Can someone give me some advice on my Max e therm 333. I can get the heater to fire but shuts down after two minutes. I sometimes get a AGS error. I have bypassed the ags but still get AGS error and unit shuts off. Changes the AGS anyway and still get AGS. Put new PC board and still get AGS and unit turns off. It goes from before shutting down the lights go between service heater to service system and then eventually to service heater and turns off. I have changed most of the easy to change components/sensors but still turns off. No obvious flow problems and pressure seems good. Any ideas ?
Heater shutting down after two minutes
- Thread starter Paul34787
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 55,132
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Welcome to TFP.
AGS errors are usually caused by a bad internal bypass. Too much water is bypassing the heat exchanger internally. What water that is going through is coming out too hot and tripping the AGS switch in the manifold.
Have you checked the thermal regulator and internal bypass?
AGS errors are usually caused by a bad internal bypass. Too much water is bypassing the heat exchanger internally. What water that is going through is coming out too hot and tripping the AGS switch in the manifold.
Have you checked the thermal regulator and internal bypass?
Hi. Yes I have checked the thermal regulator and open at 150 degrees. I am now thinking might have a bad bypass. Would have to remove manifold to check. manifold
- Jul 21, 2013
- 55,132
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Thermal regulator should open at 120F, not 150.
You can see the bypass valve looking through the thermal regulator hole. But to really check the bypass valve you need to remove the manifold. Have a new manifold O ring kit to install if you do that.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 55,132
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Check the SFS (Stack Flue Sensor Exhaust Temperature) and then remove the thermal regulator and check the sfs again.
The new models use the Menu to get the SFS.
Here is what the normal exhaust temperature should be:
If the exhaust gas temperature is higher then normal then water may be bypassing the heat exchanger through a broken bypass valve.
If you hold down the "pool on" button, it stays on 80, then flashes to 40, then back to 80, then the 80/40 reading and E05 indicate that the board is not getting a reading from the sensor. It's usually a bad sensor or damaged wires.
Exhaust Gas Temperature.
While running, press and hold the On button to display the exhaust temperature (Older Models).The new models use the Menu to get the SFS.
Here is what the normal exhaust temperature should be:
- Below 250 degrees...very low
- 250 to 290 ..................low
- 290 to 350.................acceptable
- 350 to 480 ..................high
- Above 480...................error/shutdown.
If the exhaust gas temperature is higher then normal then water may be bypassing the heat exchanger through a broken bypass valve.
If you hold down the "pool on" button, it stays on 80, then flashes to 40, then back to 80, then the 80/40 reading and E05 indicate that the board is not getting a reading from the sensor. It's usually a bad sensor or damaged wires.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 55,132
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If you look in the hole where the thermal regulator goes, you can see the disc part of the plunger that goes to the bypass.
If you look into the heater inlet, you can see the spring part of the internal bypass.
If the disc is there, the internal bypass is probably ok.
The bypass is about where the red is on the bottom picture of the manifold.
The bypass allows water to go from the inlet to the outlet past the thermal regulator.
If you look into the heater inlet, you can see the spring part of the internal bypass.
If the disc is there, the internal bypass is probably ok.
The bypass is about where the red is on the bottom picture of the manifold.
The bypass allows water to go from the inlet to the outlet past the thermal regulator.
Wow. That was extremely helpful. Thank you. I was planning on removing manifold. I will look into inlet, outlet and thermostat opening to insure that the bypass is okay. I can normally place my hand over the exhaust, however it seems much hotter now. I believe I am getting to the problem.
Hi again. So I have changed the bypass valve and it was broken. However the the heater will now run for 5 minutes and shuts off instead of two minutes. The board still says AGS. I have changed the sensor, board, flue sensor. I am now lost. Any ideas? Gas seems to be flowing fine as well. 
sensor.
sensor.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 55,132
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
What does your stack flue temperature get to as described in post 7?
Did you replace the thermal regulator?
Did you replace the thermal regulator?
The exhaust temp was 251 before it sgut down. I have changed the thermal regulator. Should I remove it and see how high the temp goes?
Check the SFS with the regulator in and then with it out.
Can you show the whole system?
What is the flow rate?
Can you show the whole system?
What is the flow rate?
Is that in C or F?
251 F would be very low and that does not correspond to an AGS error.
For an AGS error or a High Limit Error, the SFS will usually be too high, not too low.
251 C = 483.8 F.
Last edited:
251 C = 483.8 F.
Here is what the normal exhaust temperature should be:
To toggle the display between degrees Centigrade (°C) and degrees Fahrenheit (°F):
1. Turn the Operating Control OFF.
2. Press ^TEMP or down TEMP for 5 seconds.
The display will flash once and change modes (°C to °F or vice versa)
Here is what the normal exhaust temperature should be:
- Below 250 degrees...very low
- 250 to 290 ..................low
- 290 to 350.................acceptable
- 350 to 480 ..................high
- Above 480...................error/shutdown.
To toggle the display between degrees Centigrade (°C) and degrees Fahrenheit (°F):
1. Turn the Operating Control OFF.
2. Press ^TEMP or down TEMP for 5 seconds.
The display will flash once and change modes (°C to °F or vice versa)
