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Hmm...interesting...who provided that clarification Geoff?
It could be argued that whether a sensor causes an electromechanical system to directly operate the brakes, or causes an electomechanical system that pushes a pedal that operates the brakes, shouldn't be relevant : it's still an electrical system operating the brakes. I guess it depends on the detailed wording of the law.
For information, the EU regulation (see here, page 107) states:
1. GENERAL
1.1. For the purposes of the following provisions, electrical brakes are service braking systems consisting of a control device, an
electromechanical transmission device, and friction brakes. The electrical control device regulating the voltage for the
trailer shall be situated on the trailer.
1.2. The electrical energy required for the electrical braking system shall be supplied to the trailer by the motor vehicle.
1.3. Electrical braking systems shall be actuated by operating the service braking system of the motor vehicle.
1.4. The nominal voltage rating shall be 12 V.
1.5. The maximum current consumption shall not exceed 15 A.
1.6. The electrical connection of the electrical braking system to the motor vehicle shall be effected by means of a special plug
and socket connection corresponding to . . . (1), the plug of which shall not be compatible with the sockets of the lighting
equipment of the vehicle. The plug together with the cable shall be situated on the trailer.
2. CONDITIONS CONCERNING THE TRAILER
2.1. If there is a battery on the trailer fed by the power supply unit of the motor vehicle, it shall be separated from it supply
line during service braking of the trailer.
I'm not absolutely certain I see anything in that text which rules the types of system under discussion here out of scope of the req'ts of para 2.1, but if you're happy that it does, that's fine.
Hi Stewart,
We have used 2T2 system for 18 months on our 107,really pleased with all aspects of the system.Good fitting experience,nothing too much trouble,courtesy car available,everything done on time!!Can't speak too highly of this firm.
I asked two manufactures about the battery issues and got two replies and both said it did not apply to their systems.
What a dogs dinner it all is, you must have spent hours wading through the documentation.
Would it not be nice to buy an item with CE certificate and rest comfortably in the knowledge it all was legal, I believe one manufacturer offers this!
I've come to the conclusion that ignorance would have been bliss.
The Abarth is not a straight forward car to convert. The CMS bar is extended forward compared to the standard F500 and there are two turbo intercoolers either side of the CMS.
I thought I would let you ll know how it all went.
I drove my brand new car home then got up the next morning to drive from Edinburgh to Grimsby, guess a good way of getting used to the car.
I arrived at TB2TG and ws made very welcome. Graham the owner sat me down and explained how the system worked and showed me the A Frame and all the other equipment. He is an extremely experienced engineer who certainly knows his product.
We carried out a review of the Abarth with regard to how the modification would be carried out. I explained that the one of the reasons i selected his system was due it not being visible once it was removed, so I wanted everything installed out of sight. He agreed with my requirements and explained what and where things could be installed.
I was given a curtesy car and told my car would be ready around 4pm the next day. I stayed overnight in a hotel and collected the car the next day. I must add that i was very concerned about the front end of my new car being removed along with both the lovely bright red leather front seats. Both seats had to be removed due to the base box for the sound system was located under the drivers seat where the electronics MUST be installed for the braking system. So the base box had to be moved over to the passengers side.
On collection I was shown the system and the car was taken for a drive with the system connected to a laptop to have it calibrated. I was very impressed with the customer service provided at the company.
Once I got the car back into Edinburgh I had a sleep in my own bed then off out in the Motorhome. I was a little nervous connecting it up. I forgot to collect the adaptor plug from TB2TC when I left as the motorhome had not yet been adapted. I bought one for a few pounds from Indespension. We attached the a frame to the car and I drove slowly towards the towbar on the motorhome. Could we get it attached, no we could not. I went back and forth and no always a few mm out. Even more pressure once a few tuggers started watching, you know how it is
Eventually we got it on and connected up. However, the LHS Indicator on the car did not work. I played about with the adaptor and connections, still nothing. Eventually we headed off, still not working but clear site of the van indicators
I was very impressed with the towing and braking of the system and happy with the performance. I have a few qustions about when the car brakes are applied as I feel they need to be a little more sensitive, but that can be adjusted.
We arrived on site and unhitching was a dream compared to the Smart on the trailer.
We were not looking forward to hitching back up the next day with the whole site watching. Perhaps they were not but it felt like it. Anyway, it was so so easy we were up and ready within 5 minutes. Now we have used it a number for times it takes us about 5 miutes to do it.
I would recommend this system. It really is easy to use, storage of the A Frame is great and the car looks like it is unaltered when not in use which was my main priority.
It depends on your physical agility, but regardless of the particular a-frame system, I would not recomend driving the car up to the motorhome with frame on to attach it. Better to attach the a-frame to the car, then reverse the motorhome to approx 1 metre ahead of it, then manually drag the car using the a-frame onto the motorhome towbar. Why? Because that "manual drag" will give you 100.00% confidence that the toad is definitely out of gear and you can't have left the handbrake on by mistake.
I know with a routine you will never do such a daft thing, but we all make mistakes (especially with an audience) and the above approach is failsafe if you do make a mistake.
then manually drag the car using the a-frame onto the motorhome towbar
If I had the energy to do that I would just cycle everywhere?
Would be ok if you could be sure of always being on a flat, hard surface.
I just guide herself while she drives up to the towball - have only had to reposition twice in 3 years.
Uh, very interesting. We have towed our Seat Arosa since new in 1998, it's showing 59,000 miles on the mileometer but probably done over 100,000. It was eqiipped with a Car-a-Tow A frame that we had previously transfered from a Cintcequento and before that a Corsa, it was one of the first that Alan Bee had manufactured. Like most things, why fix it if it an't broke. It has towed in Spain, many times, France, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, I will admit that we have not towed in Spain for the last three years due to all that's going on their. I have also recently been investigating the companies suppling the " new " electronic enabled braking but as it is another two years away from being, possibly more legal, I am temted to wait. I will be 70 then and I might go and buy a caravan, I see a company now going into production making " slide out " models, I could then buy a nice Jaguar XF or something similar and ride around in complete luxury without all this hassel. Bernie T.
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