The Mercury Active Trim system is a GPS-based automatic engine trim system designed to improve boat performance, fuel economy, and ease of operation. It continually adjusts engine trim based on operating conditions, responding to boat maneuvers with precision. The system offers five selectable trim profiles and can be manually overridden to accommodate varying boat loads, driver preferences, and weather conditions. Installation procedures vary depending on the engine type (DTS vs. non-DTS, single vs. dual engine) and require specific harnesses and, in some cases, digital-to-analog converters.
System Overview
Mercury Marine’s Active Trim system is designed to provide hands-free engine trimming. As the boat accelerates, the system automatically trims the engine out, and upon deceleration, such as when turning, the engine trims in. The system is intended to be intuitive and requires no prior knowledge of engine trimming to utilize its benefits. The system allows operators to compensate for changes in boat load, driver preferences, and weather conditions while maintaining automatic control.
Kit Contents and Compatibility
Active Trim kits are available in single- and multi-engine configurations from a Mercury Authorized Dealer. The specific kit contents vary depending on the engine type.
For all Digital Transom Sterndrive (DTS) applications, the kit includes a basic kit and a DTS Active Trim harness. For non-DTS applications, the harness differs based on whether the engine is an outboard or a MerCruiser, and whether it is a single or dual-engine installation.
Specific engine compatibility includes: 150 EFI FourStroke and OptiMax engines, 75/90/115 EFI FourStroke engines, and 40/50/60 FourStroke engines (with serial number 1C453840 or above). The system also works with most Mercury engines in single or multiple installations. MerCruiser engines with digital transom are also compatible.
Kit contents for specific engine types include:
- All DTS Applications: Basic kit, DTS Active Trim harness.
- 150 EFI FourStroke and OptiMax Engines: Basic kit, Active Trim harness.
- 75/90/115 EFI FourStroke Engines: Basic kit, Active Trim harness.
- 40/50/60 FourStroke Engines (Single Engine Only): Basic kit, Active Trim harness, digital-to-analog converter (with installation instructions), digital trim sender kit, two screws, two lock washers, two washers, one anchor pin, and one trilobe pin.
- MerCruiser Engines (Digital Transom): Basic kit, Active Trim harness.
Installation Procedures
Installation procedures differ based on whether the application is a MerCruiser single engine non-DTS, a MerCruiser dual engine non-DTS, or a DTS application. The documentation emphasizes confirming the correct harness is used for each application.
MerCruiser Single Engine Non-DTS Applications:
- Ensure the keypad assembly and Vehicle Control Module (VCM) have been installed.
- Connect the Active Trim harness to the VCM. Refer to VCM Connection (All Models) documentation.
- Connect the keypad assembly to the Active Trim harness.
- Remove the weather cap from an unused connector on the helm harness Jbox and connect the Active Trim harness 10-pin connector.
- Connect the Active Trim harness to the remote control 4-pin trim harness connector.
- Connect the Active Trim harness to the 4-pin trim extension harness.
MerCruiser Dual Engine Non-DTS Applications:
- Ensure the keypad assembly and VCM have been installed.
- Connect the Active Trim harness to the VCM. Refer to VCM Connection (All Models) documentation.
- Connect the keypad assembly to the Active Trim harness.
- Remove the weather cap from an unused connector on the helm harness Jbox and connect the Active Trim harness 10-pin connector.
- For existing installations, disconnect the dual engine power trim adapter from the port and starboard helm harnesses.
- Connect one Active Trim harness port connector to the port helm harness 3-pin connector.
- Connect the other Active Trim harness port connector to the dual engine power trim adapter 3-pin port connector.
- Connect one Active Trim harness starboard connector to the starboard helm harness 3-pin connector.
- Connect the other Active Trim harness starboard connector to the dual engine power trim adapter 3-pin starboard connector.
General Installation Notes:
- The Active Trim harness differs between outboard and MerCruiser applications, and between single and dual-engine applications.
- For existing installations with dual engines, the dual engine power trim adapter may need to be disconnected and reconnected.
- The documentation references diagrams illustrating the connections for both single and dual engine MerCruiser applications (figures 61849 and 61850).
System Operation and Configuration
The Active Trim system features five built-in trim profiles. These profiles represent different trim angle versus boat speed curves, allowing users to select a profile that best suits their preferences. The system can be configured using a Mercury service tool, which is required for dual-station applications and to enable the internal GPS receiver for use with SmartCraft gauges.
Keypad Controls:
- On/Resume: Turns the Active Trim system on and allows resuming automatic control when in manual operation.
- Off: Turns off Active Trim, providing full manual control.
- Trim Profile Indicator: Displays the currently selected trim profile. Higher numbers indicate more trim at a given speed.
Setup Procedure:
- Start the engine.
- Observe the keypad for flashing amber lights on the vertical LED trim display. This indicates the system is in setup mode.
- The amber lights will stop flashing, and the display will move to the center profile position (level 3) once the system has stored the settings.
- The Active Trim system is now ready for use.
GPS Integration:
For enabling the GPS receiver for use with SmartCraft gauges, the Active Trim GPS tab must be selected in the Trackpad Configuration screen. The system provides on-screen instructions for enabling the GPS. The Active Trim GPS should only be used to provide speed information for SmartCraft gauges.
Trim Profile Curves
The Active Trim system utilizes five major trim profile curves. The illustration in the documentation shows how the trim angle versus boat speed curves differ for each of the five major profiles, demonstrating range overlap between profiles 3 and 4.
Owner Service Assistance
Mercury Marine provides owner service assistance. Contact information is provided for Asia, Singapore, including telephone and fax numbers.
Conclusion
The Mercury Active Trim system offers an automated solution for engine trimming, designed to enhance performance and simplify boat operation. Successful implementation requires careful attention to kit contents, installation procedures specific to the engine configuration, and proper system setup. The system’s five selectable trim profiles and GPS integration provide customization options for various boating conditions and preferences.