Hayward Firmware Update

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pb4uswim

pb4uswim

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2020
499
Michigan
I got an email from Hayward to update the firmware for my Omni Controller. The current version is R4.0 and my version is R2.2, so I'm guessing a little old. However, everything is working fine and while I feel completely competent to follow the steps, I'm not so confident that I could recover my current state if something goes wrong. Is there really any benefit of updating firmware if everything is working? The one benefit as described in the email is that after this update, all other updates can be done directly. I assume that means that they'll just push the update over the internet, similar to what happens with my computer, printer . . . I'm not sure that's a good or bad thing as I generally set up my computer equipment to warn me of updates, not just install them automatically. Wondering whether to leave good enough alone or try to play pool controller technician.
 
I see a lot of benefits to moving to the latest firmware - especially since you are on R2.2 - that is ancient! There have been so many additions and improvements in the releases over the past several years that have added a number of free options as well as stability and support for new equipment. The main items I see that have been added is improved scheduling, improved themes, more light options, support for OmniDirect lighting, the ability to calibrate your touchscreen and the ability to update over the internet (no more removing the panel to insert a USB stick!).

In addition, if you do have an issue and a tech comes out, the first thing they will want to do is to install the latest firmware to eliminate that as a cause of the issue. Below is a list of features and enhancements added for the major releases since R2.2:

R3.1.0
  • New Spaside Remote.
  • Network screens were improved to make it easier on the user to run diagnostics, change, and view the network settings.
  • Wireless Remote connectivity to the Omni was improved.
  • New spillover to external sensor (pool cover) interlock.
  • New interlock that when engaged, turns the interlocked equipment on but when not engaged, allows the interlocked equipment to be unaffected and to be operated freely.
  • New Themes/Favorites default countdown timer can be entered during the creation or edit of Themes or Favorites.
  • Ability to configure heaters to a high voltage relay.
  • Ability to configure multiple chlorinators when using ORP
R3.2
  • Low Salt Chlorination: Added a Low Salt configuration that lowers the alarm threshold for low salt operations down to 800ppm. (HLBASE only)
  • Pentair IntelliFlo VS Pumps Support - Ability to control Pentair Intelliflo VS pumps with Pump Converter accessory board (HLPMPCONV).
  • Expansion Panel Gateway (EPG): Expansion panel doubled the controls capability of an OmniLogic. It is now supported with the latest Omni Control Features including Omni Direct lighting and WiFi HLWLAN connectivity.
  • Default Startup Speeds for Valves: Added ability to associate VS filter speeds to valve positions.
  • Pool Cover Interlock Scaleback: Added ability to associate filter speed, heater set point, and chlorination percentage to the pool cover closed interlock.
  • Schedule - Heat and Chlorination: Schedules can now enable/disable Heaters and Chlorination as part of the schedule.
  • Dramatically Improved Interlock configuration: with added ability to associate a theme with an interlock.
  • Geothermal: Added support for Geothermal heat source.
  • Heater with Valve: Added ability to configure any type of heater with a valve.
  • TurboCell T-3: Added support for TCell-3 chlorination cells.
  • T-3 and T9 - Salt formulas have been updated
  • Omni Direct: Direct access to change light modes for UCL and Omni Direct in Service Mode.
  • Touch Screen Calibration: Pressing the boot screen for ten seconds during power up enters touch calibration mode.
  • Improved Mobile App connectivity
  • Network Settings Saved: Ability to preserve network configuration when performing a factory reset.
  • Cloning - Cloning can be used to replace an MSP. Registration of new MSP is still required.
  • Improved Simple Mode feature selection.
  • Mainboard temperature is now displayed under chlorination diagnostics.
  • Heater cool-down now adheres to the minimum filter speed setting for heating.
  • Added system configuration error checking and verification.
  • ORP will generate chlorine when the reading is less than 20 millivolts below the set point.
  • Firmware files with extensions will now be recognized and used for system upgrades.
  • When Solar or heat pump heater priority duration is 24 hours, it will restart its priority and duration and shut off other running heaters, every time solar or heat pump becomes available.
R4.0.1
  • Over the Air Updates: Once upgraded to R4.0.0 via USB, the MSP will have the ability to perform internet upgrades of future firmware distributions of the controller and smart components.
  • Pentair and Jandy light control: Control the colors and shows of Pentair and Jandy Color LED lights from the Controller or Hayward OmniLogic App version 4.2.5. Not supported on legacy OmniLogic iPad app.
  • Solar Heat Priority: Support for solar priority and separate solar setpoint. Systems with a solar heater will now have the ability to set the solar temperature separately from the rest of the heaters, allowing people to maximize their free solar heat. In addition, if solar priority is enabled it will turn off the other heaters that are running when the solar heater becomes available. Solar prioritization of multiple solar heaters is not supported. Supported on OmniLogic App version 4.2.5. Not supported on legacy OmniLogic iPad app.
  • Sensor calibration: Ability to calibrate temperature sensors. To calibrate any temperature sensor, enter service mode, select the Sensors icon, then select the sensor that needs to be calibrated.
  • pH Timeout increase: pH Timeout can be increased to a maximum of 240 minutes during configurationEdit Interlocks: Ability to edit interlocks. If an interlock needs to be modified, it now has the option to edit without having to delete and re-create the interlock.
  • Interlock: Support new interlock: “If equipment A is OFF Equipment B is forced ON, if equipment A is ON Equipment B is unaffected”
  • New TCELL: Support configuration of TCELL S3 (TCELLS315, TCELLS325, TCELLS340). Note: These cells will be available in the future.
  • Smart Component Recovery: The recovery option is only available when the system detects that a smart component needs to be recovered.
  • Cavitation alarms: Cavitation alarms are no longer displayed on the OmniLogic and the mobile app.
 
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Wow. Thank you for such a thorough write up. As apprehensive as I am about doing the update, I have been looking at the instructions and I think it’s pretty straightforward. Hopefully I’ll report back in a day or so that everything went great. Wish me luck.
 
Well, everything seems to have gone well. I didn't test everything, but my pump is working and it carried over my schedule. I'll test the heater and the lights later but it recognized them on my app so I think they'll be fine. I'm hoping the lights work better. In the past, I'd have to turn them off and back on again to get a color change. They seemed to always go out of sync. We'll check that out tonight :)
 
Depending on the age of your lights, you may be able to enable OmniDirect lighting. This switches directly to any color instead of cycling through colors to get to the selected color.

Note that this feature only works for newer versions of Hayward lights (those made after 2018, I believe).
 
PoolBrews said:
Depending on the age of your lights, you may be able to enable OmniDirect lighting. This switches directly to any color instead of cycling through colors to get to the selected color.

Note that this feature only works for newer versions of Hayward lights (those made after 2018, I believe).
Click to expand...
Thanks. My lights were installed last year so there's a good chance they are newer than 2018. I think I have OmniDirect lighting because when I tried to change lights, it would try to go directly to the color/scheme I wanted, it just didn't always end up getting it right. How do I know if OmniDirect is enabled?
 
From main screen select the following options:

config --> config wizard --> Edit --> Bodies of Water --> Lagoon (or whatever you call your pool :)) --> Standalone Lights --> Light --> Omni Direct

The Omni Direct screen will tell you if you currently have Omni Direct enabled or not, and will give you option to change the current setting.

With Omni Direct, you also get a few new colors and shows for the lights.
 
Is there any information on the HLPMPCONV accessory board, and how it can be used to control Pentair Intelliflo VS?
I have this unit: Omnilogic HLBASE (bought and self-installed in 2015), and it works well.
I am on my second Ecostar SP3400VSP, first one was installed in 2012, and second in 2017. Besides questionable reliability, I find the whiny noise and fan noise extremely annoying, so when it fails, I will probably go with Pentair.
 

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pool1 said:
Is there any information on the HLPMPCONV accessory board, and how it can be used to control Pentair Intelliflo VS?
I have this unit: Omnilogic HLBASE (bought and self-installed in 2015), and it works well.
I am on my second Ecostar SP3400VSP, first one was installed in 2012, and second in 2017. Besides questionable reliability, I find the whiny noise and fan noise extremely annoying, so when it fails, I will probably go with Pentair.
Click to expand...

The Hayward TriStar VS pump seems to be getting a good reputation and not the problems of the EcoStar.
 
ajw22 said:
The Hayward TriStar VS pump seems to be getting a good reputation and not the problems of the EcoStar.
Click to expand...
Yes, except some people still complain it sounds like a jet plane at higher RPM, which is precisely the sound I detest in pumps.
So, back to my question: is there any resource that has instructions on how to wire and use HLPMPCONV pump conversion board between Omnilogic HLBASE and Pentair Intelliflo VS pump?
Could not find anything on interwebs. Should I post this inquire on another forum?
Thanks
 
pool1 said:
So, back to my question: is there any resource that has instructions on how to wire and use HLPMPCONV pump conversion board between Omnilogic HLBASE and Pentair Intelliflo VS pump?
Click to expand...

Look at page 9 in https://www.poolelectrical.com/images/pdf/PEPtalk_01-02-21.pdf

If you zoom in on a picture of the board it looks like it has connections to the Omni RS-485 bus with four wires and the IntelliFlo RS-485 connection with four wires.

1622739435180.png
 
ajw22 said:
Look at page 9 in https://www.poolelectrical.com/images/pdf/PEPtalk_01-02-21.pdf

If you zoom in on a picture of the board it looks like it has connections to the Omni RS-485 bus with four wires and the IntelliFlo RS-485 connection with four wires.

View attachment 340804
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I've seen a few pictures, and yes, it does look like it's an RS485 to RS485 bridge, which totally makes sense.
I guess what I am looking for is some technical notes on connections/pinouts, as well as a setup guide, both on OmniLogic side and on the pump side.
I tried to email to Hayward support to no avail.

Thanks.
 
pool1 said:
Thanks for the link. I've seen a few pictures, and yes, it does look like it's an RS485 to RS485 bridge, which totally makes sense.
I guess what I am looking for is some technical notes on connections/pinouts, as well as a setup guide, both on OmniLogic side and on the pump side.
I tried to email to Hayward support to no avail.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I managed to find more information on the pump conversion board here:

There is some good information there on setup of the OmniLogic and Intelliflo pump.

Also, I noticed that the picture of the board is identical to the AquaRite daughter board, so maybe Hayward reused the PCB and just changed the firmware.

The only missing information is the pinout/wiring of the HLPMPCONV to the pump...
 
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