

To the original post on this subject, it says that the car is fitted with a seven pin plug. As the post only mentions "a 7 pin" I assume that the car only has the 12N socket and in that case the ATC will not work!
ATC needs both 12N and 12s plugs and I assume that it also utilises the relay in the 12s wiring to prevent, if a second 7 pin 12s socket is not fitted to the tow car the reverse light, reverse sensor and fridge will not work apart from the ATC.
A charge running through the battery from the car when running will give better battery longevity than a trickle charge once a month as well.
We always found in the past that using caravan electrical's is the best way to keep it all working!
If the car does have 2x7 pin 12N and 12S all should be well if there is only "a 7 pin plug" as per the original post then there's a problem.
If you're having ATC there should be less chance of a serious mishap so the battery might as well be in correct safe place in the caravan

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Hi Easyvanner.
Many thanks for your thoughts and advice about my first post.
I am a little confused about the 2 plugs though.
I have two plugs(one black and one white)I believe that the black is for the caravan rear lights and the white is for running the fridge,charging the battery whilst towing with the engine running.
The mechanic who fitted the detachable towbar also fitted some relays which i think were for the reversing sensors on the rear of the car,and relays for the fridge and battery charging.
When I put a deposit on our Sancerre (which obviously has a 13 pin plug)he said that I had 2 options;
1.To change the cars electric plugs to 13 pin
2.He would supply a 7pin to 13 pin adaptor lead.
From your post,I believe that I should be ok with the set up I have.
Thanks again.
Adrian

 

[Easyvanner]

No worries matey, if you have the two sockets you have no problem.
As you'll have had the relays and the "twin" electrics fitted and paid for it would be far more sensible to have the battery where it belongs and charging as you travel.
You only need somebody to trip the site electrics or power cut and you'll be glad the battery is in place and fully charged.
Have a mishap on your travels, puncture or RTA that holds you up and when you get to the site late and it's wet cold windy and dark and you can't find the electric connection or you have to park in overnight waiting area with no hook up again you'll be glad the battery is fit and ready to use for the rest of the evening.
But it's your call