Bennett Marine Auto Tab Control User Manual

AUTO TAB CONTROL (ATC)

OWNER’S MANUAL &

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT: This manual contains critical

information directly affecting the safe and efcient

operation of your boat. Please read thoroughly before

operating the Auto Tab Control system.

SAVE AND KEEP WITH

BOAT OWNER’S INFORMATION

Congratulations!
You are the owner of the most sophisticated Trim Tab control

system in the world. Nothing will create a more efciently trimmed

boat than the ATC. It constantly monitors your boat’s position and
uses your trim tabs to maintain your optimal cruising attitude.

SECTION 1
A BASIC PRODUCT UNDERSTANDING

The Bennett ATC system is composed of three main components:

A: ATC Keypad — The ATC Keypad enables you to
turn the ATC system ON and OFF, and set the Zero
Point for your boat’s best running attitude. The up
and down arrows will ash showing trim tab adjust­ments.

B: ATC Control Unit — The ATC Control Unit is
a sophisticated processor and attitude sensor. It
analyzes and calculates attitude readings. It “learns”
and stores the characteristics of your boat in its
memory and uses this information for precise trim
tab corrections. Important: The ATC Control Unit

must be mounted correctly or the ATC system
will not function as it should.

C: Relay Module — The Relay Module Links

the Hydraulic Power Unit to the Auto Tab Control
system.

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SECTION 2

BLUE

POSITIVE

GREEN

YELLOW

RED

BEFORE INSTALLING THE AUTO TAB CONTROL, YOU MUST
CHECK THE TRIM TAB SYSTEM INSTALLATION

The ATC system interfaces with the boat’s trim tab system, and automatically
operates the trim tab Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU). Therefore before you install
and operate the ATC system it is critical you conrm that the HPU wiring and
hydraulic tubing is connected EXACTLY as described in items 1 and 2 below.

1. Hydraulic Tubing:

Tubing from the port actuator must be connected to the tting marked •

“P” (front left) on the HPU.

Tubing from the starboard actuator must be connected to the tting •

marked “S” (front right) on the HPU.

THE TUBING MUST NOT BE REVERSED

2. Helm Control Wiring:

Verify that the four-color wire harness leading to
the back of the trim tab helm control is wired as follows.

For Single Lever and Rocker Switch Controls

Notice the indented letters on the back of the control,

Rocker Switch Control

make sure connections are as follows:

• Red wire connects to “R”

• Green wire connects to “G”

• Blue wire connects to “B”

• Yellow wire connects to “Y”

For Racing Type Control

Facing the control, with the word BOW at the top,

Single Lever Control

turn the control over to the right (or left) and
inspect the control to ensure the wiring is
connected as follows:

• The blue wire is connected to the top two terminals

• The red wire is connected to the two left terminals

• The yellow wire is connected to the two bottom

terminals

• The green wire is connected to the two right

terminals

THE WIRING CONNECTIONS MUST NOT BE REVERSED

Racing Type Control

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For Boat Leveler Insta-Trim Systems

The Auto Tab Control installation instructions are based on Bennett Trim Tab wire
colors. If you are installing the Auto Tab Control on a Boat Leveler system, the

wire color conversion is as follows:

Bennett RED wire = Insta-Trim GREEN wire•
Bennett GREEN wire = Insta-Trim WHITE wire•
Bennett Blue wire = Insta-Trim RED wire •
Bennett YELLOW wire = Insta-Trim YELLOW wire•

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ITEMS 1 AND 2 ON PAGE THREE WILL CAUSE
THE AUTO TAB CONTROL TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY

If you have any questions regarding items 1 and 2 contact Bennett Marine by

e-mail at [e-mail] or call Bennett Marine Client Services at
[phone] (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday).

SECTION 3
USING THE AUTO TAB CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME

How to Set the Zero Point. IMPORTANT NOTE: The ATC won’t turn on or
function correctly until you’ve set the “Zero Point.” (If the Zero Point has not been
set, the blue Set Zero light will ash.)

Setting the Zero Point. After installing the system, take your boat for a test run.

When underway, use the manual trim tab control to get your boat running at the

best running attitude. Press and hold both “Set Zero” buttons (Sun and Moon

Buttons) on the ATC Keypad (about 4 seconds) until the blue LED ashes rapidly.
After the LED is ashing, release the buttons. Your boat’s attitude is now set in the

memory.

NOTE: The system automatically turns off as soon as you’ve set the Zero
Point and released the buttons.

TIP: If you cruise within a wide range of running speeds (Example: 20 to 40 mph)

you should set the Zero Point within the lower half of the running range.

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Turning the ATC on. Once you’ve set the Zero Point you can now press the
ON/OFF button for 2-3 seconds to turn your ATC on. It will now take control of
your trim tabs.

ATC Memory. Once the Zero Point is set, the ATC will retain this attitude in
memory permanently, or until it is reset. As long as the tabs are of correct size
and the speed adequate, the ATC will recreate the programmed attitude regard­less of changes in speed, weight distribution, sea conditions, and other variables

that affect the boat’s attitude. If you want to reset the Zero Point, just follow the

same procedure as above.

Adjusting LED Intensity. You can adjust the brightness of the ATC LEDs using

the Sun and Moon buttons for different times of day or night. These buttons are
also used for setting the Zero Point.

HELPFUL HINT: Most boats “break over” (get on plane) at a
particular speed. This speed is determined by weight distribution,
water conditions, etc. Every boat has one particular attitude where

it runs most efciently. When you reach the best running attitude

for your boat, enter it as the Zero Point.

Optimal Running Attitude. A good way to reveal your boat’s
optimum attitude is to conduct a test by running lightly loaded at

full speed in at water. (This should be done in an open, no trafc
area.) You will conrm your boat’s ideal attitude by observing the

bow in relation to the horizon, reduced bow spray, and diminished
wake.

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