electric vs manual elevator trim

gsimatos · Post by **gsimatos** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 10:06 pm

I was quietly ruining rivets this morning on my vert stab when a friend with an RV6 arrived and said " ya gotta think about putting in an electric trim for the elevator tab" He has the manual one which he tells me is very twitchy. Also going to be tackling the elevators shortly. Mabe it is time to think about putting in the necessary electric/motor elevator trim stuff. How do you guys feel about the electric versus the manual set ups???????

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:02 pm

I built my RV-4 with manual trim and flew it that way for 3 years. I have to agree with your friend. I found it finicky. I just recently put in electric trim in my elevator and had to ask myself...why have I never done this before?? Go with electric elevator trim and don't look back!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:41 am

G, I agree...

I have never flown the manual setup, but the electrci is nice and I am glad I have it.

I also will have a "Coolie Hat" on the stick for control of both trims. You can't do that with the manual option.

CJ

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:55 am

I haven't tried it myself but I heard just the opposite. I heard the electric are a PITA because the motor is too fast and you have a hard time getting it set to the correct position. I went with manual trim on mine and like Chad, wish I could have manual flaps as well.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:28 am

Bill, the servos do move pretty fast, but with a bit of fiddling...

Also, the servo motors can be slowed down.

I am gonna run 'em like they are before slowing them down.

...just tap 'em!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:31 am

That trim motor is REALLY fast! I'm always overtrimming when I'm in my friends -7. I suppose you would get used to it though. I've heard from numerous people that the manual trim is actually nice and smooth, very easy to fine tune...

There's always going to be pros and cons for either system, and opinions come from the installation. If it's done right, people like it. If not, they want something else.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:21 pm

I didn't think the motor was that fast. Maybe just because I'm so used to the sensativity of the manual trim in the RV-4. Never having had electric trim in any airplane I have nothing to compare it to. I think it works great.

Post by **Spike** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:53 pm

Everything I have heard was also the exact opposite. Actually, my friend who just got his 8 flying has made multiple comments on how his e-trim is too touchy and will have to do something to slow the motor down. Give me the manual trim please

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:59 pm

The speed controller is an easy mod.

Here is a link from the servo company.

http://www.rayallencompany.com/RACinfo/ ... r-Is-60463

Even with the need to install the speed controller, it is the cooler setup!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:04 pm

HEY!

This little whiz-gizmo preotects you againt applying flaps above the white arc in addition to varying the trim speed!

http://www.aircraftextras.com/RelaySpeedCont1.htm

COOL!

CJ

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:22 pm

captain_john wrote:HEY!

This little whiz-gizmo preotects you againt applying flaps above the white arc in addition to varying the trim speed!

http://www.aircraftextras.com/RelaySpeedCont1.htm

COOL!

CJ

That looks like it would be pretty slick. Especially for those who put the flaps on the stick. It would prevent accidental deployment at higher speeds.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:23 pm

...and I DID just get my Infinity Grips last Friday!

CJ

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:26 pm

Scott,

I too have the manual trim "lever" on the RV-4 and find it a little poor for making little moves to trim it out. It's too clunky and stiff.

However, I did manage to fly someone's RV-6 that had manual trim and loved it, but mostly because it was a different design. His was a knob that you could turn/screw to adjust it, and it was nice for those little trim moves you want cause it acted kind of like a vernier mixture knob.

I opted for electric trim and flaps for my 8 though, and figure I could ad in the servo gismo if I don't like the speed it comes with.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:51 pm

Yeah, the vernier trim on the 6/7 is much more adjustable. Since you get to experience the -4 manual trim first hand you know what I'm talking about. Almost ANYTHING is step up!

hngrflyr · Post by **hngrflyr** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:22 am

My RV-6 has electric trim. The airplane was finished when I aquired it. When I first started flying it, I didn't like the electric trim much, but now I like it just fine. The trim tab flies very close to neutral with two of us aboard and full fuel. when I have it trimmed for the load condition, I don't change it. The airplanes stick pressures are delightful.

Bob Severns

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:42 am

Stu has electric trim in his -6 and it has been out of service for several years ... hasn't gotten around to fixing it. The airplane is never that bad to fly - not much control pressure even when out of trim.

Thomas

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:45 pm

CJ,

Lets see if we can get a Rivet Banger group buy on this product.
http://www.aircraftextras.com/RelaySpeedCont1.htm

If not, lets at least order them together and save the shipping.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:20 pm

Cool!

Yah, anybody else want "IN" on this group buy?

Looks like a nice little one.

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:35 am

If you are going to do organize one, start another thread on it guys. Thanx!

LooseNut · Post by **LooseNut** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:10 pm

That Relay Speed Controller looks pretty cool. But, I've got a question ...

Looking at the wiring diagrams it looks like the controller is disabling the flaps from going up AND down when the air speed is too high. I know we don't want to push the flaps out when we are flyin' above the white arc. But ... do we really want to stop ourselves from pulling the flaps up???

... umm, not that any of us fine aviators on this list would ever actually need such a device