How a Tab Tension System Works

The tab tension system on your retractable video screen is used to maintain a flat viewing surface on your screen by using the weight of your batten to pull or tension both (A) the sideline cords on your screen that in turn pull on the sides of your screen so it hangs flatter side-to-side, and (B) the amount of batten weight pulling on the bottom of the screen (not pulling on the sideline cords) so it hangs flatter top-to-bottom.

The tab tension system consists of:

• The black sideline cords on each side of your retractable screen,
• The tabs that attach the cords to each side of the screen, and
• The batten caps with the cord tension adjustment mechanism.

The parts of the tab system function together to improve the overall flatness of the screen primarily in the lower sections of the image area. Looser side cords will result in less tension on the sides of the screen and more tension on the bottom of the screen; while, tighter side cords will result in more tension on the sides of the screen and less tension on the bottom of the screen.   

Tab Tension System	Screen Tab	Batten Cap

Why Adjust Your Tab Tension System 

In many instances, the factory setting of the tab tension system is set when the screen material is new and not yet relaxed. Over time, the screen material is designed to relax and therefore it stretches a bit especially once it's hanging and gravity pulls on the hanging screen material.

For this reason, some customers may need to adjust the tab tension system once the new screen has been installed. Typically, as the screen material relaxes, customers will need to loosen (i.e., lengthen) the tab tension system in order to allow more of the batten weight to pull on the bottom of the screen, which in turn pulls and tensions the screen surface.

Note, the screen may relax even more after a few months due to the forces of gravity and/or depending on the temperature of the room (warmer temperatures will result in greater relaxing of the material).

How to Adjust Your Tab Tensioning System

To adjust the tab tension system, the cord adjust mechanism, located inside the batten end caps, allows you to either shorten (+cord tension) or lengthen (-cord tension) the black sideline cords. Typically, customers will loosen or lengthen the cord (-cord tension) so more of the batten weight will pull on the bottom of the screen while decreasing the sideline cord tab tension. 

1. Optional: Cover the end cap ferrule with some masking tape or cloth so that the teeth of the pliers (used in the next step) do not damage the finish of the black steel ferrule. Use a pair of pliers or channel locks to grasp the sideline ferrule located at the end of the batten. This step is really only necessary on older screens that used thread locker on the adjustment screws. Newer Stewart screens do not use glue on these screws so sideline adjustments are easy to perform. 
2. Use a Philips head screwdriver to back out the sideline attachment screw located underneath the plastic batten end cap. 
3. Turn the screw clockwise into the ferrule just enough to get an extremely low amount of sideline tension (approx. 3 to 4 turns). The side lines should now have less tension, which is desired.
4. The result is that more batten weight will be distributed on the bottom of the screen once this adjustment is completed resulting in a flatter surface.

IMPORTANT: While you will see a slight improvement when finished however it will take some time for this adjustment to fully take affect (stretching screen) thereby eliminating any wrinkles, waves, or puckers.