Tesla Issue!

[JCNUFC1991]

Hello

So a few of you might have read my other post explaining that we’d just bought a caravan and drive a Tesla Model Y.

It was only when we came to hook the caravan onto the back of the car when I realised a problem with the ATC not working.

Turns out that the 13 pin plug on the Model Y doesn’t have the permanent 12V live that the ATC requires!

Not sure that there’s too many EV owners on here but want to ask whether there’s another way of getting this to work? Perhaps getting the ATC connected to the 12V leisure battery?

What else would that 12V feed from the 13pin plug usually supply?

Thanks

 

[JTQ]

Cars not being provided with live 12 vDC feeds to tow sockets are far from uncommon, its not an issue unique to Tesla cars.

Any reputable tow bar fitter will find a solution that picks up both the required positive and ground connection that remain "live".
Note it has to enable a quite high current drain as the ATC needs a feed fused to 20 Amps to be confident of meeting the ATC's intermittent higher power draw that "can" be met as it actuates.

 

[JCNUFC1991]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Does an ATC engage often? How much “snaking” needs to occur before it begins to do its thing?

Just wondering whether it’s better to not have it connected for the Tesla battery?

 

[otherclive]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Does an ATC engage often? How much “snaking” needs to occur before it begins to do its thing?

Just wondering whether it’s better to not have it connected for the Tesla battery?

ATC can be working quite frequently. One area where it will work is when you go around roundabouts. So you don’t need a snake before it cuts in. The aim being to intercede early.

 

[JTQ]

The ATC takes a very low sustained power draw to power its electronics, its "brain".
How frequently it decides to actuate depends on many factors, the units inherent "stability" and both the terrain driven over and the driving style of the driver. As "Clive" states roundabouts can provoke its reassuring "tug" as it lightly applies the van's brakes.
All said the amount of energy it needs is really minimal, its just the odd peaks in power when it decides to activate.

Its "dumb" in that it only senses the sways and rolls, not the related vehicle speed so the sway energy and thats implications. It can activate at walking pace on say a lumpy field where snaking is never going to occur.
So it can be quite active, but far from only on occasions where it tames snakes.

In no way is it a system to tame an unstable unit, its a system to stabilise an otherwise stable unit that encounters the potential motion that might provoke a snake.
If doing otherwise the van's brakes would quickly be burnt out.

With a safe unit, one that is inherently stable within the normal use envelope, its activity and power sapping is never going to be an issue. I do unplug the van on long multi hour ferry trips, but most don't and drive off without issues on docking.
IMO you are very wise to get it working, its a great safety aid, if ever it meets the rare situation it has to be.