elTrim Trim Tabs

[sparex]

I have elTrim trim tabs on my boat, a 25foot Sealine S23 (year 2003) (0503 is marked on the top of the motor / ram) While using the boat over the weekend the Port side trim tab stopped working.
I have the older type (larger indicator) display panel with the 8 red / 8 green lights and while the two tabs were down (and all red and green lights on) everything worked as it should but as I raised the port side tab two settings (leaving 6 red and 8 green lights on) the port side will now not go up or down any more. The panel is fixed/ locked on 6 red and the trim tab is stuck fast. The starboard green button works OK as does the starboard trim.

When I have raised the indicator to the UP position I now have 6 red and 1 green and only one trim tab working
When I press the red button to raise the port tab the green / starboard side goes down?
Would there possibly be a short or fault in the panel which would allow the red button to operate the green side of the panel?
Have anyone ever come across such a problem before and can you advise what may be wrong and how to correct it?

I am about to take the panel display out and change over the the starboard to port to see if that makes any difference? Is this wise or should I leave the panel alone?
I know it sounds a bit confusing but any help would be welcome

 

[splosh]

Had similar problem on an earlier boat with the same system as yours.
I found out when the baot was lifted that the rubber gaiter on the ram to tab was not sealed properly by the jubilee clip and had let water in to the ram. The ram is electric and this caused the same problem as yours.

 

[Jonmendez]

The tabs are designed not just to put one down but lift the other first. I.e if you want port side of the boat down it does it by lowering the starboard tab ( this raises the starboard side in relation to the port one) then if you want starboard side down it raise the starboard side before lowerering the port tab. so it not the panel that is bust just one of the trim rams. you can get them from Racecourse Yacht Basin or Sealine direct RYB proberly cheaper.

 

[Elza_Skip]

Hi,

I changed the exact same box this week-end on my S23 as the port switch stopped working. As it was under warranty Sealine sent me a replacement box no hassle.

My fault was not quite the same as yours, however I noticed some corrosion on the terminals and screws so I suspect they are prone to it. Also Sealine very quickly diagnosed the problem making me think this is common.

I suggest that if the boat is in the water and it is difficult initially to get at the rams then remove the box and check all the connections on the back.

I could possibly lend you my faulty box- not a solution but would help to isolate the problem.

PM me if I can help further

 

[AdeOlly]

Had similar problem on my S24. All eight red port lights lit permanently, but the tab still operated - you just had no idea how far the tab was extended!

Just fixed by Sealine under warrenty by replacing the ram unit only. I think they cost about £180 from RYB.

 

[sparex]

Thanks for your help & suggestions.
I opened the control box last evening and found that 1 of the wires in the 5 core cable (port side) had come loose. As it happens when I checked all the connections at least 6 of the 10 needed to be re tightened, so it was a fault waiting to happen as some point in time.
The cable or loom must weigh pretty heavy, because when I removed the panel it took a while to release enough cable from inside the helm in order for me to rotate the control box to see the underside connectors, it just seemed as if the loom was fairly heavy to pull out and therefore would put a lot of downward pull on the wiring, making them come free if not tightly secure.

Anyway problem solved and all is well, looking forward to this weekend as we take the boat to its berth for the season.

 

[Elza_Skip]

Glad to hear it.

You are right about the loom, it is heavy and puts quite a load on the connections. I think I might try to put some strain relief on them if I have cause to remove it again

Good luck at the week-end