This subject has probably been covered before seeing as the law was changed sometime ago, never the less I just found out about it today.
The law in NSW says you have to have a breakaway monitor in the cabin of your tug. I have a tekonsha breakaway switch but having trouble finding a monitor for it.
Q 1. Anyone know where to get one?
Q 2. Will one make work with another, it is more a monitor of the battery condition.
Q 3 maybe I should just change breakaway switch
Any help would be appreciated
brian said
05:44 PM Feb 16, 2014
NeilandRaine wrote:
This subject has probably been covered before seeing as the law was changed sometime ago, never the less I just found out about it today.
The law in NSW says you have to have a breakaway monitor in the cabin of your tug. I have a tekonsha breakaway switch but having trouble finding a monitor for it.
Q 1. Anyone know where to get one?
Q 2. Will one make work with another, it is more a monitor of the battery condition.
Q 3 maybe I should just change breakaway switch
Any help would be appreciated
Unless the law has been changed very recently, you don't have to have the monitor in the cabin of the tow vehicle it just has to be visible and or audible from the driver's position. This means that you could logically position the monitor on the front of the van where it is visible in the rear view mirror.
Brakesafe were the only ones making one last time I heard, and it was only compatible with their devices.
Delta18 said
05:56 PM Feb 16, 2014
You are correct Brian.
NeilandRaine said
07:14 PM Feb 16, 2014
I will ring the RTA tomorrow for clarification. All the info, not very much, I can find says the monitor must be in the car.
Thanks for your help and I will let you know the outcome.
Delta18 said
08:10 PM Feb 16, 2014
NeilandRaine wrote:
I will ring the RTA tomorrow for clarification. All the info, not very much, I can find says the monitor must be in the car. Thanks for your help and I will let you know the outcome.
Good luck with "the establishment previously known as RTA"
You will find most of the plebs you speak to won't know anything about it.
The legislation does say (for NSW) the monitor must be able to be seen AND heard by the driver of the car.
There are a couple manufacturers that make a unit that fits to the van and can be seen by the driver.
Baz421 said
09:38 PM Feb 16, 2014
Here's the NSW info,,, it follows on from the Federal VSB1 for small trailers.
Vehicle Standards Information No. 22
for Vehicle Owners & Operators in New South Wales Issued April 1998
Introduction
All trailers with a Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) exceeding 750kg and first registered after 30 June 1990
are required to be fitted with an efficient braking system. For trailers with a GTM of up to 2 tonnes,
this braking system can be either an overrun sysytem or one that is operated from the driver's seat.
For trailers with a GTM exceeding 2 tonnes, the braking system must be capable of being applied from
the drivers seat -
overrun brakes are not acceptable. In addition, the braking system must be such
that if the trailer accidentally breaks away (from the towing vehicle), the trailer brakes will apply
automatically and remain applied for at least 15 minutes.
It should be noted that the brakes must operate on ALL WHEELS (exceptions are trailers not over 2
tonnes Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) and trailers manufactured prior to ADR 38/--. Their service
brakes must operate on all wheels on at least one axle).
Installation of Equipment
To ensure the safe towing of trailers equipped with electric brakes, it is necessary that:
1. a breakaway switch is fitted to the trailer and its point of attachment is compatible with the
towing vehicle;
2. the trailer is equipped with its own battery (of sufficient capacity to maintain the brakes in the
applied position for at least 15 minutes);
3. the towing vehicle is equipped with an electrical circuit which will automatically maintain
the trailer battery in a fully charged condition and is capable of warning the driver if the
condition of the trailer battery is such that it may not be capable of meeting the above
requirements;
4. earthing or grounding systems for the trailer brake units is specifically and individually
wired (i.e. one earth wire to each brake unit) and not via the trailer suspension
components, wheel bearings or tow couplings;
5. the trailer is fitted with a readily visible label stating that the towing vehicle must be
equipped with a compatible control, charging and warning system.
Assuming this is still current maybe check. YEP still curent found it on their website OK,,, rms bulletins..We went through all this last year and I can't find the damn thread.
Cheers Baz
-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 16th of February 2014 09:48:33 PM
brian said
09:51 PM Feb 16, 2014
Here is an extract from NSW Vehicle inspector's bulletin 6 rev 0.1 dated November 2007 which may clarify it a bit.
"Trailers required to be fitted with breakaway systems are not registerable if there is no means for maintaining the
breakaway energy source in a fully-energised condition (for example, if a charging and warning circuit is not fitted). An
acceptable warning circuit must incorporate either a visual or an audible warning device".
note the word "either".
Baz421 said
09:59 PM Feb 16, 2014
Here's the link to the Vehicle Standards in NSW. See No22
-- Edited by Jonathan on Monday 17th of February 2014 06:30:36 AM
dorian said
07:31 AM Feb 17, 2014
Are you permitted to design and build your own? Is the breakaway switch just a simple SPST switch, and would the monitor just be detecting whether the switch is open or closed?
On a related note, about 20 years ago I was asked to repair a Tekonsha electric brake controller. I reverse engineered the entire circuit (I probably still have it somewhere) and was appalled at the almost toy-like construction of the "accelerometer". IIRC, it consisted of a swinging arm that interrupted a light sensor. In those days you could buy instrumentation quality accelerometers, but I expect that the price would have been high. I would hope that today's controllers are just a little more sophisticated.
FYI, the Tekonsha brake controller worked by detecting the deceleration force via variations in light intensity from the sensor, and then modulating the power to the brakes under PWM control. That is, under full deceleration the brakes would get the full 12V unmodulated supply voltage. Under partial deceleration the power to the brakes would be switched on and off with a duty cycle that was commensurate with the required braking force.
-- Edited by dorian on Monday 17th of February 2014 07:37:16 AM
brian said
08:51 AM Feb 17, 2014
Dorian, the monitor is required to test that the breakaway system battery has sufficient charge available to keep the brakes fully energised for 15 minutes in the event that the van becomes detached from the tow vehicle. The normally available one does this by disconnecting the battery charge circuit from its source and then connecting a dummy load across that battery every time you apply the vehicle brakes. It then measures the voltage drop of the battery and, if it falls below the required voltage in the test period an audio and/or visual alarm is then initiated.
No doubt you could build your own, but whether it is worthwhile to do so is debateable.
revemike said
09:10 AM Feb 17, 2014
Does this apply to vans registered in other Australian States? Mine is registered in Victoria and does not have a monitor in the tow vehicle. What is the situation with a van being registered in Victoria and travelling through NSW? What would be the situation if I were pulled up for a roadside check by the NSW authorities and the monitor was not present (in the van registered in another State)?
brian said
10:27 AM Feb 17, 2014
revemike wrote:
Does this apply to vans registered in other Australian States? Mine is registered in Victoria and does not have a monitor in the tow vehicle. What is the situation with a van being registered in Victoria and travelling through NSW? What would be the situation if I were pulled up for a roadside check by the NSW authorities and the monitor was not present (in the van registered in another State)?
Provided that your vehicle is legally registered in a state of territory of Australia, then it is legal to be used in any other state or territory with the usual permanency provisions.
At present, NSW is the only state to have this requirement, but given a bit of time the others will get there.
native pepper said
10:46 AM Feb 17, 2014
All heavy vehicle and combinations over 3 tonnes from sometime this year are subject to jurisdiction by the federal transport department and all vehicle coming within that category, will be subject to federal law no matter which state it is registered.
In Tas we are registered as a private non passenger carrying bus and regularly receive notifications from the feds, even though they have logged it as motor home, for some reason their xp computer system won't recognise any new definitions so they do them by hand and the computer system does it own thing and they can't change it. They have told us to ignore them, must be costing a fortune in waste, postage, paper and time.
All my truckie friends have received the notifications and from some time this year, have to adhere to federal requirements as well as state. Not sure when but in the next couple of years, they will also have to have GPS loggers, which have to be submitted when ever the department chooses.
NeilandRaine said
06:44 PM Feb 17, 2014
Got the RM6000 today, bugger me my brake controller is a breaksafe 4000, would you believe they don't have a suitable controller for anything pre 5000. you cant buy a 5000 so looks like I have to fork out 250 for a 6000.
This all smells a little of the company who makes brake controllers greasing the palms of some polititions
revemike said
07:31 PM Feb 17, 2014
looking for the 'Like' button, NeilandRaine, you may well be right there!
Baz421 said
11:09 PM Feb 17, 2014
native pepper wrote:
All heavy vehicle and combinations over 3 tonnes from sometime this year are subject to jurisdiction by the federal transport department and all vehicle coming within that category, will be subject to federal law no matter which state it is registered.
In Tas we are registered as a private non passenger carrying bus and regularly receive notifications from the feds, even though they have logged it as motor home, for some reason their xp computer system won't recognise any new definitions so they do them by hand and the computer system does it own thing and they can't change it. They have told us to ignore them, must be costing a fortune in waste, postage, paper and time.
All my truckie friends have received the notifications and from some time this year, have to adhere to federal requirements as well as state. Not sure when but in the next couple of years, they will also have to have GPS loggers, which have to be submitted when ever the department chooses.
Everyone is subject to Federal Legislation,, especially heavy vehicles over 4.5 and interstare trucks,, have been for years,,, so are trailers hence VSB1 has been adopted by all,, because they had to.
The Federal Government reduces funding if states/territories don't comply,,, heaps of examples. I was working on this Federal/State stuff (standardisation) in the early 90's,, don't hold your breath.
Never heard of it applying down to 3 tonnes ( 3 tonnes is not an ADR cut off point to my knowledge) ,,, this would effect my LC79 cruiser ute,,, what other info do you have please?
Rumours abound about these things and the reason you would receive Federal info on your bus is its ADR category and/or GVM.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 17th of February 2014 11:11:25 PM
native pepper said
11:44 AM Feb 18, 2014
Baz421 wrote:
native pepper wrote:
All heavy vehicle and combinations over 3 tonnes from sometime this year are subject to jurisdiction by the federal transport department and all vehicle coming within that category, will be subject to federal law no matter which state it is registered.
In Tas we are registered as a private non passenger carrying bus and regularly receive notifications from the feds, even though they have logged it as motor home, for some reason their xp computer system won't recognise any new definitions so they do them by hand and the computer system does it own thing and they can't change it. They have told us to ignore them, must be costing a fortune in waste, postage, paper and time.
All my truckie friends have received the notifications and from some time this year, have to adhere to federal requirements as well as state. Not sure when but in the next couple of years, they will also have to have GPS loggers, which have to be submitted when ever the department chooses.
Everyone is subject to Federal Legislation,, especially heavy vehicles over 4.5 and interstare trucks,, have been for years,,, so are trailers hence VSB1 has been adopted by all,, because they had to.
The Federal Government reduces funding if states/territories don't comply,,, heaps of examples. I was working on this Federal/State stuff (standardisation) in the early 90's,, don't hold your breath.
Never heard of it applying down to 3 tonnes ( 3 tonnes is not an ADR cut off point to my knowledge) ,,, this would effect my LC79 cruiser ute,,, what other info do you have please?
Rumours abound about these things and the reason you would receive Federal info on your bus is its ADR category and/or GVM.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 17th of February 2014 11:11:25 PM
Only going on what we have received and the trucking blokes I know and work for. It appears to only effect vehicles which are interstate or intrastate long haul and not urban vehicles. Like most idiotic things bureaucrats do, who knows how it will turn out, or how they will police and enforce it. One bloke I know was part of the federal transport industry advisory committee and he says what pollies and bureaucrats put up is so hilarious, unenforceable, expensive and in many cases dangerous. But they push them through no matter what the bulk of the committee's with extensive experience say. So the federal and state libs disbanded it late last year, now it's duties are divided between state and federal transport departments. They have also set up and independent moderator, who just happens to be a senior bureaucrat, who's also head of another federal department.
Don't be surprised if one of the bureaucratic recommendations they were pushing pops up this year. That's everyone towing anything over 1.5tonne, will require a special articulated federal licence and state endorsement. From what I've been told, they see large dollar signs and bonuses in the future and want on increase regulation and inspection requirements for all articulated/towing combinations and over 3 tonne rigid.
-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 18th of February 2014 11:47:24 AM
Baz421 said
10:37 PM Feb 18, 2014
Native Pepper I think you are referring to the proposed Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill (which was further amended in 2013) and applies to vehicles over 4.5 tonnes. I quote:-
The object of this Law is to be achieved by a regulatory
framework that
(a) establishes an entity (the National Heavy Vehicle
Regulator) with functions directed at ensuring the object
is achieved; and
(b) provides for the national registration of heavy vehicles;
and
(c) prescribes requirements about the following
(i) the standards heavy vehicles must meet when on
roads;
(ii) the maximum permissible mass and dimensions of
heavy vehicles used on roads;
(iii) securing and restraining loads on heavy vehicles
used on roads;
(iv) preventing drivers of heavy vehicles exceeding
speed limits;
(v) preventing drivers of heavy vehicles from driving
while fatigued; and
(d) imposes duties and obligations directed at ensuring
heavy vehicles and drivers of heavy vehicles comply
with requirements mentioned in paragraph (c)(i) to (v)
on persons whose activities may influence whether the
vehicles or drivers comply with the requirements; etc etc etc
But I think this gives an idea of what is coming and if your bus is over 4.5 tonnes you have been included in information sent out.
Baz421 said
10:41 PM Feb 18, 2014
This is how it started
In July 2009 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that a single national heavy vehicle regulatory regime be established by January 2013 to cover all vehicles over 4.5 gross tonnes. COAG agreed that the national regime include a single national regulator to administer a single set of national heavy vehicle laws replacing the separate and at times conflicting regulatory requirements on the heavy vehicle industry between States and Territories.
COAG's decision followed a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) process that investigated a framework for a single national system for heavy vehicle regulation. The RIS process included public consultation from December 2008 to February 2009 and again in April 2009. You can use the following links to find out more about the issues raised in the public consultation sessions and written submissions.
Phillipn said
09:49 AM Feb 20, 2014
brian wrote:
revemike wrote:
Does this apply to vans registered in other Australian States? Mine is registered in Victoria and does not have a monitor in the tow vehicle. What is the situation with a van being registered in Victoria and travelling through NSW? What would be the situation if I were pulled up for a roadside check by the NSW authorities and the monitor was not present (in the van registered in another State)?
Provided that your vehicle is legally registered in a state of territory of Australia, then it is legal to be used in any other state or territory with the usual permanency provisions.
At present, NSW is the only state to have this requirement, but given a bit of time the others will get there.
I asked the same question on another RV site. The answer I received was that if the vehicle and van is from interstate, this requirement does not apply.
dorian said
09:55 AM Feb 20, 2014
I don't understand why a brake monitor needs to matched to a particular brake controller. ISTM that the two should work independently of each other.
brian said
10:54 AM Feb 20, 2014
The reason that it can't work with just any breakaway unit is that it has to activate the unit to test the system, and different manufacturers have different electronics in their units which are not necessarily compatible with the monitor. Some breakaway units do not even have the facility to be activated by anything other than by the NO switch on the drawbar.
NeilandRaine said
04:53 PM Feb 20, 2014
Anyway $330 dollars later all done and installed.
dorian said
08:52 PM Feb 20, 2014
I tried to make sense of the Breaksafe controller and monitor wiring diagrams. AFAICT, the RM6000 monitor has only two wires -- sensor and ground. The sensor wire is connected to the red (+) charge terminal of the Breaksafe 5000 controller. IIUC, the charge terminals are to allow the controller's internal battery to be charged by an external charger when the trailer is not attached to the tow vehicle. This would suggest that the RM6000 monitor senses the state of the battery directly. That is, there does not appear to be any sophisticated communication between the two devices, at least not of the kind that would suggest that two digital microcontrollers were involved. If that is the case, then all one would need to do would be to run a sense wire between the monitor's sense pin and the positive terminal of the battery in any breakaway controller.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Thursday 20th of February 2014 09:05:36 PM
dorian said
09:31 PM Feb 20, 2014
Sorry, I have never used such a thermometer.
Rodtrish said
07:59 PM Feb 26, 2014
Hello fellow nomads, I installed the battery monitor in my 012 jayco sterling because I am from NSW it is required for rego.It is designed to inform the driver that the small battery in the breakaway unit in the caravan is flat or low in charge to supply power long enough to the brakes to hold for 15 mins as it is required to do. The reason this is necessary is people that have older vans have found that the battery in the breakaway unit was never charged and it never worked when required.
It is a single wire that runs from the (+ terminal ) of the battery through the trailer connections to the dashboard of the vehicle into the
Redark monitor then to earth, it does not interfere with any other circuits in the van or vehicle.It will sound an alarm or the led will change from green to RED to inform the driver it needs attention incase a van breakes away from the vehicle.
Hope this helps answer some of the questions thats been asked on this post.
Cheers Rod
This subject has probably been covered before seeing as the law was changed sometime ago, never the less I just found out about it today.
The law in NSW says you have to have a breakaway monitor in the cabin of your tug. I have a tekonsha breakaway switch but having trouble finding a monitor for it.
Q 1. Anyone know where to get one?
Q 2. Will one make work with another, it is more a monitor of the battery condition.
Q 3 maybe I should just change breakaway switch
Any help would be appreciated
Unless the law has been changed very recently, you don't have to have the monitor in the cabin of the tow vehicle it just has to be visible and or audible from the driver's position. This means that you could logically position the monitor on the front of the van where it is visible in the rear view mirror.
Brakesafe were the only ones making one last time I heard, and it was only compatible with their devices.
You are correct Brian.
Thanks for your help and I will let you know the outcome.
Good luck with "the establishment previously known as RTA"
You will find most of the plebs you speak to won't know anything about it.
The legislation does say (for NSW) the monitor must be able to be seen AND heard by the driver of the car.
There are a couple manufacturers that make a unit that fits to the van and can be seen by the driver.
Here's the NSW info,,, it follows on from the Federal VSB1 for small trailers.
Vehicle Standards Information No. 22
for Vehicle Owners & Operators in New South Wales Issued April 1998
Introduction
All trailers with a Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) exceeding 750kg and first registered after 30 June 1990
are required to be fitted with an efficient braking system. For trailers with a GTM of up to 2 tonnes,
this braking system can be either an overrun sysytem or one that is operated from the driver's seat.
For trailers with a GTM exceeding 2 tonnes, the braking system must be capable of being applied from
the drivers seat -
overrun brakes are not acceptable. In addition, the braking system must be such
that if the trailer accidentally breaks away (from the towing vehicle), the trailer brakes will apply
automatically and remain applied for at least 15 minutes.
It should be noted that the brakes must operate on ALL WHEELS (exceptions are trailers not over 2
tonnes Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) and trailers manufactured prior to ADR 38/--. Their service
brakes must operate on all wheels on at least one axle).
Installation of Equipment
To ensure the safe towing of trailers equipped with electric brakes, it is necessary that:
1. a breakaway switch is fitted to the trailer and its point of attachment is compatible with the
towing vehicle;
2. the trailer is equipped with its own battery (of sufficient capacity to maintain the brakes in the
applied position for at least 15 minutes);
3. the towing vehicle is equipped with an electrical circuit which will automatically maintain
the trailer battery in a fully charged condition and is capable of warning the driver if the
condition of the trailer battery is such that it may not be capable of meeting the above
requirements;
4. earthing or grounding systems for the trailer brake units is specifically and individually
wired (i.e. one earth wire to each brake unit) and not via the trailer suspension
components, wheel bearings or tow couplings;
5. the trailer is fitted with a readily visible label stating that the towing vehicle must be
equipped with a compatible control, charging and warning system.
Assuming this is still current maybe check. YEP still curent found it on their website OK,,, rms bulletins..We went through all this last year and I can't find the damn thread.
Cheers Baz
-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 16th of February 2014 09:48:33 PM
Here is an extract from NSW Vehicle inspector's bulletin 6 rev 0.1 dated November 2007 which may clarify it a bit.
"Trailers required to be fitted with breakaway systems are not registerable if there is no means for maintaining the
breakaway energy source in a fully-energised condition (for example, if a charging and warning circuit is not fitted). An
acceptable warning circuit must incorporate either a visual or an audible warning device".
note the word "either".
Here's the link to the Vehicle Standards in NSW. See No22
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html
The Brakesafe control monitor that was fitted with my brake controller is the series 6000 ..
heres a link just for your info .. (I have no personal affiliation with this company)
http://www.rvelectronics.com.au/
.. it appears to be only sold with a compatible breakaway unit ..
probably not much help to you ..
Here is another link to view ..
http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/index.php?cPath=256_999
-- Edited by Jonathan on Monday 17th of February 2014 06:30:36 AM
Are you permitted to design and build your own? Is the breakaway switch just a simple SPST switch, and would the monitor just be detecting whether the switch is open or closed?
On a related note, about 20 years ago I was asked to repair a Tekonsha electric brake controller. I reverse engineered the entire circuit (I probably still have it somewhere) and was appalled at the almost toy-like construction of the "accelerometer". IIRC, it consisted of a swinging arm that interrupted a light sensor. In those days you could buy instrumentation quality accelerometers, but I expect that the price would have been high. I would hope that today's controllers are just a little more sophisticated.
FYI, the Tekonsha brake controller worked by detecting the deceleration force via variations in light intensity from the sensor, and then modulating the power to the brakes under PWM control. That is, under full deceleration the brakes would get the full 12V unmodulated supply voltage. Under partial deceleration the power to the brakes would be switched on and off with a duty cycle that was commensurate with the required braking force.
-- Edited by dorian on Monday 17th of February 2014 07:37:16 AM
Provided that your vehicle is legally registered in a state of territory of Australia, then it is legal to be used in any other state or territory with the usual permanency provisions.
At present, NSW is the only state to have this requirement, but given a bit of time the others will get there.
In Tas we are registered as a private non passenger carrying bus and regularly receive notifications from the feds, even though they have logged it as motor home, for some reason their xp computer system won't recognise any new definitions so they do them by hand and the computer system does it own thing and they can't change it. They have told us to ignore them, must be costing a fortune in waste, postage, paper and time.
All my truckie friends have received the notifications and from some time this year, have to adhere to federal requirements as well as state. Not sure when but in the next couple of years, they will also have to have GPS loggers, which have to be submitted when ever the department chooses.
This all smells a little of the company who makes brake controllers greasing the palms of some polititions
Everyone is subject to Federal Legislation,, especially heavy vehicles over 4.5 and interstare trucks,, have been for years,,, so are trailers hence VSB1 has been adopted by all,, because they had to.
The Federal Government reduces funding if states/territories don't comply,,, heaps of examples. I was working on this Federal/State stuff (standardisation) in the early 90's,, don't hold your breath.
Never heard of it applying down to 3 tonnes ( 3 tonnes is not an ADR cut off point to my knowledge) ,,, this would effect my LC79 cruiser ute,,, what other info do you have please?
Rumours abound about these things and the reason you would receive Federal info on your bus is its ADR category and/or GVM.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 17th of February 2014 11:11:25 PM
Only going on what we have received and the trucking blokes I know and work for. It appears to only effect vehicles which are interstate or intrastate long haul and not urban vehicles. Like most idiotic things bureaucrats do, who knows how it will turn out, or how they will police and enforce it. One bloke I know was part of the federal transport industry advisory committee and he says what pollies and bureaucrats put up is so hilarious, unenforceable, expensive and in many cases dangerous. But they push them through no matter what the bulk of the committee's with extensive experience say. So the federal and state libs disbanded it late last year, now it's duties are divided between state and federal transport departments. They have also set up and independent moderator, who just happens to be a senior bureaucrat, who's also head of another federal department.
Don't be surprised if one of the bureaucratic recommendations they were pushing pops up this year. That's everyone towing anything over 1.5tonne, will require a special articulated federal licence and state endorsement. From what I've been told, they see large dollar signs and bonuses in the future and want on increase regulation and inspection requirements for all articulated/towing combinations and over 3 tonne rigid.
-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 18th of February 2014 11:47:24 AM
Native Pepper I think you are referring to the proposed Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill (which was further amended in 2013) and applies to vehicles over 4.5 tonnes. I quote:-
The object of this Law is to be achieved by a regulatory
framework that
(a) establishes an entity (the National Heavy Vehicle
Regulator) with functions directed at ensuring the object
is achieved; and
(b) provides for the national registration of heavy vehicles;
and
(c) prescribes requirements about the following
(i) the standards heavy vehicles must meet when on
roads;
(ii) the maximum permissible mass and dimensions of
heavy vehicles used on roads;
(iii) securing and restraining loads on heavy vehicles
used on roads;
(iv) preventing drivers of heavy vehicles exceeding
speed limits;
(v) preventing drivers of heavy vehicles from driving
while fatigued; and
(d) imposes duties and obligations directed at ensuring
heavy vehicles and drivers of heavy vehicles comply
with requirements mentioned in paragraph (c)(i) to (v)
on persons whose activities may influence whether the
vehicles or drivers comply with the requirements; etc etc etc
But I think this gives an idea of what is coming and if your bus is over 4.5 tonnes you have been included in information sent out.
This is how it started
In July 2009 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that a single national heavy vehicle regulatory regime be established by January 2013 to cover all vehicles over 4.5 gross tonnes. COAG agreed that the national regime include a single national regulator to administer a single set of national heavy vehicle laws replacing the separate and at times conflicting regulatory requirements on the heavy vehicle industry between States and Territories.
COAG's decision followed a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) process that investigated a framework for a single national system for heavy vehicle regulation. The RIS process included public consultation from December 2008 to February 2009 and again in April 2009. You can use the following links to find out more about the issues raised in the public consultation sessions and written submissions.
I asked the same question on another RV site. The answer I received was that if the vehicle and van is from interstate, this requirement does not apply.
I tried to make sense of the Breaksafe controller and monitor wiring diagrams. AFAICT, the RM6000 monitor has only two wires -- sensor and ground. The sensor wire is connected to the red (+) charge terminal of the Breaksafe 5000 controller. IIUC, the charge terminals are to allow the controller's internal battery to be charged by an external charger when the trailer is not attached to the tow vehicle. This would suggest that the RM6000 monitor senses the state of the battery directly. That is, there does not appear to be any sophisticated communication between the two devices, at least not of the kind that would suggest that two digital microcontrollers were involved. If that is the case, then all one would need to do would be to run a sense wire between the monitor's sense pin and the positive terminal of the battery in any breakaway controller.
BREAKSAFE REMOTE MONITOR, PART NO: RM6000, fitting instructions:
TO SUIT BREAKSAFE 5000 & 5000XP AND 6000 & 6000XP BREAKAWAY KITS ONLY:
http://rvelectronics.com.au/image/data/BREAKSAFE%20REMOTE%20MONITOR%20FITTING%20INSTUCTIONS.pdf
BREAKSAFE SERIES 6000 AND 6000XP ELECTRIC BRAKE BREAK-AWAY SYSTEM:
http://rvelectronics.com.au/image/data/BREAKSAFE%20BS6000%20FITTING%20INSTRUCTIONS.pdf
http://www.redarc.com.au/images/uploads/images/Breaksafe_6000_Instruction_Sheet-A5-3.pdf
BREAKSAFE SERIES 5000 AND 5000XP (no monitor shown):
http://rvelectronics.com.au/image/data/5000%20WIRING%20DIAGRAM.pdf
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 20th of February 2014 08:54:00 PM
Off topic sorry,,,
Dorian help please, these IR thermometers are they accurate????
http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/Why-non-contact-laser-infrared-thermometer-is-inaccurate-/10000000177588188/g.html
http://www.ebay.com.au/bhp/infrared-thermometer
Any help appreciated. Baz
-- Edited by Baz421 on Thursday 20th of February 2014 09:05:36 PM
It is a single wire that runs from the (+ terminal ) of the battery through the trailer connections to the dashboard of the vehicle into the
Redark monitor then to earth, it does not interfere with any other circuits in the van or vehicle.It will sound an alarm or the led will change from green to RED to inform the driver it needs attention incase a van breakes away from the vehicle.
Hope this helps answer some of the questions thats been asked on this post.
Cheers Rod