intellicenter wiring

jjwoo7

Member
Jun 4, 2019
6
South East Michigan
hello all, I'm new to trouble free pool and didnt want to post something that already exists but I couldnt seem to find any discussions on the actual wiring of the intellicenter (specifically the low voltage side)?

What I have and will want automated: Intellicenter ip5, 3hp vs pentair pump, Hayward heater, 2) magicstream led laminars, 1) 5g intellibright color led, and 3) cva24 actuators

They really dont show in the install manuals how to wire up anything and I'm at a loss when it comes to valve actuators and laminars?? i have 3 actuators but only see enough 3-wire ports for 2? is there a way to hook them up to one of the 2 wire aux ports?

The laminars say they use a 2 wire cable and need a 220/12 vac-100 watt pool light transformer powered with gfci breaker....but I thought that was integrated into the intellicenter?? even if I bought a transformer, how would I integrate into the ip5?

also, the personality kit came with a wire block separate, see pic???

any guidance or direction would be greatly appreciated!

R/

Josh

20190607_110006.jpg20190607_110156.jpg20190607_110024.jpg
 
Josh,

The i5P card has two valve connections marked Valve A and Valve B
The Personality card has two valve connections marked as Intake and Return

The Intake an Return valves are what switch you between pool and spa mode and cannot be used for anything else

If you need additional valves connections you will need to buy an expansion card.

Look at this manual... https://www.pentair.com/content/dam...icenter-expansion-card-installation-guide.pdf

Jim R.
 
The IntelliFlo pump gets wired directly to it's 20 amp GFCI circuit breaker. The data cable from the IntelliFlo gets connected to the com port on the ip5. The heater is connected by two wires to the heater connection on the ip5.

Jim R.
 
Josh,

The i5P card has two valve connections marked Valve A and Valve B
The Personality card has two valve connections marked as Intake and Return

The Intake an Return valves are what switch you between pool and spa mode and cannot be used for anything else

If you need additional valves connections you will need to buy an expansion card.

Look at this manual... https://www.pentair.com/content/dam...icenter-expansion-card-installation-guide.pdf

Jim R.
thanks for the reply Jim, if you look at my picture, that is what was sent to me and only has the a/b, no intake/return? is it possible they sent me a bad motherboard? I've got the pump, heater and main light squared away....just didnt know about the 3rd actuator and laminars! I told the rep everything I was putting on and they said no problem with the basic personality kit.
 
Josh,

You are missing the personality card...

You cannot use the A and B for your Intake and Return valves..

Let's see what our IntelliCenter expert has to say.. Calling @MyAZPool ..

I "assume" you have a spa, is this true??

Jim R.
 
Josh,

I only see three options..

Buy an expansion board
Make one of the valves just a manual valve
Make your own driver using a DPDT relay and 24 VAC.. This would work, but on a brand new install, it does not make sense to me.

I don't know much about Laminars, except that most people say they are cool for about five minutes and then the noise becomes overwhelming and they shut them off.. Only to be used to show off for guests.. :mrgreen:

Obviously you need to have a valve to turn the water on and off, as well as a way to turn the laminar lights on and off... Looks like you have the valve in place. The 120 VAC for the lights comes from your load center to an unused relay.. When the relay is energized, the 120 volts is applied to the transformer, which powers the low voltage lights in the laminars. The Intellicenter just provides the 120 volts and the relay(s) it does not provide the low voltage to run the lights.. The IntelliCenter uses the relay to control the color of the lights.. By turning the relay on/off a set number of times the color is changed. I believe that if you want the lights to be different colors, you will need one relay and one transformer for each light.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Josh,

I only see three options..

Buy an expansion board
Make one of the valves just a manual valve
Make your own driver using a DPDT relay and 24 VAC.. This would work, but on a brand new install, it does not make sense to me.

I don't know much about Laminars, except that most people say they are cool for about five minutes and then the noise becomes overwhelming and they shut them off.. Only to be used to show off for guests.. :mrgreen:

Obviously you need to have a valve to turn the water on and off, as well as a way to turn the laminar lights on and off... Looks like you have the valve in place. The 120 VAC for the lights comes from your load center to an unused relay.. When the relay is energized, the 120 volts is applied to the transformer, which powers the low voltage lights in the laminars. The Intellicenter just provides the 120 volts and the relay(s) it does not provide the low voltage to run the lights.. The IntelliCenter uses the relay to control the color of the lights.. By turning the relay on/off a set number of times the color is changed. I believe that if you want the lights to be different colors, you will need one relay and one transformer for each light.

Thanks,

Jim R.
jjwoo7
Josh,
Concur with Jimrahbe in reference to the three options that he presented concerning your valve actuator issue, as well as the principle and connectivity of the laminar low voltage transformer(s).
The IntelliCenter supports the use of Pentair MagicStream Laminars. And yes, if you want to control the lights within each individual laminar, you will need individual transformers (and AUX circuit relays) for each laminar.
And a separate valve (and actuator for automation purposes) for each laminar IF you want to control the water flow individually to each laminar.
Thanks for the questions.
All-the-best...
r.
 

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jjwoo7
Josh,
Concur with Jimrahbe in reference to the three options that he presented concerning your valve actuator issue, as well as the principle and connectivity of the laminar low voltage transformer(s).
The IntelliCenter supports the use of Pentair MagicStream Laminars. And yes, if you want to control the lights within each individual laminar, you will need individual transformers (and AUX circuit relays) for each laminar.
And a separate valve (and actuator for automation purposes) for each laminar IF you want to control the water flow individually to each laminar.
Thanks for the questions.
All-the-best...
r.
Thank you both...the light turned on in my head after jimrahbe posted his last!
 
Josh,

I only see three options..

Buy an expansion board
Make one of the valves just a manual valve
Make your own driver using a DPDT relay and 24 VAC.. This would work, but on a brand new install, it does not make sense to me.

I don't know much about Laminars, except that most people say they are cool for about five minutes and then the noise becomes overwhelming and they shut them off.. Only to be used to show off for guests.. :mrgreen:

Obviously you need to have a valve to turn the water on and off, as well as a way to turn the laminar lights on and off... Looks like you have the valve in place. The 120 VAC for the lights comes from your load center to an unused relay.. When the relay is energized, the 120 volts is applied to the transformer, which powers the low voltage lights in the laminars. The Intellicenter just provides the 120 volts and the relay(s) it does not provide the low voltage to run the lights.. The IntelliCenter uses the relay to control the color of the lights.. By turning the relay on/off a set number of times the color is changed. I believe that if you want the lights to be different colors, you will need one relay and one transformer for each light.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Thank you so much Jim....it all makes sense now!
 
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