Pentair Easy Touch 8

TMH22

New member
May 16, 2024
4
Kemah, Tx. 77565
I have a Pentair Easy Touch 8 control system. Here lately when I try to turn on the heater either in pool mode or spa mode the heater will not turn on. I have done some research and troubleshooting so far to no avail. It seems that my heater (gas Max E - Therm) gets control power from some of my aux relays on the easy touch 8. Not sure why they wired it up that way. I also have the communication cable running from the heater to the easy touch 8 controller board. I believe that is the firemans switch fuse remote connection which should turn the heater on and off. I replaced that cable just in case it was bad. Checked the fuse also. I thought it might be one of the aux relays since I have had to replace one in the past. The control system is not trying to actuate the relays. I ran a self test in the diagnostic section and it fires the aux relays when tested. I can hear the blower come on momentarily. I am getting no alarm or message and the self test does not return an error code. I am hoping it is something simple that I am overlooking. Can anybody help?
 
I have a Pentair Easy Touch 8 control system. Here lately when I try to turn on the heater either in pool mode or spa mode the heater will not turn on. I have done some research and troubleshooting so far to no avail. It seems that my heater (gas Max E - Therm) gets control power from some of my aux relays on the easy touch 8. Not sure why they wired it up that way. I also have the communication cable running from the heater to the easy touch 8 controller board. I believe that is the firemans switch fuse remote connection which should turn the heater on and off. I replaced that cable just in case it was bad. Checked the fuse also. I thought it might be one of the aux relays since I have had to replace one in the past. The control system is not trying to actuate the relays. I ran a self test in the diagnostic section and it fires the aux relays when tested. I can hear the blower come on momentarily. I am getting no alarm or message and the self test does not return an error code. I am hoping it is something simple that I am overlooking. Can anybody help?
What temperature does the Easy Touch report when the pump is running? Is it accurate within reason. Many times the control's temp sensor will go bad and that will cause the system to not turn on a heater for safety. Is the setpoint in the control above the water temp? With the system in "service mode" can you actuate the relay that powers the heater? If so, does the heater try to start (watch the display for power and the initial self test read outs) and the fan come on?
 
What temperature does the Easy Touch report when the pump is running? Is it accurate within reason. Many times the control's temp sensor will go bad and that will cause the system to not turn on a heater for safety. Is the setpoint in the control above the water temp? With the system in "service mode" can you actuate the relay that powers the heater? If so, does the heater try to start (watch the display for power and the initial self test read outs) and the fan come on?
The Easy Touch reports the correct water temperature. It was bad and I replaced it. I was sure that was going to fix the problem but it didn't. Yes the setpoint is above the water temperature. I haven't tried to actuate the relay in service mode. I didn't know you could do that. I'll give it a try. Although as I mentioned above the relay does actuate during the self test in the diagnostics and the blower comes on momentarily.
 
22,

Show me several pics of the inside of your EasyTouch, showing the relays and breakers..

Some installers use Aux relays to power a heater, but it is not required.. The only thing that is required is that you have a two wire cable between the Heater's fireman's connection and the 2-pin Gas Heat connection on the main card of the EasyTouch.

I need the pics so I can see how things are wired.. Also show the panel with button labels.

Do you have a voltmeter???

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
The Easy Touch reports the correct water temperature. It was bad and I replaced it. I was sure that was going to fix the problem but it didn't. Yes the setpoint is above the water temperature. I haven't tried to actuate the relay in service mode. I didn't know you could do that. I'll give it a try. Although as I mentioned above the relay does actuate during the self test in the diagnostics and the blower comes on momentarily.
I put the system in service mode but as it turns out I don't know how to actuate the relays in service mode.
 
22,

Show me several pics of the inside of your EasyTouch, showing the relays and breakers..

Some installers use Aux relays to power a heater, but it is not required.. The only thing that is required is that you have a two wire cable between the Heater's fireman's connection and the 2-pin Gas Heat connection on the main card of the EasyTouch.

I need the pics so I can see how things are wired.. Also show the panel with button labels.

Do you have a voltmeter???

Thanks,

Jim R.
Yes I have a voltmeter. This unit is definitely using the aux relays to power the heater, I have traced the wires. It also has the heater Fireman's connection. I have attached pictures.
 

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Yes I have a voltmeter. This unit is definitely using the aux relays to power the heater, I have traced the wires. It also has the heater Fireman's connection. I have attached pictures.
Do you have a VSP? Did the heater try to light if you have #1 on? Did you try the one marked heater with the "Filter Pump", #1, on?
It may be that the heater button both completes the control circuit to the heater and actuates a relay.
 
22,

None of your actual Aux relays are for your heater based on the labels..

So, assuming you are correct, the heater must be connected to the pump/filter relay.

Also, it appears to me that your pump is getting AC power from the pump/filter relay, which would only make sense if you have a single speed pump. If you have a VS pump things are not wired correctly.

When in the pool mode and the pump is running, then AC power should go to your heater from the load side of the pump/filter relay. This will also turn on the lights on your IC40, so pretty easy to tell if the relay is working or not.

Take the two wires that go the gas heater connection and connect them.. the heater should just start.. If it does not start, then you have a heater issue and not an EasyTouch issue.

All the EasyTouch does is either short the two wires from the heater together, which turns on the heater, or it opens the two wires, which shuts the heater off.

The two wires carry 24 Volts AC from the heater into the EasyTouch and the EasyTouch just sends the same 24 Volts AC back to the heater. If you short the wire to ground you will blow the fireman's fuse in the heater..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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