I read somewhere that if one leaves the car hooked up to the caravan it can drain the car's battery, is this correct?
I am intending getting the car and caravan all hooked up the night before we leave on our next trip, so we can have an early start, is it OK to hookup the electrics?
We're going to Loch Ness Shores and I believe it's mostly single track roads to the campsite, that should be fun, hence the early start.
Possibly!
Why not play safe? Hitch up but leave the electrics unplugged until the morning.
Cover the steering wheel with a towel or something to act as e reminder.
Think it depends on the age of the caravan AND/OR car! Believe older caravans did not isolate from car supply as well as newer ones do, but can't put dates on it! The towbar wiring has changed a number of times over the years, far more than the simple 7pin to 13 pin socket upgrade! Again, modern cars pretty much shut down ALL electrics when engine off, but not necessarily so with older ones. The fridge 'should' only be supplied from the tow bar electrics when the engine running, it's a high demand load. There is a permanent 12v supply on socket pin 9, but doesn't appear to connect to anything on my van!
I'd play safe, just unplug the towbar electrics, BUT drape a duster or something over the steering wheel to remind you to reconnect before driving off!
Quote: Originally posted by Dave and Cyn on 15/5/2024
Possibly!
Why not play safe? Hitch up but leave the electrics unplugged until the morning.
Cover the steering wheel with a towel or something to act as e reminder.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 15/5/2024
Think it depends on the age of the caravan AND/OR car! Believe older caravans did not isolate from car supply as well as newer ones do, but can't put dates on it! The towbar wiring has changed a number of times over the years, far more than the simple 7pin to 13 pin socket upgrade! Again, modern cars pretty much shut down ALL electrics when engine off, but not necessarily so with older ones. The fridge 'should' only be supplied from the tow bar electrics when the engine running, it's a high demand load. There is a permanent 12v supply on socket pin 9, but doesn't appear to connect to anything on my van!
I'd play safe, just unplug the towbar electrics, BUT drape a duster or something over the steering wheel to remind you to reconnect before driving off!
Good advice folks I'll do just that, although I'll probably wonder why there's a duster on the wheel
It's an old caravan 2011 but it has the 13 pin plug, the car is 2018 with a 13 pin socket but I won't take the chance....I'll disconnect!
Thanks very much for the advice.
2011 is not an old caravan! the others where meaning more your 2000's or before. also, its a 2 hr drive on not to bad roads, even the single lane part isnt that narrow. surely it would be safer to leave the caravan at your normal storage until the day of deparature i personally would not leave my car and caravan hitched and unattended, even f it was outside my house
All you have to do is connect up the electrics to the vehicle towing socket then drop the caravan battery box door down and take a reading of the battery voltage at the battery terminals which would normally be around 12.9 volts. Start up the vehicle engine and then take another reading which should be higher around 14 volts. Switch off the engine and remove the key and if the voltage reading returns to the first reading then it proves that the power from the car to the caravan has been isolated.
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 15/5/2024
All you have to do is connect up the electrics to the vehicle towing socket then drop the caravan battery box door down and take a reading of the battery voltage at the battery terminals which would normally be around 12.9 volts. Start up the vehicle engine and then take another reading which should be higher around 14 volts. Switch off the engine and remove the key and if the voltage reading returns to the first reading then it proves that the power from the car to the caravan has been isolated.
Not necessarily, the fridge and charger supplies can be different (different pins on the socket)! Granted, the fridge supply SHOULD switch off with the ignition, but without checking the actual socket and that it functions in accordance with convention, it's a slightly risky assumption. There seem to be more than enough people with 'weird' wiring of sockets for various reasons, that assumption is a risk, plug out is a certainty!
That pin 9 permanent supply connects to the Alko trailer stability system on my caravan. It permanently draws current even with the ignition off and engine not running.
However, this system is only fitted on some newish caravans. Mine is 2015 and has it.
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Topic: Car/Caravan unit hooked up overnight
via mobile 15/5/2024 at 11:37am
