Help with Bennett Auto Auto Tab Control Install

[Jimmy Buoy]

I started to install my Auto Tab System and found my first glitch. Apparently Sea Ray didn't use Bennett tab switches, so the wiring isn't exactly the same. The manual says to remove the Red, Green, Yellow, Blue wires from the manual tab button, but leave the Orange (power) connected.

Here's a photo of my switch and the wiring behind - no Orange, but 2 Red wires (one thicker than the other).

View attachment 17952View attachment 17951

Would you assume that the thick Red wire is the "Orange" that Bennett's talking about?

Also, instructions tell me to take the wires off the switch, put ring ends on the new RGYB wires and attach the ring ends to the switch. My switch obviously has spade connectors (many of which are bridged) so am I right in thinking it best to leave the spade connectors as they are, cut the 4 wires further down and use crimp connectors to the new RGYB wire in the install kit? :huh:

Side Note - check out just how thick the dash is from the cutout on this girl! SOLID!!

 

[skibum]

Would you assume that the thick Red wire is the "Orange" that Bennett's talking about?

Yes... I would.

 

[stephens013]

Talk to Oliver at Bennett Trim tabs at 954-427-1400

 

[Vince_nj1]

I will be following this post. I purchased the auto trim tabs over the winter but have not found the time to install yet. Thanks for posting.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Successfully installed and tested!

I ended up cutting all but the large Red power wire (red, green, blue, yellow) closer to where I installed the "brain" and crimp connected the wires to the appropriate wires going to and from the "brain" while Power and Ground were supplied by the ignition switch. The unit was placed on a relatively flat surface behind the upper dash gauge cluster.:thumbsup:

The keypad was easily mounted on an open spot on the dash and plugged in to the "brain".

Next was the relay which is installed near the trim tab pump. The instructions say "EASY", just unplug the existing wiring from the pump and plug in the supplied relay. Well... that would be easy if my boat had initially been built using a plug - but it was hard wired instead. So, that's 16 wires to cut, bare, and crimp connect. Then I had to locate a constant 12vt power source and ground. The relay was mounted on a stringer using 5200 in the pre drilled screw holes to avoid any water intrusion. :thumbsup:

Nothing too difficult, but it would have been nicer to be able to use the supplied water proof plugs. Instead, I had to cut them off the relay!:smt013

Of course, the unit works very well (but it's not the first boat that I've had the Auto-Tab system installed) which is no surprise. Sure is nice not to have to fiddle with the tabs with each course change.:grin:

I'd highly recommend this product.

 

[larrytbull]

yep been there done that this season,
no orange wire for me either mine was red with stripe
also for me there was no place to get the brain module to sit horizontal, only angled verticle areas, would up using a shelf bracket and some starboard to mount had to get bennett to replace the module as i broke one of the scre tabs bending the shelf bracket to a level horizontal position (benntett guys are great ) replaced no questions asked