2012 MOT Requirement for Testing 13 Pin Tow Bars
With the new requirement of testing 13 Pin tow bar electrics from January 2012, aide automotive have introduced a tester for the “professionals ” The Tow Bar Tester Pro.
Testing 13 pin tow bar electrics will be a growing requirement of the MOT over the next 3 years, with many new cars having tow bars with 13 pin rather than the 7 pin sockets used in the past. Also, when caravans moved to 13 pin sockets in 2009, many cars had 13 pin sockets installed therefore a number of cars will need testing within 2012 and many more in 2013 / 2014.
MOT Garages will need a VOSA approved tester to carry out this test and we believe The Tow Bar Tester Pro is the ultimate tester for testing all old and modern day tow bar systems. The Tow Bar Tester Pro has been designed and produced by Right Connections Ltd the industry’s leader in production and distribution of tow bar electrical systems, proving it to be the best all round tow bar tester available.
The TowBar Tester Pro is built in a rugged case using actual trailer bulbs to replicate all lights and to test as if a trailer were connected. This feature is of major importance in comparison to low cost LED testers as modern vehicle tow bar technologies need to ‘detect’ the presence of the trailer, low cost LED testers generally do not have the capability to send this information to the car. This results in confusion of failure or incorrectly failing a vehicle.
Some low cost testers that use LED’s have shown inconsistent results when testing tow bars and indicating faults which do not exist! Also found with low cost testers that have a built-in self test feature which is required by the VOSA MOT product specification is that they take their power from pin 9 (+12v). If this pin is not live, for example a 13 pin socket for a bike carrier, then the tester’s self test feature will not work!!
TowBar Tester Pro incorporates a self test facility as required by VOSA specification, powered from the vehicle using a cigar socket connector thus ensuring a 100% positive self test facility. It is equipped with a 13 pin cable long enough to connect to the tow bar socket and the operator will activate all tests via toggle switches on the main control board from the driver’s seat.
In addition to the MOT requirement test, The TowBar Tester Pro will also test the flasher warning system on the towing vehicle. This is not part of the MOT test as yet, but is a legal requirement. If this law becomes part of the MOT test, Tow Bar Tester Pro incorporates this. As the MOT garages have seen over the years, new requirements often have special notice amendments to update the test, with unforeseen requirements from the first test specification. We believe this could be the case in the future, as under European law there is a legal requirement for flashers on the trailer to be monitored by the towing vehicle for failure.
As the TowBar Tester Pro is the ultimate towing electrical tester it can also be used to test the positive 12 volt ignition switched live and positive 15 volt ignition live. To complete all tow bar electrical tests the Tow Bar Tester Pro will also test the reverse lamp. As this is the most comprehensive tester on the market, every tow bar test undertaken will leave you satisfied all aspects of the tow bar electrics are working and your customer can tow with confidence.
So with the RIGHT tester there is no chance of wasting time consulting VOSA on erratic test readings, no chance of incorrect failures and also has usages beyond the MOT test.
Contact aide automotive to purchase a TowBar Tester Pro by clicking on TOWBAR TESTER Pro.
