My big fat gypsy caravan

[briggie]

you could have said large and accomodating , but i bet your glad you didnt

[(RIP) PLANK]

Originally Posted by briggie

you could have said large and accomodating , but i bet your glad you didnt

yes very glad, it's a credit to the club how tactful we can be, don't you think?

[briggie]

tactfull is not a word that readily springs to mind

[(RIP) PLANK]

as predicted by TTT (ex-rbt) i was trying the lights on this today and when i had them all on i hit the hazard warning switch and blew the fuse! it couldn't run an extra 16 indicator bulbs 12 side lights and 8 brake lights

so i am searching ebay for led replacments!

It never does this on a transit!

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

is it 12v or 24v on road lights, reckon the t2 could do with some extra
marker lights to complement the trailer? seriously would you use a
beacon towing towing such a beaut.

[(RIP) PLANK]

it's 12v, but i htink the issue is just too many watts from too many bulbs, I will have to take a few out for the time being and then replace them with LED ones 'as-and-when'. I will be doing a few more jobs on it over the next week and then I will be away in it until spetember, and i have no Dongle so no posts from me

I think the trouble with a beacon would be that no one would see it from the back. By the way i tried your mobie number today and couldn't get through i think i may have it saved wrong, i was after a bit of on the spot T2 advice. I needed to know what grade of oil and how much as i had left the manual at home. I the end it got 5 -30 semi synthetic about 6 litres. Shoking but we only drained about 3 litres out

I must top it up more often

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by PLANK

as predicted by TTT (ex-rbt) i was trying the lights on this today and when i had them all on i hit the hazard warning switch and blew the fuse! it couldn't run an extra 16 indicator bulbs 12 side lights and 8 brake lights

so i am searching ebay for led replacments!

It never does this on a transit!

Instead of fitting leds to the caravan maybe prepare the Terrano better for this and similar

I would contemplate fitting one or two secondary relay(s) which take a trigger off the car indicator circuits ,even use a transit one . Put the power feed to the relay direct from the battery, then put the switched output from the relay to the tow bar electrics.

With that, the power for the trailer bulbs is effectively coming straight from the battery so youve got a well beefy "to trailer" system and no additional load on the car indicator/hazard and it could handle the problem again on any trailer you come across.

Cheap, basic and dead easy

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

interesting daved, was going to suggest similar as pre led was thinking of
adding side markers to caravan but concerned for their drain on the system.

my train of thought had been slightly different as wondered if could use the
caravans own battery via relays to run them, and also along way then provide
power to the lights when car not there, essentially parking lights as of course
trailers soon become illegal on the highway if not lit.

funny really as towsure now list various kits that make the hazards flash etc
whilst not on car but say using a motor mover, along similar lines years ago
i wondered about such gizmo to show trailer was stolen and maybe blow fuse
on stealing vehicle, a sting in tail if you like, again someone else has since
marketed this i believe.

the trolls wiring/fuse is heavier than the t2, perhaps to go with 3500kg limit?

[briggie]

would it be a idea to fit a extra battery , so that when not in use the alt is charging the battery up , then if extra capacity is required , you have the option

[briggie]

Originally Posted by briggie

would it be a idea to fit a extra battery , so that when not in use the alt is charging the battery up , then if extra capacity is required , you have the option

the reason i suggest this is , many years ago i used to run a high power radio set and high power linear amplifier , if i used this when stationary it would flatten the battery in about 30 mins ,so me my buddy fitted a secondary battery ( we actually though about fitting 2 secondary batteries lol ), it was charged up through the cigarette lighter socket through a trickle charger .

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by briggie

would it be a idea to fit a extra battery , so that when not in use the alt is charging the battery up , then if extra capacity is required , you have the option

Shouldnt be any need to at all on this project and it can affect your insurance as a mod. (found that out when i investigated twin batteries) Tow bar electrics and flasher relay changes dont seem to bother them but as soon as another batteries fitted the balloon goes up.

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by Thomas-the-Terrano2

i
the trolls wiring/fuse is heavier than the t2, perhaps to go with 3500kg limit?

Almost definitely

Its noticeable that when I am drawing a hefty current the jeep doesnt flicker where as the TII sometimes did.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

mind when i 'm hooking up and testing lights, putting hazards on does
induce some noise from the altenator, essentially revs up/drain.

the abbey sepctrum does have side indicators though.

so how much would a second battery on car cost then, tbh didnt even
think of insurance though would for other mods...

in that case thinking best bet is to just charge on in boot in an adhoc
fashion like charging one of these battery booster things from the
rear power outlet?

[Deleted account DD]

I dont know about cost for 2nd battery, didnt get a figure. It came to light when I was shopping around for quotes with the psi & k&ns fitted. Insurers generally werent bothered about the k&n. All without exception wanted to know about the psi although the difference in premiums ranged from not worth worrying about to f me how much !!

The bit about the battery came about in conversation with two brokers when i was asked what electrical mods i had carried out and i moentioned considering twin batteries, their concerns were later confirmed directly with a couple of the companies.

Theres no real black and white other than if they refuse to pay out if you havent declared! but effectively its all risk based. If youre putting extra batteries in youre up to something non standard if you like. Tow bar electrics for example I wouldn't have thought wouldnt be a problem for anyone because it doesn't effectively do anything outside of the normal standard spec, reverse sensors they seemed to like!

However once a second battery goes in your up to something so its what and why. winches are another thing they got twitchy about, again risk based. I stress i was looking at on road policies not all encompassing off road or the so called agricultural business use.

Unanimously they all said they wouldn't even quote for a second battery hard-wired system unless i or whoever did it could produce proof of professional competence and or the system was "inspected" a pro. No idea what the criteria for that was, didnt ask. Started thinking about changing the car instead

We could argue all day and be thoroughly offended by these peoples attitudes but at the end of the day if you dont declare it and they find it youre stuffed big time insurance wise.

I have my private thoughts on the subject and cant see how they could regulate the loose in the boot battery which must be worsebut unfortunately thats the way it is

[Deleted account DD]

Ps in private conversation one place even told me after market tinted windows could declarable. The logic is they could conceivably interfere with your all round vision irrespective of whether they meet legal standards, theyre a modification which has a risk implication.

I tend to think theyd have to have a real downer on you to bring that one into play but again its very real and if they decide not to pay out!!!!!


Anyhow sorry Plank.................bought those leds yet or are the spade connectors, 10m rolls of wire and a couple of old relays coming out of the junk box