Jimrahbe
Jim, thanks very much for your reply regarding the “standard” actuators and concern about the IntelliValve update. Just a few of my own comments in response.
All actuators operate that way.. Standard actuators have to be adjusted mechanically while your IntelliValves are set electronically.. They still only run from one stop to the other stop.
I agree but in the interest of full disclosure, it should be pointed out that there are some significant disadvantages with the “standard” mechanical valve actuators (JVA24, JVR2444, PE24VA, PE24RSVA, CVA-24, etc.), when compared to the Pentair IntelliValve. Some of which are detailed below as I discovered during my own valve actuator selection research and confirmed now with the experience gained from installing and using six of the Pentair IntelliValves.
1. The “standard” or traditional mechanical valve actuators require removing the actuator cover and adjusting upper and lower internal cam positions in order to define clockwise and counter-clockwise “stop points” that you referred to above. Nothing like that is required with the Pentair IntelliValve. Setting the “Home” and “2nd” positions with the IntelliValve is simplified considerably (All “push button”). This can result in a higher level of control of the valve diverter settings. In addition, if the IntelliValve is mounted correctly (let’s not go into that please
), there is no possibility of valve diverter “dead-heading” which can occur with improper cam settings in the “standard” mechanical valve actuators.
2. “Standard” or traditional mechanical valve actuators typically incorporate two or three seals (O-rings) which should be lubricated once a year and replaced over time as required. The IntelliValve does not require any type of periodic or “preventative” maintenance.
3. “Standard” or traditional mechanical valve actuators typically allow for only 12 degree setting increments. The IntelliValve allows for a much more precise “3.75 degree increment scale”. This fact results in the achievement of four (4) times the control over valve flow rates.
4. “Standard” or traditional mechanical valve actuators offer no real precise valve diverter position or orientation indications (other than just an embossed actuator handle). Whereas the IntelliValve offers exact diverter positioning information based on combinations of 24 LED indicator lights.
You can "ping" me later, and say "I told you so", but I suspect the valves will wear out before Pentair makes the multi stop programming available...
:Jim R.
I might have to do just that
. But I wanted to be sure that you weren’t onto something.
So I contacted a Pentair Representative that I know regarding your suggestion that “multi-stop programming” as you call it (nice terminology BTW) may be on shall we say a “back burner” and not exactly a “priority”.
Some calls were made by the rep to the applicable product development team as well as engineering and software development and I received a reply to my inquiry from the rep.
I won’t go into a lot of detail but let’s just say that I’m convinced that this “feature”
IS a priority and significant and detailed testing and development is “in progress” and applicable firmware/software releases are scheduled for 2019. I’m looking forward to playing with this new “toy”.
Take care and thanks again,
r,
