Do I need a permanant live connection

[Alan1]

Hi all. I'd appreciate some help please. What does the permanant live via the tow bar supply on a Bailey Pheonix van please? I don't have the ALKO stability control that requires a permanant live supply but wonder what else it supplies.
My reason for asking is that the tow bar installation (Ford main dealer) doesn't provide a permanant supply via pin 9. Basically if I don't need the supply I won't go to the expense of sorting it. Thanks

 

[otherclive]

Strange that your dealership don’t install pin 9 wiring. Can’t really see why not. I’d use a NTTA approved fitter as dealers often don’t get it right unless they too use a professional fitter. The link below explains what runs off of the 13 pin connectors It’s not just ATC. Have it fully connected for battery charging and fridge too.

13 pin

 

[Alan1]

Thanks, that helps. I went to a Ford dealer as I didnt want to possibly invalidate the car warranty. Been doing some more digging and feel on top of it now. Will speak with garage on Monday. Cheers.

 

[otherclive]

Thanks, that helps. I went to a Ford dealer as I didnt want to possibly invalidate the car warranty. Been doing some more digging and feel on top of it now. Will speak with garage on Monday. Cheers.

If they use a dedicated specialist you will be alright but do make sure you ask for all the options such as battery charge, fridge whist driving etc. Years ago I had a Mondeo fitted at the main dealer. They did it themseves. Nightmare. The electrics were okay but they somehow forgot to fit spacers in one of the body sections. So over time the body member squeezed in and the towbar started to clunk. On investigation it had loosened on one side. Mind you it was in the early 90s on a gen 1 Mondeo. Good luck.

 

[Alan1]

It seems Ford provide the wiring kit/loom in two parts, with the bit that takes the feed from the battery to No 9 pin on the tow bar offered as the second optional piece. I'm pretty sure that's why it wasn't fitted. Cheers

 

[otherclive]

It seems Ford provide the wiring kit/loom in two parts, with the bit that takes the feed from the battery to No 9 pin on the tow bar offered as the second optional piece. I'm pretty sure that's why it wasn't fitted. Cheers

If you go for the full caravan outfitting then if you should have ATC retrofitted or buy an ATC fitted van your car is all ready to go.

 

[JTQ]

The ATC application aside, though, I believe having ATC to be a big plus, the supplementary pins in real life bring very little benefit.
The caravan battery recharging was never very effective with the wiring losses of both the car and caravan, where typical cross section cables were used, and with the move in modern vehicles to "smart" alternators got even less effective.
And much the same could be said for powering the fridge, that's high amperage load, simply resulted in very ineffective performance because of the wiring employed.

The argument changes slighly if the towed journey durations become very extended, say 6 or more hours on end, then any help, even very modest to the fridge starts to add some benefit.

So to answer the OP question, these "extras" have quite limited "value", other than for enabling an ATC. Having an ATC though is of great safety value and so that precipitates having the extra cores enabled.

 

[Dustydog]

Are you sure the Ford Main Dealer is doing the job rather than calling in a tow bar specialist?
In the long run I suggest you have the full wiring done now. Installing the bits to pin 9 later will cost significantly more than now as a lot of duplication work will be required.
As Clive says the day may come when you have ATC.