Our slide was installed today! I learned today we have an old school actuator, instead of an Intellivalve. So we have to walk out to the pad to turn on the slide. Didn't know this was an option. Seems like a simple enough install to swap it out. Will have to ask the builder about it.
Buffalo, NY - Gunite Saltwater Pool Build
- Thread starter bbdude
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,887
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Post a pic of your old school actuator.
A standard actuator works exactly the same as an IntelliValve. Right now there is no Intelli in the valve. It is as dumb as a standard actuator.
A standard actuator works exactly the same as an IntelliValve. Right now there is no Intelli in the valve. It is as dumb as a standard actuator.
gingrbredman
Gold Supporter
- Jun 10, 2020
- 732
- Pool Size
- 11200
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
My slide valve has the Intellivalve actuator that replaces the handle, so I can turn it on or off from the Intellicenter, or the mobile app. If you have the Intellicenter, and the open relay, wouldn't you want to control the slide from the app? I guess it is not terribly difficult to walk over when you want to turn it on or off, but if you have the automation, why not take advantage of it?
Pool and slide is looking good!
Pool and slide is looking good!
Absolutely, but builder never asked me so they installed the regular actuator. I had no clue ... never had a pool before. I assume now it will be a change order to do the swap.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,887
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Let’s get terminology correct.
That is a 3-way diverter valve.
An actuator is then screwed on top of the valve if you want to automate the valve and have the IntelliCenter control it. Either a standard actuator or an IntelliValve will work on the diverter valve.
gingrbredman
Gold Supporter
- Jun 10, 2020
- 732
- Pool Size
- 11200
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
The good news is that valve can turn on or off the slide as it is. The other good news is it is very easy to install an Intellivavle with what you already have so you have some options. Have the builder do it for the "change order", have someone else do it later, or you do it yourself, but a very easy thing to do if you wanted it.
Thank you, both! Looks like swapping in an IntelliValve is too bad, aside from the $250 
I don't get it. If you back in the media a litte there's a picture with that valve having an actuator so what happened to it.
Actuator is still there. It just can’t be controlled by Intellicenter in its current form.
Sorry for no updates. Been a busy few weeks. Pool is finally done! Salt generator goes in next week. Daily brushing continues.
Sad to say I personally have not gone down it yet. I will get a chance this weekend! Now the kids (and the neighborhood) love it! Still not clear if the slide or diving board is getting the most use.
Just a update. Still can’t get the mobile app to work with the IntelliCenter. Primarily due to lack of wifi. Added an access point next to the panel, still won’t work.
Builder recommends hard wiring the Ethernet. No idea why they just didn’t do it from the onset, but alas I ran CAT6 cable out there.
Wouldn’t you know I opened the IntelliCenter cover and poof the control board smoked. So either the builder or electrician had something too loose or my opening the cover caused more trama to a previously undisclosed issue.
So pool party this afternoon gets canceled and who knows when the builder will get a new board and fix the issue.
This builder now has a laundry list of overlooked details that have caused me to sour on them.
Builder recommends hard wiring the Ethernet. No idea why they just didn’t do it from the onset, but alas I ran CAT6 cable out there.
Wouldn’t you know I opened the IntelliCenter cover and poof the control board smoked. So either the builder or electrician had something too loose or my opening the cover caused more trama to a previously undisclosed issue.
So pool party this afternoon gets canceled and who knows when the builder will get a new board and fix the issue.
This builder now has a laundry list of overlooked details that have caused me to sour on them.
Good news - we did ultimate get the above issue remediated. Looks like it was a bad control board. No idea how that happened but glad it's fixed!
We closed the pool yesterday successfully. I got a chance to look at the plaster more closely and found the plaster we paid for was never installed. We paid for Altima Blue, but builder put down Altima White. On plaster day it looked white, but I knew the pool would look different with water in it so I thought nothing of it. After all, Altima Blue / White look pretty similar but the former has large blue specks in it. Once the pool was full of water I knew no better whether it was white or blue, having never had a pool before.
When they drained the water down yesterday I took a closer look and didn't see any blue flecks. I asked the guys closing the pool and they agreed I had Altima White, not Blue.
If you've been following along, you'll note there has been a lot of things missed during our build. Builder offered to close the pool this year, open/close next year, and open/close the following year for free as a way to compensate for all the issues.
Not sure what else could be reasonably offered for the plaster mishap. It's not like they will be willing to replaster the entire pool, which would be the only way to properly remediate. At some point a free open/close does not compensate for the pool not being the way we want ... and now we're stuck with white.
When they drained the water down yesterday I took a closer look and didn't see any blue flecks. I asked the guys closing the pool and they agreed I had Altima White, not Blue.
If you've been following along, you'll note there has been a lot of things missed during our build. Builder offered to close the pool this year, open/close next year, and open/close the following year for free as a way to compensate for all the issues.
Not sure what else could be reasonably offered for the plaster mishap. It's not like they will be willing to replaster the entire pool, which would be the only way to properly remediate. At some point a free open/close does not compensate for the pool not being the way we want ... and now we're stuck with white.
That SUCKS man, and will likely sting for a long time. Try and focus on how good it *does* look when you're thinking about it. There is always a pool with more bling out there somewhere, but I've yet to see an ugly one, even in the colors I specifically don't like.
It's not what I wanted, but I didn't 'hate' how it looked the month or so it was open. Given the large number of errors / mistakes made during the build process ... it seems too simple/easy for the builder to just credit me back the upgrade costs. Especially considering the alternative is a chip out/redo, which would cost the builder days of work, etc. Not sure what the right call is ... might need another night to sleep on it.
I would NOT be paying for something I didn't get. And a couple years of closings aren't worth it to me, being able to do it for free. If you were going to use their service anyway, then it's an even swap. If you were going to DIY, it's a loss to you and unacceptable.
I'm not too confident on the DIY front so did plan to pay them to open/close. Having watched them close the pool it didn't seem all too difficult. Most time consuming part was putting on the cover, which seems pretty straightforward.