Jandy iAqualink - System Will Not Turn Off Filter with Schedule

[zollan23]

Hi everyone -

My pool has only been open for about 45 days. I have an Intelliflo VSP connected to an iAqualink system. I also have an iChlor 30 SWG. Randomly, I've been noticing an issue and cannot figure out for the life of me what to do. I called Aqualink today and they did a memory reset on my system but the issue persists. Here's my issue.

I have a programmed schedule for the VSP. It uses various speeds throughout the day to run and there are gaps when the pump does not run at all. If I turn the pump on (as in, it's visibly clicked on via the app or weblink interface), the system will follow my programmed schedule. It will increase speed when I want and decrease speed when I don't. What it will NOT do - is shut off. It sits off for most of the night and various parts of the day but it will not shut itself off.

If I turn the pump OFF via the same app/interface, it follows my schedule perfectly. Turns off when it should, increases/decreases speed when I want, etc. The issue with the pump being "off" is that my SWG never turns on. The only way the SWG will function is if I actually turn the pump on. However, I then have the issue of it never shutting off regardless of how I program it.

The aqualink guy on the phone did a test with me where he set a program for the system to turn on and turn off in 3 min and we watched it happen. SWG worked with filter on, but pump never shut itself off, and with filter off, SWG never turned on but the system turn off/on when it should have.

Anyone come across this before? I might try to call the "pro" version of Aqualink but I'm at a total loss.

Any help is very appreciated. My programmed schedule is attached if that helps.

Thanks,

 

[HermanTX]

I have an older version of AquaLink but I do have a Pentair VS pump connected to it with a RS-485 cable.
I think it may be best to make your program simpler because the pump will run at whatever is set to the highest speed.
So for example
Set your Standard to run from 730am to 330pm and leave your High Speed at 8am to 930am and Medium at 2-3pm.
So the pump will run at whatever speed you have set for Standard from 730am to 8am then increase to your High speed for 1.5hrs. Then it will go back down to Standard speed until it becomes 2pm and will run at Medium speed for 1 hr then back down to Standard for the remaining 30 mins. Then is should turn off.

Then set another standard for 5pm to 10pm and leave your High Speed set at 8 to 9pm. It will act like the above.

I have my Standard (I call it Pool) at 1500rpm for a full 23 hrs and then have various programs for Cleaner, Hi Skim, etc to increase the speeds.
So I really only have 1 on and 1 off a day and the pump just changes speeds. It should work with the 2 different programs for your Standard. So you will have an on then off. a gap then on and off.
See if that helps.

 

[ajw22]

You need to set a schedule for the filter/pump to turn ON and OFF as you want. That should turn the pump and SWG on and off together.

The SWG is connected to the filter/pump relay which turns its power ON and OFF. The PUMP control turns the relay on and off.

When you get the VSP running on it's own independent schedule with the PUMP off the filter/pump relay and SWG power is off.

When you say....

What it will NOT do - is shut off. It sits off for most of the night and various parts of the day but it will not shut itself off.

What is the pump doing when it sits off? Is the motor running? What is the difference between it sitting off and shutting off?

 

[zollan23]

You need to set a schedule for the filter/pump to turn ON and OFF as you want. That should turn the pump and SWG on and off together.

The SWG is connected to the filter/pump relay which turns its power ON and OFF. The PUMP control turns the relay on and off.

When you get the VSP running on it's own independent schedule with the PUMP off the filter/pump relay and SWG power is off.

When you say....



What is the pump doing when it sits off? Is the motor running? What is the difference between it sitting off and shutting off?

Oh man. Not really following. When you say, "You need to set a schedule for the filter/pump to turn ON and OFF as you want. That should turn the pump and SWG on and off together." - that's exactly what I thought I was trying to do.

What I mean by not shutting itself off is that if I turn the pump on, it will go through my schedule as it should. It will increase to high speed at the times I set and lower speeds at times I set. However anytime there is a gap in my schedule, it won't turn off. So for example...

My pump is set to run from 2p-3p and then nothing until 5p. What I would expect is it to run at the speed I set from 2p-3p...then turn off completely because nothing is scheduled, then come back on at 5p to the speed I set.

Instead, at 3p it just continues to run at the same speed from the 2p-3p programmed speed until 5p then changes to that speed. Make sense?

 

[zollan23]

I have an older version of AquaLink but I do have a Pentair VS pump connected to it with a RS-485 cable.
I think it may be best to make your program simpler because the pump will run at whatever is set to the highest speed.
So for example
Set your Standard to run from 730am to 330pm and leave your High Speed at 8am to 930am and Medium at 2-3pm.
So the pump will run at whatever speed you have set for Standard from 730am to 8am then increase to your High speed for 1.5hrs. Then it will go back down to Standard speed until it becomes 2pm and will run at Medium speed for 1 hr then back down to Standard for the remaining 30 mins. Then is should turn off.

Then set another standard for 5pm to 10pm and leave your High Speed set at 8 to 9pm. It will act like the above.

I have my Standard (I call it Pool) at 1500rpm for a full 23 hrs and then have various programs for Cleaner, Hi Skim, etc to increase the speeds.
So I really only have 1 on and 1 off a day and the pump just changes speeds. It should work with the 2 different programs for your Standard. So you will have an on then off. a gap then on and off.
See if that helps.

So this would be better than what I currently have but is there still a way to have it not run at all at any given point?

 

[ajw22]

Having no speed scheduled for the pump at a given time does not imply it should turn off. The pump just continues to run until it gets to a time of a speed change. View the pump schedule as instructions to change speed at a set time, not to turn on or off.

Instructions to turn on and off are done with ON and a OFF schedules of the pump. That should start and stop the pump and close and open the filter/pump relay that controls the SWG.

 

[zollan23]

Having no speed scheduled for the pump at a given time does not imply it should turn off. The pump just continues to run until it gets to a time of a speed change. View the pump schedule as instructions to change speed at a set time, not to turn on or off.

Instructions to turn on and off are done with ON and a OFF schedules of the pump. That should start and stop the pump and close and open the filter/pump relay that controls the SWG.

Ahhhhhh....so instead of adding the variable speed adjust to the schedule, I need to add the "filter pump" for on/off times? Will give that a shot. Thank you

 

[zollan23]

Ahhhhhh....so instead of adding the variable speed adjust to the schedule, I need to add the "filter pump" for on/off times? Will give that a shot. Thank you

Oh man, you're a genius. That worked. How is it that the technical support for aqualink, who sat there and reprogrammed my entire system remotely, couldn't tell me this very simple fix?

 

[ajw22]

Oh man, you're a genius. That worked. How is it that the technical support for aqualink, who sat there and reprogrammed my entire system remotely, couldn't tell me this very simple fix?

Now that you understand how your system works let’s discuss why you want to stop and start your pump 6 times a day? Cycling the pump that often is not good for its longevity.

Why not leave the pump run at the lowest RPM that generates chlorine 24/7 rather then turn the pump off? The energy usage will be less then a dollar a day to let the pump run at low RPMs.

 

[HermanTX]

@zollan23 I am happy that Allen got you on the right track and I am in agreement with him regarding your multiple start and stop times.

I have my Filter Pump program scheduled for 24 hrs. on so there is always power to the relay
I than programmed the Var. Speed Pump speeds at different speeds for different times of day via the circuits as you have done. However the base speed is programmed for 24 hrs is at a low speed and operates at that low speed unless a different circuit is scheduled for a certain time slot. I think you call your base speed "Standard". Refer to my post #2 for info.

If you want to start and stop your pump lets say for only 12 hours a day, then set that under Filter Pump program but then ensure your circuits all fall within that 12 hr time frame for any changes in pump speed.

Hope this helps and apologize I miss interpreted your initial issue but glad it got resolved.

 

[PoolGate]

I agree - run your pump 24x7 at low speed. Here is my schedule.

 

[zollan23]

I agree - run your pump 24x7 at low speed. Here is my schedule.

View attachment 365189

With this schedule, wouldn't the pump shut off at 5:55am for 5 min then turn back on?

 

[zollan23]

Thank you all for the advice. I now have it set up to run at lowest speed 24/7 with other programs mixed in. Appreciate the advice. Never considered shutting the pump on/off impacting the longevity of the device. Definitely want this equipment to last.

 

[PoolGate]

With this schedule, wouldn't the pump shut off at 5:55am for 5 min then turn back on?

Correct, it will. During my testing with setting this to run all day (6:00am to 6:00am) I was having an issue with starting and ending at the same time. I found that I needed time between the start and stop for it to work. I went 5 minutes so as not to short-cycle the start/stop. I was on with Jandy tech support 4 years ago I have never bothered to modify or test it again since then.

 

[zollan23]

Correct, it will. During my testing with setting this to run all day (6:00am to 6:00am) I was having an issue with starting and ending at the same time. I found that I needed time between the start and stop for it to work. I went 5 minutes so as not to short-cycle the start/stop. I was on with Jandy tech support 4 years ago I have never bothered to modify or test it again since then.

Nice. Thanks for clarifying. Seems like Jandy support leaves a bit to be desired. I wish I had a better pool builder to actually help with these initial setups, but thankful for TFP!

 

[HermanTX]

Correct, it will. During my testing with setting this to run all day (6:00am to 6:00am) I was having an issue with starting and ending at the same time. I found that I needed time between the start and stop for it to work. I went 5 minutes so as not to short-cycle the start/stop. I was on with Jandy tech support 4 years ago I have never bothered to modify or test it again since then.

I was told on the newer boards if you are within 1 minute of start stop (i.e. 23 hrs 59 mins) that the software reads that as continuous - it does not stop. I cannot verify this as I have an older board and do as you do with a couple minutes gap in the start stop time. I cannot say what is a "new" board as the tech could not confirm that with me regarding a revision number. Just thought I put out there what I was told but have not been able to confirm regarding Jandy PCB & software.

 

[zollan23]

This is great information. Thanks so much again. I'm heading out on vacation for a week so I'm so happy to have a confident schedule setup. Hoping my chlorine levels stay consistent and we come back to a clear pool

 

[HermanTX]

This is great information. Thanks so much again. I'm heading out on vacation for a week so I'm so happy to have a confident schedule setup. Hoping my chlorine levels stay consistent and we come back to a clear pool

So now if your have your pump running basically 24/7 then you need to ensure your SWCG turns on for your low speed if you wish to product chlorine throughout the day. Also, you need to adjust your SWCG to produce your desired amount of chlorine each day. You may need to turn it to a lower percentage if you are now on 24/7 vs. your sporadic schedule earlier.
Best to verify all of that prior to your departure.

 

[zollan23]

So now if your have your pump running basically 24/7 then you need to ensure your SWCG turns on for your low speed if you wish to product chlorine throughout the day. Also, you need to adjust your SWCG to produce your desired amount of chlorine each day. You may need to turn it to a lower percentage if you are now on 24/7 vs. your sporadic schedule earlier.
Best to verify all of that prior to your departure.

That's a great point. It definitely turns on and I'm working to fine tune ASAP. Never tested so much chlorine!

 

[PoolGate]

Related issue: I have an IAqualink system, with a wall mounted One Touch and remote capability. This system has been running flawlessly for years. Yesterday, the pool shut off before the programmed time and today it did not start at the programmed time. Both times I was able to manually override, so it's not a serious problem, imo.
Of course, I'm going away for a week next week so now I'm concerned.
Any ideas as to why this would occur? I checked the programs - everything is intact and programmed as input.
Would deleting the programs and rescheduling help? Or clearing the memory (Nuclear option!)?
Thanks in advance!

Check your program group and the changeover time (auto switch).