Confusion about actuators and valve positions

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thach1ef

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Aug 29, 2017
35
Henderson
Hi folks, I don't post often but when I do you guys have been a great help so thank you in advance. I have had a pool service taking care of my pool since I owned it and I really need to start to understand my setup more. Right now I think there is a problem with the setting of my valves/actuators. Previously what seems to happen is the limit switch inside wears out and needs to be replaced. I found a video on youtube where they teach you how to do this for $1 and it's saved me numerous times in the past when pool guys want to replace the actuator. Unfortunately my problem is that I never fully documented the position settings. Attached is a picture of my pools valves while in pool mode. Does anyone see anything wrong here? If not, when I turn it on to spa mode, both actuators should move right? Is it 180 degrees for both? Again, just trying to understand the very basics of positioning at this point so I can fix that and then move onto bigger concerns. Thank you again!
 

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On the suction side, the actuated valve appears to possibly still be pulling some water from the spa drain in the current Pool Mode. That valve should turn 180 deg in Spa mode.
I would also nearly completely close off the main drain to enhance your skimmer action. You may have to adjust your suction side vacuum valve.
On the return side you are pushing water to the spa only on the current setting. I would adjust that to nearly all Pool return. Or use Spillover in your automation to only run the Spillover a couple times per day. If you do that, then the Spa return needs to be completely OFF when in Pool Mode. I suspect if you toggle the actuator switch to the other ON right now, you will regain your constant spillover with pool returns.
 
The actuator and valve nearst the pump switches between Spa and Pool mode by turning 180 degrees. Right now the SPA drain is Closed and only suction from the pool.

It is hard to see the Return side at top of picture. That actuator appears to be in Spa mode where it is CLOSED to the pool return and open to the opposite side (pipe not marked or can be seen).

So this would be what is called Spillover mode - suction from the pool but return to spa and the spa spillovers into the pool.
 
Since I'm really ignorant with this stuff I'm just going to go through what you said to make sure I'm following.
Top is return and bottom is suction right? If that's correct then you are suggesting that the bottom actuator be a bit more lined up if I'm following? Then when it goes to spa it should rotate 180 so the off tab is pointing directly North? Then you suggest rotating the top middle valve so the off is pointing at an angle towards the main drain which in turn may cause me to have to adjust the close off to the vacuum.
The top actuator is the one that I believe I need to fix internally, so that one is wrong in it's current position if this is showing pool setting ya? Once I fix that, it should be 180 degrees with the off tab at the North. The way it is shown in the picture now would be correct for the spa setting.

Did I follow correctly?
 
Yes. You got it correct.
Suction is the water going to the pump. Return is water going to the pool.

The Return actuator, try the toggle switch to see if it is just not set correctly.
 
mknauss said:
Yes. You got it correct.
Suction is the water going to the pump. Return is water going to the pool.

The Return actuator, try the toggle switch to see if it is just not set correctly.
Click to expand...
Ok, going to go out and test. I have to replace the little limit switches often. It might be the heat out here? I dunno but Ive been in this house for 7 years and I think Ive had to replace them 5-6 times so far. Its not hard so I dont mind all that much, especially if its $1 vs $180
 
thach1ef said:
Follow up question, is spillover mode simply something people like for aesthetics?
Click to expand...
You need to refresh the water in the spa each day so it stays chlorinated.
You can run a continuous spillover. That refreshes the water but also raises your pH much more quickly due to aeration.
Or you can program a Spillover function in your Easytouch and run it twice a day for 20 minutes and that will refresh the water.

I replaced my limit switches earlier this year. After 8 years. However, my equipment is not in direct sunlight. But my climate is warmer than yours.
 
mknauss said:
You need to refresh the water in the spa each day so it stays chlorinated.
You can run a continuous spillover. That refreshes the water but also raises your pH much more quickly due to aeration.
Or you can program a Spillover function in your Easytouch and run it twice a day for 20 minutes and that will refresh the water.

I replaced my limit switches earlier this year. After 8 years. However, my equipment is not in direct sunlight. But my climate is warmer than yours.
Click to expand...
Ah ok thank you. So with my current setup, if I fix that return actuator so that its 180 degrees from the picture in pool mode, that will create a situation where its a constant spillover which is alright but would need to watch the chemical balance?
 
thach1ef said:
So with my current setup, if I fix that return actuator so that its 180 degrees from the picture in pool mode, that will create a situation where its a constant spillover which is alright but would need to watch the chemical balance?
Click to expand...
No, where it is set now would be a constant full spillover. If you wish to retain the constant spillover, but still have the pool returns useful in skimming the surface of the pool, you can adjust that actuator to partially close off the spa return side so some water goes to the spa to run the spillover, but most of the water goes out the pool returns.
 

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mknauss said:
No, where it is set now would be a constant full spillover. If you wish to retain the constant spillover, but still have the pool returns useful in skimming the surface of the pool, you can adjust that actuator to partially close off the spa return side so some water goes to the spa to run the spillover, but most of the water goes out the pool returns.
Click to expand...
I apologize but now Im a little confused. My thinking is that the top actuator is not working, so the picture shows its in the wrong position. However this would be correct for a constant spillover scenario. But if I go out and fix it right now it wont be in a constant spillover and I also dont have another routine that runs, so my spa isnt getting the attention it needs?
 
OK -- so if the Return actuator is not working, fix it and then follow what I said.

But first check the toggle switch on that actuator ------

You do not need the Spillover function if the valve is set such that some water is returned to the spa all the time.
 
thach1ef said:
Ok, Im going to test that actuator and then if needed try and fix it. Then I can have a better understanding of how things are working. Thank you again for your help
Click to expand...
Great - that switch should rotate the handle 180 degrees by moving it from the On position to the opposite On position. Hope that works - then it easier to set up Spillover on the automation.

You have manual valve between the main drain and the skimmer - so you can adjust that to any setting - I have mine set at 90% open to skimmer and 10% open to main drain. This gives maximum suction to the skimmers and sufficient suction from main drain to always have water going to the pump in case a skimmer would get filled with debris.

One further point. Do you have a schedule for vacuuming? If not, consider the following.
You have partial suction from the Vacuum line as that manual valve is partial open to both the main drain/skimmer lines and the vacuum. To maximize the suction when you vacuum, have it closed to Main drain/skimmer and only open to vacuum. Then after vacuuming, rotate it 180 degrees to close off vacuum.
 
HermanTX said:
Great - that switch should rotate the handle 180 degrees by moving it from the On position to the opposite On position. Hope that works - then it easier to set up Spillover on the automation.

You have manual valve between the main drain and the skimmer - so you can adjust that to any setting - I have mine set at 90% open to skimmer and 10% open to main drain. This gives maximum suction to the skimmers and sufficient suction from main drain to always have water going to the pump in case a skimmer would get filled with debris.

One further point. Do you have a schedule for vacuuming? If not, consider the following.
You have partial suction from the Vacuum line as that manual valve is partial open to both the main drain/skimmer lines and the vacuum. To maximize the suction when you vacuum, have it closed to Main drain/skimmer and only open to vacuum. Then after vacuuming, rotate it 180 degrees to close off vacuum.
Click to expand...

So it looks like that top actuator is not responding. I'm going to take it apart and replace the limit switch and see if that does the trick.
I can adjust that valve for main drain and skimmer to be closer to 90/10.
I do not have a vacuum schedule. I believe the pool guys have it just set to run while the pool pump is on. Unfortunately I'm not very mobile due to a disability so I want to make sure I have something setup that doesn't need constant attention. I'm open to other suggestions of course but having to manually adjust the valves daily isn't something I can currently do.
 
You would need to add an actuator and then you could schedule the vacuum using your automation.
 

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