Trim Tab Micro adjust

[Rayvon]

My boat like some others reacts very fast to the slightest touch of the tabs. Mine are 9x12 Bennett hydraulic,but I would change to electric if there was some way to slow their movement down so that I can adjust in small increments instead of throwing the boat from side to side. Reduce the tab size? Any idea's ?

 

[JohnS]

My boat like some others reacts very fast to the slightest touch of the tabs. Mine are 9x12 Bennett hydraulic,but I would change to electric if there was some way to slow their movement down so that I can adjust in small increments instead of throwing the boat from side to side. Reduce the tab size? Any idea's ?

Smaller tabs

 

[Capt_Ed]

Reostat

 

[brutus]

My boat like some others reacts very fast to the slightest touch of the tabs. Mine are 9x12 Bennett hydraulic,but I would change to electric if there was some way to slow their movement down so that I can adjust in small increments instead of throwing the boat from side to side. Reduce the tab size? Any idea's ?

I got the same size on mine and all I do is push in and out quickly, if I sleep on the switch it does the same lol, basically click click one way and let the boat straitened out, if that makes sense, oh and I try to keep the fat guy from going from one side of the boat to the other

 

[Brando]

I find the hydraulic tabs are like this and that the electric is much easier to fine tune. Zip wakes would be a nice option if they’re in the budget

 

[Rayvon]

Reostat

Ya,I thought there might be some electrical do-dad that might slow it down ,but wasn't sure what term to use for it? I think I'll try cutting down the tabs next time out of water. I wonder if bending down the sides to 90 * would help?

 

[ship happens]

Not all electric motors can operate at a variable speed. In DC land pretty much every single motor designed with a brush is set by design. Best way to burn one out is to reduce the voltage. My best guess with tab actuators is no. Cannot be variable

I'm pretty sure that electric actuators are faster than the electric over hydraulic. They are pretty snappy

 

[InterMechanico]

My boat like some others reacts very fast to the slightest touch of the tabs. Mine are 9x12 Bennett hydraulic,but I would change to electric if there was some way to slow their movement down so that I can adjust in small increments instead of throwing the boat from side to side. Reduce the tab size? Any idea's ?

Yep. Incorporate a pair of adjustable needle valves into the system. One for each tab, installed between the pump and the actuator.
Close them right down, then open them up a quarter turn at a time until the speed is where you want it.

It’s a rudimentary but common way to regulate the speed of a hydraulic actuator.

 

[ship happens]

In hydraulic land you need to bleed the excess fluid back to the return instead of just slow the flow down. When you slow the flow down, all you do is stress the pump and whatever is driving it. In this case it's an electric motor

Could make a bypass however. Noone ever done it with a trim tab pump assembly that I'm aware of

 

[salmonkiller01]

Electric are way more reactive. Try smaller tabs

 

[InterMechanico]

I’ll grant you that while I do reside very squarely in Hydraulic Land; complex hydraulic troubleshooting and repair is a large portion of my job, I do not live in Marine Repair Land, so I cannot confirm that this particular marine trim tab pump will handle the stress of a flow control. I think it would have no problem though, and this method would improve the OPs issue with minimal cost.

I am assuming the following:

- The pump has pressure relief valves built in. I know this because it must accommodate the actuators limited stroke and subsequent pressure spike or “deadhead” without failing over a long service life.

- The duty cycle of this system is likely quite low. Even if a person were making adjustments for 10 seconds every single minute it would only amount to a 17% duty cycle which is very low indeed.

A proper flow control would work better, and return the excess portion of flow to the reservoir with less increase in pressure, but I just don’t think this system would require that level of complexity, due mainly to the very low duty cycle.

 

[InterMechanico]

In hydraulic land you need to bleed the excess fluid back to the return instead of just slow the flow down. When you slow the flow down, all you do is stress the pump and whatever is driving it. In this case it's an electric motor

Could make a bypass however. Noone ever done it with a trim tab pump assembly that I'm aware of

Maybe there’s a market for a kit??

 

[ship happens]

Maybe there’s a market for a kit??

Possibly. Not too sure about the check valve part. Those tabs have to hold fluid pressure. Typically that part is all in the pump design. My guess is you would need a traditional style pump valve. Those little micro pumps are pretty wierd. It's probly machined

The motor and pump won't care if there is bleed by or bypass however you want to call it. It's the pump design. I'm almost 100 percent sure that those ****** little pumps operated by soleniods can not be bleed by. They are actual pieces of crap. Tiny little turds. It's all integral. Machined and so on.

 

[JohnS]

Possibly. Not too sure about the check valve part. Those tabs have to hold fluid pressure. Typically that part is all in the pump design. My guess is you would need a traditional style pump valve. Those little micro pumps are pretty wierd. It's probly machined

The motor and pump won't care if there is bleed by or bypass however you want to call it. It's the pump design. I'm almost 100 percent sure that those ****** little pumps operated by soleniods can not be bleed by. They are actual pieces of crap. Tiny little turds. It's all integral. Machined and so on.

Did you have a stroke writing those last sentences?

 

[ship happens]

Did you have a stroke writing those last sentences?

keyboard worrior

They are little turds. It's machined little pump parts. I don't know another way to describe it. Piece of crap is the best terminology

 

[Rayvon]

Thanks for all your well thought out comments. I think I'll try reducing the tab size first. Much less complicated for an old fart. I think there is a market for a slower tab,I hear lots of people having the same issue.

 

[ship happens]

It would be way easier making a slower electric actuator. All they are is a linear type actuator with a screw drive. Just make finer tooth drive screw. Done.

 

[MRWood]

It would be way easier making a slower electric actuator. All they are is a linear type actuator with a screw drive. Just make finer tooth drive screw. Done.

Sounds like you may have your self a little get rich quick scheme brewing

 

[bigbruce]

Dunno - I just make light taps on the button - wait til the boat adjusts - and tap again if needed. Seems to work fine….KISS,

 

[daddystoy]

Same as Big Bruce. Literally 1 click at a time when it's time to fine tune the trim.
Give the boat a chance to react then do it again as needed.