Hayward Omnilogic Sunset/Sunrise Time Adjustments

[EF75070]

We have the Hayward OmniLogic app that we use to schedule our pool lights. When I click the sunset icon in the app for them to turn on at that time it correctly fills in today's sunset time as the time (and same for the sunrise icon and then turning off). However, those times remain constant as the days pass, and it never adjusts the times to account for sunrise/sunset changing throughout the year.

Is this just how the system works and I need to manually adjust the times every so often, or am I missing something? It just seems odd to even include the sunset/sunrise setting if it only imports the times for that day it's selected and doesn't adjust them throughout the year to keep the schedule aligned with the actual sunset/sunrise.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Let’s see if @PoolBrews has used that feature.

 

[PoolBrews]

I have never used that feature, but it looks like it just looks up the sunset/sunrise times at the time you click it and creates a static schedule. This would be a great question to send to Hayward and see what their response is. Sunrise/sunset only changes by a few minutes a day, so going in once a week and editing the schedule would probably keep you close enough.

 

[duckcmmndr]

I had not even noticed that setting on mine. I set the on/off times manually. My "off time" never changes...but the "on time" I have to adjust 4-5 times throughout the year to keep up with sunset. It would be nice for Hayward to adjust it for you based on current sunset time daily.

 

[EF75070]

I have never used that feature, but it looks like it just looks up the sunset/sunrise times at the time you click it and creates a static schedule. This would be a great question to send to Hayward and see what their response is. Sunrise/sunset only changes by a few minutes a day, so going in once a week and editing the schedule would probably keep you close enough.

That's the impression I got on how it worked, but didn't know if maybe I was just missing something since that doesn't seem like a very useful feature. We've only had our pool for a year now but I really like everything else with the OmniLogic's features and scheduling, so when I noticed that setting I initially thought it'd work like some other exterior lights I have on timers and automatically adjust the on/off times throughout the year to match the sunset/sunrise. I'll probably e-mail them and see what they say.

 

[ckendalls]

This Hayward clueless pseudo feature has always seemed crazy pointless since its not updated to the daily change like most all security systems are.

 

[PoolBrews]

I have submitted a ticket to support. When I get a reply, I'll post here.

 

[PoolBrews]

I received a reply from Hayward tech support:

"Currently the sunrise/sunset option is a static option. It will snapshot the time when it is initially set. This is how it is designed to work at this time."

 

[ajw22]

I received a reply from Hayward tech support:

"Currently the sunrise/sunset option is a static option. It will snapshot the time when it is initially set. This is how it is designed to work at this time."

Sounds like the UI designer put the sunrise/sunset feature on that app and writing the code to dynamically adjust the time became too difficult to implement between the app and the pool panel.

The pool panel would have to calculate the times daily as it runs the program and it may not have the processing or memory to handle that.

 

[PoolBrews]

The panel is connected to the internet - all they had to do was make the schedule accept a variable instead of a static time, and then have variable updated every day from the internet. Could have easily been done from any number of feeds available.

 

[ajw22]

Do you think their server communicates with your panel daily?

I would have thought it only communicates with the panel when you do something on the app?

 

[PoolBrews]

It currently communicates by itself when needed - that's how you suddenly see a message stating a new firmware update is available. In addition, sunrise and sunset, once known, change by a well known and precise amount of time each day, so it could easily be calculated internally if need be.

 

[EF75070]

Thanks @PoolBrews for getting that answer from them. Hopefully, since they said "currently" and "at this time", they've got plans to eventually have it work like other timers that automatically adjust through the year to keep up with sunset and sunrise.

 

[ckendalls]

Thanks @PoolBrews for getting that answer from them. Hopefully, since they said "currently" and "at this time", they've got plans to eventually have it work like other timers that automatically adjust through the year to keep up with sunset and sunrise.

That Hayward hasn’t already done this (something routinely simple) is telling…

 

[venexiano]

Hi guys, any update on a dynamic sunset/sunrise feature? Setting up pool/spa automation this week

 

[PoolBrews]

You can control the Omni using Google (How to Integrate Hayward OmniLogic with Google Home (2024)). Once this is setup, it would be a simple step to then add in IFTTT. You could then use IFTTT to perform an action at sunrise or sunset.

 

[venexiano]

Thank you but I do not have Google Home, I was looking for something simple. What about using an external input to the Omnilogic, see below from the manual of my HLPLUS4W:

 

[PoolBrews]

This solution also works with Alexa. The more I think about it, you may not even need IFTTT. Both Google and Alexa know when it's sunrise or sunset, so you could just set up a schedule in either one to perform an action at sunrise or sunset. This seems pretty simple to me and requires no extra hardware.

Your switch should work, but you'll have to find a switch that either connects to the internet to get sunrise and sunset, or has a sensor in it that can detect sunrise or sunset. Then you have to wire it in, and you still only have an on or off option.