My Lectrotab Install (full guide included)

[Quad]

I completed the install. Still have some work cleaning it up (adding cable protection and more tie downs). But went out and tested it. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Not mind blowing but in the past I have had to counter the current and wind with pretty hard input with the steering wheel. This system allows you to counter with the trim tabs to get back to the nice slack steering in the middle while tracking straight.

I equate this to trim tabs in an aircraft where your aircraft yaws due to wind and you can use trim to stop fighting the aircraft. So its sweet!

There was not very much chop but I was able to adjust the nose down and notice by the spray that the boat was in a heavy forward lean. Went for about a two hour cruise, monitored the bilge - no issues. Went out the inlet into the ocean to get some bigger wave action, got slammed a bit - No issues.

Inspection after no cracks, no leaks, looks good!

I updated the install manual to include the electrical wiring aspect but have decided to create a second install specifically for routing the power to the helm distribution block. I did not have time to finish that tonight.

Enjoy everyone!

Awesome! Looking forward to the full electrical writeup as getting power under the helm is one of the big tasks at hand for me in this project.

Did you have plans for the ignition-based retraction? This is my big question - it seems simple enough as it just needs 12v from *somewhere* to show the controller that the engines are on/off, but I haven't seen any wiring diagrams for the 242SE to identify where I could pull that from. Also, I assume you would want it tied to one or both engines, and at that point, I am envisioning some sort of "OR" switch/relay that can get the 12v from each engine's ignition and if either are present, allow the trim tabs to actuate.

Boolean logic for the win:

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/boolean/bool_2.html

@Mainah - you seem to be one of the more electronically astute users here, did you leverage the ignition trigger for your tabs? How did you approach monitoring both engine's ignition status?

 

[Troch1]

Awesome! Looking forward to the full electrical writeup as getting power under the helm is one of the big tasks at hand for me in this project.

Did you have plans for the ignition-based retraction? This is my big question - it seems simple enough as it just needs 12v from *somewhere* to show the controller that the engines are on/off, but I haven't seen any wiring diagrams for the 242SE to identify where I could pull that from. Also, I assume you would want it tied to one or both engines, and at that point, I am envisioning some sort of "OR" switch/relay that can get the 12v from each engine's ignition and if either are present, allow the trim tabs to actuate.

Boolean logic for the win:

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/boolean/bool_2.html

@Mainah - you seem to be one of the more electronically astute users here, did you leverage the ignition trigger for your tabs? How did you approach monitoring both engine's ignition status?

Most of us tied into the yellow wire behind the key. Tabs retract when key turned off.

 

[Quad]

Most of us tied into the yellow wire behind the key. Tabs retract when key turned off.

Oh - so the master ignition key right next to the kill-switch?

 

[Troch1]

Oh - so the master ignition key right next to the kill-switch?

That’s the one!

 

[Jgonzalez114]

I completed my install this weekend on a 2008 AR210. They are working great and my last item is tying into the ignition for the retract feature. My wire colors are red, black, brown, white, and yellow red. Does anyone know if the yellow/red is the one to tap into for my model. I think the red goes to the starter motor signal so that will shut off once the engines are on, so I’m thinking it’s gotta be the yellow/red, or the brown wire. Thanks.

 

[Quad]

That’s the one!

Sweet! Did you use a crimp splice to connect into it? Cut and splice in another way?

Now I just need to get power under the helm...

 

[Troch1]

Sweet! Did you use a crimp splice to connect into it? Cut and splice in another way?

Now I just need to get power under the helm...

I’m sure I’ll get thrown some shade on this, but here’s what I used...

https://smile.amazon.com/Lockitt-Posi-Tap-pack-605-16-18/dp/B00H242NNY/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=t+tap+connectors+posi&qid=1615835969&sr=8-9

 

[Markwest]

Okay I completed the Power to the Helm section. Its included in the same document. I added the ability for people to comment - hopefully that does not get out of hand.

I also updated the front matter to better reflect the current stage of project.

 

[Troy JK]

I need to get on this. it Seems that there’s always more people on one side of the boat and It annoys the crap out of me when the boats leaning to one side while running straight. And for some reason no one else notices or cares enough to move. Maybe I have that CDO (It’s like OCD but in alphabetical order as it should be) ?.
question 1 the auto leveling function sounds awesome but what happens when you turn?
question 2 can you raise And lower each tabs individually In manual mode? I see the down arrows but no up arrows for port/starboard.

 

[Markwest]

I need to get on this. it Seems that there’s always more people on one side of the boat and It annoys the crap out of me when the boats leaning to one side while running straight. And for some reason no one else notices or cares enough to move. Maybe I have that CDO (It’s like OCD but in alphabetical order as it should be) ?.
question 1 the auto leveling function sounds awesome but what happens when you turn?
question 2 can you raise And lower each tabs individually In manual mode? I see the down arrows but no up arrows for port/starboard.

This may be just my first impression but I found the auto mode during large turns helped and did not resist. However with small turns/ steering adjustments the auto mode fought the input somewhat.
Yes the trim tabs have 4 buttons for up/down and right/left. The right/left can be adjusted separately, however they are coordinated. When adding left it starts by removing right first. Hope that helps!

 

[Troy JK]

This may be just my first impression but I found the auto mode during large turns helped and did not resist. However with small turns/ steering adjustments the auto mode fought the input somewhat.
Yes the trim tabs have 4 buttons for up/down and right/left. The right/left can be adjusted separately, however they are coordinated. When adding left it starts by removing right first. Hope that helps!

Sounds like pushing the left down arrow lowers the right tab. So if you then push the right down button it raises the right and lowers the left?

 

[Markwest]

Sounds like pushing the left down arrow lowers the right tab. So if you then push the right down button it raises the right and lowers the left?

That is correct. At first I found it a little counter intuitive. But after a few moments it was a breeze. Pressing the left button makes the right tab go down and the boat will turn/balance to the right.

...think I got that right.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I was considering the auto control, but decided to go with the SLC-11. Also I like the words on the control pad, will help those not so familiar with using trim if someone else is or needs to drive. Also save some decent bucks as well, which I am sure I can dump into something else.

One-Touch LED Control - Products | Lectrotab Electromechanical Trim Tab Systems

 

[Troy JK]

For those with the auto option, does it work well enough that you would go with the auto controller again?

 

[sapperfitz]

Awesome documentation. Are these the 16"x9" tabs?

 

[Markwest]

Awesome documentation. Are these the 16"x9" tabs?

Yes they are. I think that is standard for the 240/242

 

[Markwest]

For those with the auto option, does it work well enough that you would go with the auto controller again?

Limited opinion but I could have done without auto but I think it will be nice for people not familiar to use.

 

[Quad]

Okay I completed the Power to the Helm section. Its included in the same document. I added the ability for people to comment - hopefully that does not get out of hand.

I also updated the front matter to better reflect the current stage of project.

Great writeup! I can't tell if it was in the Google doc because some of the pictures are truncating weird at the page breaks, but did you measure out the location for the actuator installation? I am interested in how many inches back from the farthest point on the stern you went, so that I can consider a wakewedge in the future.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@Markwest If you lived closer to me, one day you would just see my boat in front of your house, the box with the lectro tabs in it and a very generous crate of beer and steaks

 

[sapperfitz]

So, I just purchased the same package from Russ at Lectrotab. I'm currently out of the country so I won't be able to install for a couple of months. This has given me time to do a lot of research on the tab installation. It seems most of those who have installed the tabs say they never use more than 1/2 of the tab travel. Would it make sense to install the tabs so they were up higher when fully retracted? Maybe put the trailing edge 1" or more above the hull plane, rather than the 1/2" recommended in the instructions?