Lectrotab Auto Controller

[Rob9550]

I just received mine in the mail and I haven't opened the box yet. I really wanted the ALC to work and may return the entire set up...

I guess that I can wait till everyone tests them out and go from there.

 

[tdonoughue]

Well, someone has to, so I will ask the obvious and dumb question:

You don't have the port and starboard wires switched, do you? That would cause the effect you describe, right?

 

[Foobar]

My ALC works great.

 

[Mainah]

Well, someone has to, so I will ask the obvious and dumb question:

You don't have the port and starboard wires switched, do you? That would cause the effect you describe, right?

I absolutely agree that this would seem to be the case. I labeled the wires before pulling and then stripped/coonected one at a time starting with power and ground with the diagram in front of me as I was doing it. I tried redoing the calibration multiple times as well. Just to be sure I am going disconnect everything and give direct 12v from the battering to the actuators and try everything from scratch before swapping to the MLC.

 

[Mainah]

My ALC works great.

Glad it is working for someone. This encourages me to give it one last try from scratch.

 

[tdonoughue]

Not at all questioning your diligence. I think your history here speaks to that plenty.

But it could be as simple as manually activating the port side and seeing if that is the side that moves... Just to check.

 

[swatski]

I absolutely agree that this would seem to be the case. I labeled the wires before pulling and then stripped/coonected one at a time starting with power and ground with the diagram in front of me as I was doing it. I tried redoing the calibration multiple times as well. Just to be sure I am going disconnect everything and give direct 12v from the battering to the actuators and try everything from scratch before swapping to the MLC.

The ALC can be operated in a manual (or "semi-manual"/"semi-auto") mode - like the MLC, correct?

If yes, then I would switch the setup to operate in the manual mode and see which tab moves which way, easily done either on the trailer or in the water.

Keep in mind the MLC (and presumably also ALC in "manual" mode) retracts the opposing tab before deploying the other side - for side to side (list) adjustments.
(that's why I like to kind of think of those as "semi-auto" - as pushing one switch can result in a sequential movement of two blades in opposite directions).

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[Betik]

The probability that @Mainah screwed the cables it is more of less the same as @swatski crossthreading his tower. Needless to say that Lectrotab must have already tried to help him troubleshoot.

There is a change that ALC itself could be defective......

 

[Bluewater272]

There is a change that ALC itself could be defective......

That's what I'm wondering. Some defect with a gyro (or whatever it uses to sense orientation).

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

There is a complete manual mode with the ALC where tabs can be controlled together for bow up/down or independently for side to side port/starboard adjustment.

 

[Mainah]

After two hours I have it figured out and working with the auto controller. After moving the ridesteady GPS antenna further away from the ALC, emi shielding behind the ALC controller with foil backed mlv, and recalibrating using my ballast system to keep the boat level listed when calibrating the ALC controller works. Not sure if it was the calibration with my built is port side list weight or too many gps antennas too close.

When I got down to the boat my gps vhf radio gave me a warning that it could not aquire signal which got me thinking about how close the vhf, Ridesteady antenna and alc all are. Pulled stuff apart, seperated wires, and wrapped in foil backed mlv. Got my boat level listed with the ballast and low wind on the lake so best chance to work. Recalibrated everthing and boom it works.

I will edit the title and first post when done enjoying sitting in the boat as I type this.

 

[Mainah]

Come to think of it when I was having the issues I also had my gps enabled handheld and my phone running gps, and my phone connected to my go pro over wifi close to the alc. So boat gps, Ridesteady gps, fixed vhf gps, phone gps, phone wifi, and a whole bunch of speaker and other wiring close to the alc at the same time. Not exactly a typical setup. I does take about 30 seconds for the alc to acquire gps signal now but not bad given where I placed it and all the electronics close by. I can’t say for sure that was causing the issue vs my built in list and calibration but it sure is something to think about when installing.

 

[swatski]

Well, I think I'll stick with my MLC then, may have enough going there... lol


EDIT: I since added the awesome PUSH BUTTON START/STOP!


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[Rob9550]

View attachment 74868 After two hours I have it figured out and working with the auto controller. After moving the ridesteady GPS antenna further away from the ALC, emi shielding behind the ALC controller with foil backed mlv, and recalibrating using my ballast system to keep the boat level listed when calibrating the ALC controller works. Not sure if it was the calibration with my built is port side list weight or too many gps antennas too close.

When I got down to the boat my gps vhf radio gave me a warning that it could not aquire signal which got me thinking about how close the vhf, Ridesteady antenna and alc all are. Pulled stuff apart, seperated wires, and wrapped in foil backed mlv. Got my boat level listed with the ballast and low wind on the lake so best chance to work. Recalibrated everthing and boom it works.

I will edit the title and first post when done enjoying sitting in the boat as I type this.

Let me know when I can come by for my "custom install." Glad you where able to get it working!

 

[Mainah]

Let me know when I can come by for my "custom install." Glad you where able to get it working!

Anytime for someone who just redeployed stateside.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

I have good news to report. This morning a buddy and I took the boat out and the lake was like glass so I got a true feel for the ALC. We used manual mode first then I got it where I wanted and set the auto function and my buddy moved around the boat to different positions shifting the weight from one side to the other. The ALC responded quickly and accurately to keep us level. We also tested it through turns and it instantly detected when I began to turn and adjusted the tabs accordingly. As this time I’m very satisfied and look forward to how this will improve my boats ride quality.

 

[swatski]

Glad you guys figuring this all out! And thank you for posting information, this benefits all interested.

I will say this though. For now with this 24' boat, MLC is the way to go - for me. There are times I "wish" I had the auto-controller but that is rare.

Most of the time when we get going and people in the boat have regrouped one way or the other - they tend to stay that way while the boat is on plane and no one moves a seat. I can easily adjust the boats list and attitude and not worry about it.

Two more reasons are:

1. More often than not I will adjust the attitude a bit different depending on the conditions prevailing, which will deviate from the 'benchmark" set in the auto-controller.
   
2. When navigating a narrow channel, a river, etc, the last thing I want to happen is for my tab system to start adjusting my attitude when I, for example, make a U-turn or any sharp turn/maneuver. Some places where I boat that would not be good as I can have mere feet to spare between the boat and some rocks - and I need to be in control.
3. MLC is really a "semi-auto" as it will deloy and retract opposite site tabs by pushing one button.

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[Mainah]

Glad you guys figuring this all out! And thank you for posting information, this benefits all interested.

I will say this though. For now with this 24' boat, MLC is the way to go - for me. There are times I "wish" I had the auto-controller but that is rare.

Most of the time when we get going and people in the boat have regrouped one way or the other - they tend to stay that way while the boat is on plane and no one moves a seat. I can easily adjust the boats list and attitude and not worry about it.

Two more reasons are:

1. More often than not I will adjust the attitude a bit different depending on the conditions prevailing, which will deviate from the 'benchmark" set in the auto-controller.
   
2. When navigating a narrow channel, a river, etc, the last thing I want to happen is for my tab system to start adjusting my attitude when I, for example, make a U-turn or any sharp turn/maneuver. Some places where I boat that would not be good as I can have mere feet to spare between the boat and some rocks - and I need to be in control.
3. MLC is really a "semi-auto" as it will deloy and retract opposite site tabs by pushing one button.

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You make some valid points. The nice part is auto can be disengaged and then used just like the MLC. The only difference is if disengaged it does not remember where the tabs were at because the ALC is meant to be auto. I used an engine on wire for the trigger given the push button start system would not retract the tabs unless both keys were shut off so instead when I kill the engines the tabs retract regardless of in auto or manual mode.

My main reason for choosing the ALC and really wanting it to work has a lot to do with my use case. I always seem to be listed depending on where the passengers decide to sit at that point in time as we do tend to move around some on longer jaunts. Not to mention my built in list from all the stuff I have in the battery compartment. For me it was the right choice but I can see how it may not be super useful and perhaps less than ideal for other use cases or just for driver preference. I certainly don't frequent tight areas unless at no wake speed but I am on a big deep water lake and not a river. There is a big price difference as well. One comment holds true regardless of preference though. Call Lectrotab and they will set you up with a great product that works for you.

 

[robert843]

See I must be doing something wrong or I'm possibly over tabbed. When I use my tabs to try adjust the boat level the boat doesn't adjust it just tries to pull to that side the tab is deployed on. I know speaking to someone else their boat did the exact same as mine. For me I only use the tabs so far deployed at the same height to push the bow down in rougher chop but maybe I just need to play with them a bit more.

 

[swatski]

See I must be doing something wrong or I'm possibly over tabbed. When I use my tabs to try adjust the boat level the boat doesn't adjust it just tries to pull to that side the tab is deployed on. I know speaking to someone else their boat did the exact same as mine. For me I only use the tabs so far deployed at the same height to push the bow down in rougher chop but maybe I just need to play with them a bit more.

I think that's normal.
Basically, with one tab deployed the boat will steer in that direction hard and a steering adjustment is necessary to keep it going strait - there will be a good amount of pull on the steering and if you let go of the steering wheel the boat will steer away towards the side of the tab deployed, quickly!

You might be over-tabbed but that may just mean smaller adjustments necessary. And you can plane at much lower speeds, too, which can be a big plus.

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