I just installed a WhisperFlo VST to replace an older single speed Whisperflo. After realizing the inability to have the pump running with the IC40 off, I ordered the IntelliConnect and RS-485 (356324Z). They should arrive today, so once the weather clears up I will install and report back with hopefully good news. Hopefully the IntelliConnect I receive has the updated firmware.
WhisperFlo VS and intelliconnect
- Thread starter MMCP
- Start date
jklocke
Gold Supporter
- May 12, 2020
- 86
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
M -
Looking forward to hearing whether or not you can get the Whisperflo VST working with the Intelliconnect. They keep telling us it will work but we haven't seen actually happen yet.
That's definitely an updated install manual for the Intelliconnect, so I'm hopeful for you!
Let us know how it goes and if you have any questions.
Jeff
PS - Welcome to TFP!
Looking forward to hearing whether or not you can get the Whisperflo VST working with the Intelliconnect. They keep telling us it will work but we haven't seen actually happen yet.
That's definitely an updated install manual for the Intelliconnect, so I'm hopeful for you!
Let us know how it goes and if you have any questions.
Jeff
PS - Welcome to TFP!
Finally had a break in the rain and we have success! The WhisperFlo VST pulled up as a Pentair VS (RS485) in the Pentair Home App. Followed the instructions in the page I attached in an earlier post to set speed to 0 for 24 hours and I was able to setup two programs and it is running as scheduled! Hope this helps.
Now just waiting for some more wire to come in so I can add the IC40 and heater to the IntelliConnect.
Now for a question. I have IntelliBrite lights with the 600054 controller. How would I go about connecting this to the IntelliConnect. Can I wire it like a three way so that either the controller or the IntelliConnect can work to operate the lights or do I need to choose only one?
Now just waiting for some more wire to come in so I can add the IC40 and heater to the IntelliConnect.
Now for a question. I have IntelliBrite lights with the 600054 controller. How would I go about connecting this to the IntelliConnect. Can I wire it like a three way so that either the controller or the IntelliConnect can work to operate the lights or do I need to choose only one?
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There are 4 programs available, I just only set up two of them until I get everything else connected to the IntellicConnect and figure out exactly how I want it to run.
jklocke
Gold Supporter
- May 12, 2020
- 86
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That's great news! Glad you got everything working.
My first thought is that you have to choose one or the other. But I think it would be worth seeing what happens if you run a line from the pool light junction box to a relay in the Intelliconnect, so commands can be sent from either the Intellibrite controller or the Intelliconnect. I have a feeling that there might be some issues that may or may not be able to be worked around.
I set up the schedule but mine did not switch over the second one. Just runs program 1 and does not shut off. I would expect it to run consecutively.
Also you just have it in idle / ready format and when it’s time it’s should start the pump correct ?
I have a superflo vst.
jklocke
Gold Supporter
- May 12, 2020
- 86
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I looked at the pics you posted on your thread, and it looks like the 2nd pump speed is set as a timer, not as a schedule. Check on that in the Pentair Home app and see if that makes it run correctly.
I figured out the issue partly,
My clock is off by 1 hour even though it’s all set right. I reset the pump to factory settings and even started fresh. It seems to be on central time yet the equipment is in eastern time 1 hour ahead.
So I set the pump clock to central time and and schedule works as I set it in the home app.
I’m going to call them see if they have a solution but aside from this it all works.
My clock is off by 1 hour even though it’s all set right. I reset the pump to factory settings and even started fresh. It seems to be on central time yet the equipment is in eastern time 1 hour ahead.
So I set the pump clock to central time and and schedule works as I set it in the home app.
I’m going to call them see if they have a solution but aside from this it all works.
I finally was able to hook up my heater and IC40 and now the pump will run at 2550 rpm no matter what the settings are. I have tried scheduled and manual programs and it will still just run at 2550. Any ideas?
I was able to fix this. For some reason it was resetting to 2550 in the pump controller even though I brought it to 0 during the setup. While running I bumped it down to 0 on the pump itself and then it started running the speeds correctly from the Pentair Home App. However it seems I have another bigger problem.
When the Whisperflo is running at 2500+ the IC40 is on with proper flow and percentage lights.
When the schedule turns the pump off the IC40 percentage lights turn off and the flow light turns red. This shows that it is not producing and I should not have any hydrogen buildup.
HOWEVER, if I try to run a schedule with a pump speed that does not operate the flow switch, the IC40 percentage lights are lit. Shouldn't the Intelliconnect be shutting off if the flow switch is not activated???
When the Whisperflo is running at 2500+ the IC40 is on with proper flow and percentage lights.
When the schedule turns the pump off the IC40 percentage lights turn off and the flow light turns red. This shows that it is not producing and I should not have any hydrogen buildup.
HOWEVER, if I try to run a schedule with a pump speed that does not operate the flow switch, the IC40 percentage lights are lit. Shouldn't the Intelliconnect be shutting off if the flow switch is not activated???
jklocke
Gold Supporter
- May 12, 2020
- 86
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I can't check what is lit or not lit on my system because it's still put away for the winter. 
If the flow light is lit then the IC40 is not generating chlorine.
Why do you want to turn off the IC40? Let it make chlorine whenever you run the pump. Tweak the pump run time and the IC40 percentage to generate the amount of chlorine your pool needs each day. I run my pump at 1100rpm 24/7 in the summer because I like that it always is skimming (lots of debris in my pool) and that it is always generating a little bit of chlorine. Figure out what rpm turns on the IC40 and add 100-200rpm to account for reduced flow as your filter gets dirty.
I don't have a heater but I see this article mentioned a lot around here. Heater Bypass - Further Reading
If the flow light is lit then the IC40 is not generating chlorine. Why do you want to turn off the IC40? Let it make chlorine whenever you run the pump. Tweak the pump run time and the IC40 percentage to generate the amount of chlorine your pool needs each day. I run my pump at 1100rpm 24/7 in the summer because I like that it always is skimming (lots of debris in my pool) and that it is always generating a little bit of chlorine. Figure out what rpm turns on the IC40 and add 100-200rpm to account for reduced flow as your filter gets dirty.
I don't have a heater but I see this article mentioned a lot around here. Heater Bypass - Further Reading
Ok, for some reason I thought it would attempt to produce if the percentage lights are on with low flow. So is it safe to have the pump running at a speed that doesn’t provide enough flow to IC40?
I will have a program set at a high enough speed to make sure I get enough chlorine output, but wanted to then have another program to run the pump at a lower speed for skimming and cheaper filtration. Is this acceptable practice given the IC40 will be on, with percentage lights lit and low flow?
I will have a program set at a high enough speed to make sure I get enough chlorine output, but wanted to then have another program to run the pump at a lower speed for skimming and cheaper filtration. Is this acceptable practice given the IC40 will be on, with percentage lights lit and low flow?
jklocke
Gold Supporter
- May 12, 2020
- 86
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
If there is water moving through the system it is safe. What you don't want is the IC40 to be on when the pump is off. That could possibly lead to an explosion.
What speed turns on the flow switch for the IC40? I doubt you will have effective skimming at speeds much lower than that. At 1100rpm my pump uses about 80W of power and costs about $9/month to run 24/7. It's almost free compared to my old single-speed pump. At 1100rpms it also skims ok for me.
What speed turns on the flow switch for the IC40? I doubt you will have effective skimming at speeds much lower than that. At 1100rpm my pump uses about 80W of power and costs about $9/month to run 24/7. It's almost free compared to my old single-speed pump. At 1100rpms it also skims ok for me.
I have to run at 2500 to engage the flow switch, which is why I am wanting to mix that with some low rpm run time. I am about to redo the plumbing though, because the pool builder (previous owner of my house installed the pool) installed the IC40 vertically and upside down. I will look into the heater bypass when doing this if that will help lower my rpm needed to engage flow switch. Thanks for the information!
- Jul 21, 2013
- 53,561
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
It should not take 2500 RPM to engage the flow switch. It should take 1200 RPM or less.
Also the IC cell can be installed vertically with flow up but not with flow down.
In a vertical installation you want gravity to open the flow switch if it fails. Mounted with a downward flow the flow switch can fail and be closed.
jklocke
Gold Supporter
- May 12, 2020
- 86
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Holy smokes! That's way too high to engage the flow switch.
When was the last time you cleaned your sand filter? Maybe a deep clean would help, and it looks like Allen already mentioned that the IC40 should be installed with the flow up not down.
I think redoing your plumbing will help a lot.
Will work on the plumbing tomorrow weather permitting. What do you mean by a deep cleaning? I do backwash once I see the pressure in the filter rise.