Aqualink RS Issue

[tcannon88]

I have Jandy Aqualink RS panel. Several years ago I converted it from the PDA to the RS. It has worked great for years. This week I began experiencing issues connecting to the system over the internet. The IQ2.0 Antennae shows LAN and Internet connectivity, but no power. If I check status over the web, it shows the system on online, but can't connect to manage it. My phone app shows the system offline.
In addition to this, my Jandy VS Pump will not come on. When I put the system in Service mode and try to manually turn the pump on, I can see the relay activate, and it is supplying voltage to the pump, but not turning on.
These two things led me to believe that I am having some sort of issue with the RS485 communication. I had my old board from when I upgraded to the RS from the PDA and it was on R board. So, I moved the daughterboard over and changed out PCBs. But I still get the same behavior. Other things work in the system, like valves and the booster pump.
I am at a loss as to how to move forward.

Any ideas?

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Post pics of the internal wiring of your Aqulaink. Both the top low voltage side and the lower high voltage side.

How many RS-485 devices do you have? VS Pump? iAqualink? What else?

@PoolGate

 

[tcannon88]

Welcome to TFP.

Post pics of the internal wiring of your Aqulaink. Both the top low voltage side and the lower high voltage side.

How many RS-485 devices do you have? VS Pump? iAqualink? What else?

@PoolGate

Hi and thank you!

I have 2 rs485 devices, a VS Pump and iAqualink. At the suggestion of Jimrahbe, I unplugged the iAqualink and tried to get the pump to work, but that did not change anything.
Here are pics. If something specific would help, happy to try and get it.

 

[ajw22]

What specific model pump do you have?

I don't know if it will make a difference but the red wire should not be connected on the pump RS-485 wires.

 

[tcannon88]

I have a Jandy VSSHP270AUT. The equipment was professionally installed in 2015 for the previous homeowner. As mentioned before, I did swap out the PCB, but it was pretty straightforward. That RS485 has always been wired that way, but I tried unplugging it. It did not make a difference.

 

[HermanTX]

There are 2 things I see. Your pump obtains its power from the Pump relay as it is not hooked up to get constant power. So your Pump Relay must be on to power the pump. So you may have a bad pump relay. If you are in service mode - you have to press the pump on. Secondly, you could have a bad RS 485 cable. I don’t have a Jandy pump but I think they only can be scheduled using a RS485 cable.

 

[1poolman1]

I have Jandy Aqualink RS panel. Several years ago I converted it from the PDA to the RS. It has worked great for years. This week I began experiencing issues connecting to the system over the internet. The IQ2.0 Antennae shows LAN and Internet connectivity, but no power. If I check status over the web, it shows the system on online, but can't connect to manage it. My phone app shows the system offline.
In addition to this, my Jandy VS Pump will not come on. When I put the system in Service mode and try to manually turn the pump on, I can see the relay activate, and it is supplying voltage to the pump, but not turning on.
These two things led me to believe that I am having some sort of issue with the RS485 communication. I had my old board from when I upgraded to the RS from the PDA and it was on R board. So, I moved the daughterboard over and changed out PCBs. But I still get the same behavior. Other things work in the system, like valves and the booster pump.
I am at a loss as to how to move forward.

Any ideas?

Your pump should not be powered on and off through a relay but have constant power either directly from the pump circuit breaker or the line side of the pump relay (always "on").

 

[PoolGate]

Your pump should not be powered on and off through a relay but have constant power either directly from the pump circuit breaker or the line side of the pump relay (always "on").

My same pump is also powered this way I do not think it matters. I also suspect either a bad relay or a bad RS485 cable. Both are simple enough to change.

 

[ajw22]

You seem to have two problems. One with your pump and the guys give you some things to look at above with your pump.

The other is with your iAqualink.

It is strange that you say you do not have the POWER LED on but you have the yellow light flashing and the green LED on? Confirm that is what you have.

If so I suspect you have an internal problem with the antenna.

Have you opened up the antenna and examined the PCB components?

Have you checked the continuity of the four RS-485 wires on the antenna cable using a multimeter?

It may be worthwhile upgrading and replacing the antenna with the iAqualink 3.0 antenna.

 

[PoolGate]

Good call Allen - Also I will add - Do you still have your PDA? The PDA bypasses the WiFi and should allow you to activate things if your Aqualink cannot reach the Internet. I still have my PDA connected and use it as backup for just this type of issue.

 

[tcannon88]

Thanks again for the responses. Yeah, I think it is weird, too. I think that is why the website says it is online, but I can't open the management app. I did put a meter on the RS485 to check for voltage, but I will go back and check for continuity. Should have thought of that.

I also agree that it appears to be two issues. Both started at the same time, and both seem centered around RS485 communication. But, I have been focusing mostly on the pump.

Poolgate - I do have my PDA, still. But I replaced the PDA antenna with iQ2.0. Will the PDA work with this antenna? Or, can I have both antennas up at the same time? If so, how do I hook it up, as all the RS485 connections are taken? I saw the article on this site about hooking up PC to the system. I planned on exploring that as a backup, though I need to get a USB to rs485 adapter.

 

[PoolGate]

Thanks again for the responses. Yeah, I think it is weird, too. I think that is why the website says it is online, but I can't open the management app. I did put a meter on the RS485 to check for voltage, but I will go back and check for continuity. Should have thought of that.

I also agree that it appears to be two issues. Both started at the same time, and both seem centered around RS485 communication. But, I have been focusing mostly on the pump.

Poolgate - I do have my PDA, still. But I replaced the PDA antenna with iQ2.0. Will the PDA work with this antenna? Or, can I have both antennas up at the same time? If so, how do I hook it up, as all the RS485 connections are taken? I saw the article on this site about hooking up PC to the system. I planned on exploring that as a backup, though I need to get a USB to rs485 adapter.

You can stack 2 RS485 cables into each connector. So just pick one and put it in. Power the system off first, of course. When you power up your PDA should work. Without an Internet connection, you will not be able to use anything unless you have the PDA. Also you could try clearing all of your app data out. The app is a bit buggy. And drag the screen down to "refresh" the connections even if it is showing "green". Also logout and back into the app. The computer browser based access should work regardless. You have tried that, correct? Zodiac iAquaLink

 

[ajw22]

You can have the iAqualink antenna connected and the PDA antenna connected. You need them both if you use both interfaces.

You can put two wires under each RS-485 screw.

When you check for continuity on the RS-485 cable disconnect the cable on both ends.

Trying to check voltage on the RS-485 line can blow out the chip. I hope you have not done that.

 

[ajw22]

Be careful what you do in touching pin 2 and pin 3 - black and yellow. Those are the RS-485 lines.

Pin1 has 24V DC power to power the antenna. You should have 24V DC voltage between pins 1 RED and pin 4 GREEN screws.

 

[tcannon88]

Yikes. I hope I didn't do that. I have to run errands, so I'll check continuity and try hooking up the PDA tomorrow morning.

 

[ajw22]

If your PDA antenna does not work either then it may indicate a problem with RS-485 on the board.

 

[tcannon88]

Ok...was able to put PDA back on system and it works. Well, as good as it ever did. Also, weirdly, when I flipped the breaker and powered the system back up, I put it in Service Mode and tried the motor. It came on! But, after turning it off, it won't come on any more. Also, still no iQ2.0.

 

[tcannon88]

When I get a break from work, I'll check continuity to iQ2.0.

 

[ajw22]

Good, your RS-485 works and you have some control through your PDA.

I think your iAqualink antenna may have a problem.

And you may have a separate problem with your pump. This was posted in this thread and I don't know if it works. Try it at your own risk.

you need to make a jumper as per the troubleshooting guide from the manual. You can cut about 5-6 inches of the RS-485 cable and open the cover of the pump and remove the existing RS-485 cables. As per the manual jump pins 1 to 3 and 2 to 4 once you finish with the connection turn on the pump, if the pump starts to work then you know there is an issue with the RS-485 connection.

Jandy epump help troubleshooting and testing

I have a Jandy variable speed 2.7hp (vsshp270au) victim of Texas weather. I'm trying to diagnose the problem myself. When I attempt to start it from the Aqualink power center control panel (in service mode) I hear the relay click but pump does not make any noise. I do have control over other...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolGate]

Ok...was able to put PDA back on system and it works. Well, as good as it ever did. Also, weirdly, when I flipped the breaker and powered the system back up, I put it in Service Mode and tried the motor. It came on! But, after turning it off, it won't come on any more. Also, still no iQ2.0.

Has anything changed with your home internet? New router maybe? The older Aqualink WiFi doesn't play well with anything mesh or even any newer ciphers.