I'm starting a thread to document the installation of a Hayward OmniLogic automation system. Hopefully someone will get some useful information out of this, as well as I'll get plenty of feedback on any issues or questions that arise. PLEASE, post any questions or suggestions you may have, as well as call out anything you see that I'm doing wrong. I'm a computer programmer by day, and a general trouble maker by night, so I'm in no way an expert on anything that may follow.
We moved into our current house almost one year ago to the day. The house has a gorgeous 44,000 gallon salt water pool/spa as well as an outdoor kitchen area, which are the main reasons we purchased the house. Aside from an Intermatic dial timer for the main pump, the pool controls are relatively manual. This manual nature of the setup as well as being first time in-ground pool owners makes it difficult for my wife and kids to remember how to turn features on and off, and is particularly difficult from them to switch over to spa mode. From the very beginning I have had my eye on a Hayward OmniLogic system, primarily because the majority of the existing equipment is Hayward. After moving expenses, and a nasty time cutting through the pool decking to repair not one but two almost severed plumbing leaks that were conveniently not disclosed by the sellers, my pool budget left me with the option of either a nice robotic pool cleaner or the OmniLogic system. I opted for the cleaner with the idea that it would save me more time over the summer, and it did. And now after saving my lunch money for the better part of the year it's time for the automation system so I can switch over to spa mode and kick on the heater before I get home, not WHEN I get home and after I've waited 20-30 minutes for it to heat up. Total mood killer. ;-)
Trying to keep the project budget as low as possible, and because I'm a gadget guy at heart, I decided to do the install myself. I have quite a bit of experience with construction projects, electrical work, computer programming, etc., so none of the install worries me, in fact I'm quite excited to do it. I ordered the OmniLogic base unit, two valve actuators, and a 100W transformer (I'll explain this in a bit) last week, and they all arrived this past Tuesday. Wednesday evening I installed some of the breakers and wired them up to the relays. I purchased new 240v double-pole breakers to replace the current functional, yet questionable, way the breakers are coupled in the current setup, obviously done to save space in the sub-panel vs installing a properly sized sub panel box. I'll be re-using what breakers I can as well as as much wire/conduit as I can, but I'm sure I will need some new wire and conduit due to the wire lengths and layout of the current setup.
The reason for the additional 100w transformer is so I can separate the pool lights from the spa lights. Currently they are both on the same switch. Both lights are color changing lights (change color with each flip of the switch), but have never been in sync. I'm not even sure what brand they are, or if they are the same brand. I'm pretty sure they are not Hayward ColorLogic lights. My initial guess is they are Pentair lights based on the design of the bezel around the lights, but until it warms up and I can get into the pool to get a closer look I'm just going to use them in standalone mode.
I have already pulled two cat5e cables to the location of the new unit, one for network and the other for a future wired remote near the back door. Assuming weather holds out I will be installing the new system tomorrow (Saturday). I have secured the assistance from a couple friends to help hold the unit on the wall while I mount it, and for general accompaniment and BS'ing while I pull and attach wires to various terminals. I will update this thread with pictures and info as I progress. Thanks for reading.
We moved into our current house almost one year ago to the day. The house has a gorgeous 44,000 gallon salt water pool/spa as well as an outdoor kitchen area, which are the main reasons we purchased the house. Aside from an Intermatic dial timer for the main pump, the pool controls are relatively manual. This manual nature of the setup as well as being first time in-ground pool owners makes it difficult for my wife and kids to remember how to turn features on and off, and is particularly difficult from them to switch over to spa mode. From the very beginning I have had my eye on a Hayward OmniLogic system, primarily because the majority of the existing equipment is Hayward. After moving expenses, and a nasty time cutting through the pool decking to repair not one but two almost severed plumbing leaks that were conveniently not disclosed by the sellers, my pool budget left me with the option of either a nice robotic pool cleaner or the OmniLogic system. I opted for the cleaner with the idea that it would save me more time over the summer, and it did. And now after saving my lunch money for the better part of the year it's time for the automation system so I can switch over to spa mode and kick on the heater before I get home, not WHEN I get home and after I've waited 20-30 minutes for it to heat up. Total mood killer. ;-)
Trying to keep the project budget as low as possible, and because I'm a gadget guy at heart, I decided to do the install myself. I have quite a bit of experience with construction projects, electrical work, computer programming, etc., so none of the install worries me, in fact I'm quite excited to do it. I ordered the OmniLogic base unit, two valve actuators, and a 100W transformer (I'll explain this in a bit) last week, and they all arrived this past Tuesday. Wednesday evening I installed some of the breakers and wired them up to the relays. I purchased new 240v double-pole breakers to replace the current functional, yet questionable, way the breakers are coupled in the current setup, obviously done to save space in the sub-panel vs installing a properly sized sub panel box. I'll be re-using what breakers I can as well as as much wire/conduit as I can, but I'm sure I will need some new wire and conduit due to the wire lengths and layout of the current setup.
The reason for the additional 100w transformer is so I can separate the pool lights from the spa lights. Currently they are both on the same switch. Both lights are color changing lights (change color with each flip of the switch), but have never been in sync. I'm not even sure what brand they are, or if they are the same brand. I'm pretty sure they are not Hayward ColorLogic lights. My initial guess is they are Pentair lights based on the design of the bezel around the lights, but until it warms up and I can get into the pool to get a closer look I'm just going to use them in standalone mode.
I have already pulled two cat5e cables to the location of the new unit, one for network and the other for a future wired remote near the back door. Assuming weather holds out I will be installing the new system tomorrow (Saturday). I have secured the assistance from a couple friends to help hold the unit on the wall while I mount it, and for general accompaniment and BS'ing while I pull and attach wires to various terminals. I will update this thread with pictures and info as I progress. Thanks for reading.
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