Adding irrigation valve to use as fill valve

[ajw22]

Yes I have an Aqualink system. So, if I enable spillover mode then I should schedule the spa spillover to run independently of the pump?

You run the pump from 9am to 5pm let’s say.

You schedule the SPILLOVER to run at 9:30am and 2pm for 20 minutes.

If I enable spillover mode, then when spillover is running will water only be returned to the spa?

In SPILLOVER mode all water will be sucked from the pool and returned to the spa.

And vice versa for pool mode, water only returned to the pool?

Correct.

Does that mean the right return line goes to the spa?

Yes.

My PB never explained any of this to me. He just set my pump to run at full speed from 9-5 and told me it was ready to go. It's not like that anymore. I've learned a lot from these forums and have it running at a much more energy efficient speed and time.

Typical PB who knows nothing about automation and modern equipment. It isn’t his pool or bills to pay. If it works it is good to him.

Edit: Just looked at my iAqualink app and it looks like my Aux3 is Lights.

Do you have an RS4 system with only 4 relays? It was foolish of the builder to sell you an RS4 instead of a RS6 or 8.

You have FILTER, CLEANER, BLOWER, LIGHTS?

You can upgrade to an RS6 or RS8 and it will require replacing the CPU board. @PoolGate can provide details.

 

[bdbull]

I think I have the RS8. I can go into "Label Aux" in the app and there are Aux1 through Aux7 plus Extra Aux.
Aux1 - Booster Pump
Aux2 - Air Blower
Aux3 - Lights

Nothing else has a label.

I'm a techie who loves to tinker with stuff so I want to know how to run this stuff in the most efficient way possible. For instance, I have separate entries for Booster Pump and Cleaner speed set to run at the same time in my schedule. Why can't that be just one thing that does it all? Either it can and I don't know how or the Jandy software is garbage...or both. . Enough of my rant. Thanks for all the help tonight. Hopefully I'll get a chance to get outside tomorrow.

Looks like if I enable spillover mode, then I will have to move my lights to another Aux. I'm guessing that just involves moving wires and then setting up the Aux labels correctly in the software.

 

[ajw22]

Good. Move your light to AUX4.

First you need to remove the light from AUX3 on iAqualink.

Then move the light relay control wire that is plugged into AUX3 socket on the control board one over to the AUX4 socket.

Then define the light on AUX4 in iAqualink.

Then flip on dip switch 3 and AUX3 will become your spillover control.

Then put schedules in for AUX3 to run your spillover.

And you need to recam your return actuator so it fully closes the spa return when in pool mode.

On your booster pump and cleaner. Confirm that dip switch 1 is on. Maybe @PoolGate can help as I am at the edge of my iAqualink knowledge.

 

[bdbull]

OK. I'm back to report that everything was a colossal failure.

I relabelled Lights to Aux3 in the app. Turned the system off. Moved the wire in Aux3 to Aux4. Flipped the Aux3 dip switch. Turned the system back on. I now had an item labelled Spillover. I renamed Aux4 to Lights in the app. Tapping "Lights" switch in the app allowed me to turn the lights on. However, when I tapped the Spillover switch it popped up the light dialog to choose a color. It did this every time. I just hit the X. Eventually the pump turned on and the spa started draining into the pool. It was not going over the spillover. It was literally draining from the span drain into the pool returns. So, I reversed everything I did and returned it back to the way it was. I now have the hose filling the spa back up.

As for the water line, I turned all the equipment off and opened the valve. Water began to fill through the skimmers in the pool. So I'm assuming he plumbed the water line into the middle pipe of the 3 pipe arrangement.

At this point I guess I can assume that practically everything was setup incorrectly.

 

[ajw22]

OK. I'm back to report that everything was a colossal failure.

I relabelled Lights to Aux3 in the app.

You must REMOVE the light from AUX3 In the app.

Turned the system off. Moved the wire in Aux3 to Aux4. Flipped the Aux3 dip switch. Turned the system back on. I now had an item labelled Spillover. I renamed Aux4 to Lights in the app. Tapping "Lights" switch in the app allowed me to turn the lights on. However, when I tapped the Spillover switch it popped up the light dialog to choose a color. It did this every time. I just hit the X.

You did not REMOVE the light from AUX3. You cannot do that with dip switch 3 on. Turn dip switch 3 off and figure out how to remove the light on the app.

Eventually the pump turned on and the spa started draining into the pool. It was not going over the spillover. It was literally draining from the span drain into the pool returns. So, I reversed everything I did and returned it back to the way it was. I now have the hose filling the spa back up.

Your RETURN actuator is plugged into the SUCTION socket and the SUCTION actuator is plugged into the RETURN socket. So the SPILLOVER opened the spa suction instead of spa return.

Follow the actuator wires to where they plug into the top board. You should find them reversed. It’s a quick fix swapping plugs.

As for the water line, I turned all the equipment off and opened the valve. Water began to fill through the skimmers in the pool. So I'm assuming he plumbed the water line into the middle pipe of the 3 pipe arrangement.

Or there is a separate pipe going into the back of the skimmer.

At this point I guess I can assume that practically everything was setup incorrectly.

Yeah, he left you with a puzzle to solve.

 

[bdbull]

You must REMOVE the light from AUX3 In the app.
You did not REMOVE the light from AUX3. You cannot do that with dip switch 3 on. Turn dip switch 3 off and figure out how to remove the light on the app.

I think I might see where to do this. I think it is in the light setup, so I will give this a shot later tonight.

Your RETURN actuator is plugged into the SUCTION socket and the SUCTION actuator is plugged into the RETURN socket. So the SPILLOVER opened the spa suction instead of spa return.
Follow the actuator wires to where they plug into the top board. You should find them reversed. It’s a quick fix swapping plugs.

Will this screw anything else up, like spa mode or anything like that?

Or there is a separate pipe going into the back of the skimmer.

I know it is not piped directly into the skimmer. Our pool build was finished in November and this water line was put in last week so I know exactly where they were digging.

Yeah, he left you with a puzzle to solve.

Like I don't have enough to do around the house.

 

[ajw22]

Will this screw anything else up, like spa mode or anything like that?

Nope. In spa mode both valves move together so you would not have known the valves were reversed. If you tried to use the SPA DRAIN or SPA FILL buttons on the right of the outdoor panel you would have discovered it did not work properly.

Like I don't have enough to do around the house.

Yeah, but we would not have met then.

 

[bdbull]

Didn't get to do anything else today and I really don't feel like mucking with it in the dark.

I did learn a little bit today though. Since I accidentally drained the spa I needed to put water back in. So, I saw the spa drain/fill section on the Aqualink page. Know that my stuff was wired backwards, I turned on spa drain mode and pumped water from the pool back into the spa.

 

[ajw22]

Well that confirmed the valves are backwards.

 

[bdbull]

Nope. In spa mode both valves move together so you would not have known the valves were reversed. If you tried to use the SPA DRAIN or SPA FILL buttons on the right of the outdoor panel you would have discovered it did not work properly.

What about freeze protect? Will it cycle through everything to ensure all pipes are getting some flow?

 

[ajw22]

What about freeze protect? Will it cycle through everything to ensure all pipes are getting some flow?

It should. Although understand that puts a lot of wear on the valves.

 

[bdbull]

It should. Although understand that puts a lot of wear on the valves.

Hmm, something to think about then. It's supposed to be pretty cold this weekend, and freeze protect was actually on this morning when I woke up. Although, I wouldn't think it would be any more wear than having spillover run a couple times every day anyway.

 

[bdbull]

I swapped the actuator circuits today and verified that they were right, so that's all good now.

I think I may wait until the cold weather is gone to change the spillover mode thing if it's gonna put that much wear on the valves. Still thinking about it though.

 

[ajw22]

Hmm, something to think about then. It's supposed to be pretty cold this weekend, and freeze protect was actually on this morning when I woke up. Although, I wouldn't think it would be any more wear than having spillover run a couple times every day anyway.

Freeze protection cycles the valves every 30 minutes. That can be 48 times per day.

You only need to run the spillover twice a day. Once in the morning to refresh the spa water and once in the early afternoon.

Freeze protection can put almost a month of wear on the valves in one day.

 

[bdbull]

Been a while since I started this thread, but I'm back to thinking about doing this properly. I have discovered that the water line is plumbed into the skimmer suction line. As far as I can tell, it works fine as is, but I still don't think it is done correctly.

What I would like to do is plumb the water line into the return side so I can just add water directly into the pool as if I was using a hose. Couple questions about that:
1. Can I just tap directly into a return line?
2. Would it cause any pressure issues? Obviously not an expert, but I wonder if there would be any pressure from the pool pushing back up the line since the return is underwater in the pool.
3. Thoroughly confused on the needed hardware to accomplish this.
4. Would I be better off running the water line to the edge of the deck and have it literally shoot out into the air and land in the pool? I figure it would be kinda cool and add the appropriate air gap that might be necessary to use a sprinkler valve. heck I could even split it into a couple outlets and call it a redneck water feature.

https://imgur.com/cb0a7bU

On a side note from this thread, I did get my spillover configured properly and have it set to run 3 times a day for 20 minutes.

Oh, and here is a picture of the plumbing. That smaller line going into the skimmer suction line is the water line.

https://imgur.com/3D8JVIz

 

[ajw22]

It really makes no difference if fill water is added at the skimmer or at a return. The water ends up in the same place.

 

[Jimrahbe]

BD,

My fill line runs into the back of the skimmer, which works, but it is not where I would add it on a new pool.

When I turn on the fill line, the water rushes out of the little hole in the back of the skimmer and slams the weir door shut..

To eliminate that problem, I put a brick on the weir door to hold it down while the fill line is on. Again, it works, just a pain.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[bdbull]

It really makes no difference if fill water is added at the skimmer or at a return. The water ends up in the same place.

My concern here is that the fill water will be pushing into the filter and pump without it being on. Is that a legitimate concern or am I making it up?

My fill line runs into the back of the skimmer, which works, but it is not where I would add it on a new pool.

Where would you add a fill line on a new pool?

 

[ajw22]

My concern here is that the fill water will be pushing into the filter and pump without it being on. Is that a legitimate concern or am I making it up?

The water will flow through the equipment with it off or straight out the skimmer into the pool.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Where would you add a fill line on a new pool?

Bd,

On a new pool, I would add a line right into the side wall of the pool. Just like you would for a pressure side cleaner.

If the gunite was already done, I'd add it to a return line and most likely add a check valve to prevent the water from going backwards up the return pipe and into the equipment pad.

Thanks,

Jim R.