Break safe devices in caravans

Thankyou for your reply , btw thats a good battery monitor.

Here is a link to the current NSW Vehicle Inspectors Bulletin covering the subject. It tells vehicle examiners how to apply the regulations.

Here is the relevant part from page 1:

[quote]
It is essential therefore, that an energy source, such as a battery, be carried on the trailer and that means be provided to ensure that the battery is maintained in a fully energised condition. In this regard, it will be satisfactory if any trailer-mounted battery is constantly charged by the towing vehicle and a warning device is fitted to warn the driver (from the normal driving position) if the trailer battery charge falls to such a level as to render the trailer brakes incapable of
meeting the requirements.
[/quote]

"...an energy source, such as a battery, be carried on the trailer..." That doesn't say a separate battery, just A BATTERY. A van or CT house battery is a battery being carried on the trailer and meets the requirement.

It has to be "...maintained in a fully energised condition. In this regard, it will be satisfactory if any trailer-mounted battery is constantly charged by the towing vehicle...." That doesn't mean you must have an extra circuit through a trailer plug, though you COULD do it that way if that's your preference. A charging system through an Anderson meets the requirement, as long as the charging system is powered by the towing vehicle. (eg, a charging system using only the solar on the roof of a van would not comply in NSW.)

And then you need the low voltage warning device in the towing vehicle.

I know this interpretation is correct because this is how my rig is set up and it's been checked by a senior RTA (now RMS) vehicle examiner.

Cheers

Hi Motherhen,

In NSW the charging system for the breakaway system MUST be from the towing vehicle. Solar without a charging input from the tug would not comply.

Likewise, a separate breakaway battery charged from the caravan battery bank would be ok as long as the caravan battery bank was being charged from the tug.

Only applies to trailers/vans registered in NSW, of course.

Cheers

The Inspectors Bulletin states:

"In this regard, it will be satisfactory if any trailer-mounted battery is constantly charged by the towing vehicle and a warning device is fitted to warn the driver (from the normal driving position) if the trailer battery charge falls to such a level as to render the trailer brakes incapable of meeting the requirements"

The wording is satisfactory not must be this way.

On raising the question with RMS the reply was:

"The method of charging the batteries is not really relevant, provided the batteries are maintained in a state of charge that allows the brakes to operate safely and the driver is able to monitor that state of charge.

NSW requires a vehicle towing a trailer equipped with electric brakes to be provided with a means of advising the driver of the state of charge of any battery used to the store energy necessary to operate a trailer’s brakes.

The batteries used to power other trailer devices or systems must preferentially power the systems necessary to operate the trailer’s brakes.

The fact that the trailer battery or batteries are charged by solar cells rather than by the towing vehicle’s alternator, does not change those requirements."

Regarding the increasing number of caravans with solar charged batteries
"This will be taken into account when our related publications are next revised."

If you had a breakaway from your vehicle, the fact the on board batteries may eventually partly or fully discharge is hardly of importance in such circumstances. A few amps for a day or so won't affect the batteries much. If you are still alive after the accident then switch off the breakaway system in the Cvan.

Thanks MH,

Your enquiry and the RMS response updates the info I was given when I made my enquiries a few years ago when setting up my van.

It's good to see RMS is recognising contemporary trends and has a practical approach to them.

Cheers

My enquiry was also a few years ago Frank :O. I have not followed up.

As this is not a law, the only reference is contained in the Inspectors Bulletin. Asking RMS for finer details such as does this or that monitoring method meet the requirements, the only answer is that it is up to the Inspector to assess. This in itself can be variable. It is all in the hands of the Inspector on the day.

"This in itself can be variable. It is all in the hands of the Inspector on the day".

And your attitude most of the time.

Col

I think the requirement o audible or visual..

From the Inspectors Bulletin (the only reference) available and the testing procedure as written is not perfect :O.

" - a warning device is fitted to warn the driver (from the normal driving position) if the trailer battery charge falls to such a level as to render the trailer brakes incapable of meeting the requirements."

"An acceptable warning circuit must incorporate either a visual or an audible warning device."

Vehicle Inspectors Bulletin NSW

Michael 1954,

Following on from Motherhen's response, I think it stands to reason if the warning device is to warn the driver FROM THE DRIVING POSITION then if it is visual only, it must be visible at all times to the driver.

If it is combined visual and audio, or audio only, logic suggests it need not be visible at all times, but must be audible at all times from the driving position.

Cheers

Now does that also mean you can have a warning on the van, that tells you there is a problem with the system.

Warning light in the rear vision side mirror looking back at the van. We used that to monitor the fridge pans temp or failures.

That is up to the inspector to interpret. Someone got away with that a few years ago (on a van with breakaway wired to the caravan batteries).

On a forum poll in 2012, less than half those inspected were checked for a monitor at all. That has probably changed now.