CB sizing for pool equipment

[BoneDr210]

Finally pulled the trigger on updating some pool equipment and adding automation. I am having the Intellicenter (w load center and intellichlor transformer) installed this weekend along with intellichlor IC40 salt cell, C&C 420 filter. Already have a Mastertemp 400 and recently installed aquatherm solar collectors for heating. Also have a 1.5HP calimar VSP that I am keeping but adding the automation panel interface kit to get some control using the intellicenter but may upgrade to whisperflo or intelliflo down the line.

Installer asked that i get some breakers for the equipment as the old ones are >20 years old and not GFCI.

What size circuit breakers do I need for the follow equipment?
1) 1.5HP Calimar VSP - Manual - input current appears to be 5.5A. Input voltage 230V. Would 20A 2-pole GFCI breaker be ideal for this?
2) Mastertemp 400 - separate breaker from other equipment or share a circuit? What size and does it need GFCI protection if separate? I know it can go in its own relay on the intellicenter
3) IC40 salt cell - looks like it's recommended that the intellichlor transformer be on a 20A 2-pole breaker. Same circuit as pump vs seperate CB for this? If seperate, non-GFCI OK? Assuming on the same relay as the pump but on the load side.
4) Intellibrite pool light x1 and 1 GFCI outlet at the panel - looks like a 15A single pole 120V GFCI breaker should do the trick here?

Does the brand of the breaker matter? My main panel and other subpanels all have Eaton CBs. Should I stick with Eaton? I was reading that Siemens CB are well regarded for pool equpment. Any issues with having Siemens breakers in the load center of the intellicenter?

Thank you!

 

[ChrisABS]

I found this when trying to troubleshoot a Hayward VSP and switched the breaker to the one mentioned.

 

[ajw22]

See the CB setup and wiring I did in my IntelliCenter at ...

Replacing an Aqualink with an IntelliCenter

This thread is for me to work out what I do in upgrading my 20 year old pool equipment. Jandy RS8 automation, 1.5HP SS Pentair pump, Pentair Mastertemp 400 NG heater, IC40 SWG, typical pool/spa combo with spa spillover, Pentair JVA actuators on suctions & return Jandy valves, 1HP pump for spa...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

 

[BoneDr210]

Thanks @ajw22!

That helps a lot.

What did you end up deciding to do with the Mastertemp heater? I didn't see a CB for that in the pictures or the thread about your upgrade from Aqualink

Thanks for your help.

 

[ajw22]

What did you end up deciding to do with the Mastertemp heater? I didn't see a CB for that in the pictures or the thread about your upgrade from Aqualink

Gas heater can share power from any CB. It's amp draw is minimal.

I connected it to the LINE side of the Spa Blower relay. The spa blower and the heater will rarely be on at the same time.

Here is a picture showing the device wiring...

 

[BoneDr210]

Gas heater can share power from any CB. It's amp draw is minimal.

I connected it to the LINE side of the Spa Blower relay. The spa blower and the heater will rarely be on at the same time.

Here is a picture showing the device wiring...

View attachment 615650

Perfect - thanks!

 

[BoneDr210]

Gas heater can share power from any CB. It's amp draw is minimal.

I connected it to the LINE side of the Spa Blower relay. The spa blower and the heater will rarely be on at the same time.

Here is a picture showing the device wiring...

I see that your intellicenter is wired as 120V at the 20A non gfci CB. Any benefit in that over wiring as 240V?

 

[ajw22]

I see that your intellicenter is wired as 120V at the 20A non gfci CB. Any benefit in that over wiring as 240V?

120V or 240V makes no difference to the IntelliCenter board.

I want a dedicated breaker to the IntelliCenter so that another device cannot trip the breaker and shut down the IntelliCenter.

A 120V breaker only takes one breaker slot.

 

[BoneDr210]

Got it. Thanks for all the info.

Piecing everything together - for my needs:
1) 20A, 2-pole (240V) GFCI breaker that will have the Calimar 1.5HP VS pump on the line side and IC40 SWG on the load side. I will probably add my Mastertemp heater to the load side of his CB. @ajw22 - I read your thoughts about having the heater on a separate circuit in your other post, but my pool is fairly simple and smaller than yours - just 1 pump (suction side cleaner, no in-ground spa). This is also my only 2-pole (240V) CB that GFCI. I could wire the Mastertemp to 120V and put it on the lamp/outlet circuit but prefer to keep it on 240V. I rarely plan on using the gas heater anyway as we have the solar collectors that work well in southern CA.
2) 15A, 1-pole (120V), non-GFCI breaker for Intellicenter to have its independent circuit for reasons mentioned above
3) 15A, 1-pole (120V), GFCI breaker for intellibrite lamp and convenience outlet on the panel

Any issues with this set up?

 

[ajw22]

1) 20A, 2-pole (240V) GFCI breaker that will have the Calimar 1.5HP VS pump on the line side and IC40 SWG on the load side. I will probably add my Mastertemp heater to the load side of his CB. @ajw22 - I read your thoughts about having the heater on a separate circuit in your other post, but my pool is fairly simple and smaller than yours - just 1 pump (suction side cleaner, no in-ground spa). This is also my only 2-pole (240V) CB that GFCI. I could wire the Mastertemp to 120V and put it on the lamp/outlet circuit but prefer to keep it on 240V. I rarely plan on using the gas heater anyway as we have the solar collectors that work well in southern CA.

Get the Pentair PA220GF or Siemens CB (QF220AP) which is more resistant to nuisance trips.

2) 15A, 1-pole (120V), non-GFCI breaker for Intellicenter to have its independent circuit for reasons mentioned above

OK.

3) 15A, 1-pole (120V), GFCI breaker for intellibrite lamp and convenience outlet on the panel

Make it a 20A non-GFCI 120V CB. The convenience outlet should be a 20A GFCI WR rated outlet. Connect the pool light to the LOAD connection on the outlet for GFCI protection.

 

[BoneDr210]

Get the Pentair PA220GF or Siemens CB (QF220AP) which is more resistant to nuisance trips.



OK.


Make it a 20A non-GFCI 120V CB. The convenience outlet should be a 20A GFCI WR rated outlet. Connect the pool light to the LOAD connection on the outlet for GFCI protection.

can’t thank you enough and people on these forums for their help!

 

[ajw22]

can’t thank you enough and people on these forums for their help!

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[BoneDr210]

Got the Intellicenter up and running along with the Calimar Automation panel interface kit for my 1.5HP Calimar VSP pump. Thanks for your all help in the process @ajw22 and @gkw4815!

I am playing around with the settings to make it work for me. I can't seem to figure out how to do one thing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Calimar Automation panel interface kit uses up 3 relays (filter/pump, aux 1 and aux 2) and allows you to run 3 speeds that are set on the pump panel when the corresponding relay is closed on the intellicenter. It does not let you use RS-485 cable and ask for specific speeds (that I know of).

My pump runs all day on "low speed" (filter/pump relay). It goes on "high speed" (aux 2) a couple hours a day for vacuuming and skimming (high speed). I'd like to close the relay for "medium speed" (aux 1) when the solar heater is on. I have programmed valve A to be associated with solar heater. Is there a way to do this on the intellicenter using the calimar pump automation set up?

I read about how to do what I'm asking for using pentair's pumps that speak with the automation using feature circuits/pump settings but I don't have that ability yet...

 

[ajw22]

Post pictures of the IntelliCenter boards you have installed and the high voltage relay wiring.

 

[ajw22]

Wire a relay to trigger medium speed and plug it into the SOLAR relay socket.

 

[BoneDr210]

Post pictures of the IntelliCenter boards you have installed and the high voltage relay wiring.

Here is a picture of the panel and a schematic of the wiring

Wire a relay to trigger medium speed and plug it into the SOLAR relay socket.

Do I just use take the 2 leads coming out of the top of the relay that currently go into aux 1 and plug it into solar? they both seem to be 2 pin connector.

 

[ajw22]

Here is a picture of the panel and a schematic of the wiring



Do I just use take the 2 leads coming out of the top of the relay that currently go into aux 1 and plug it into solar? they both seem to be 2 pin connector.

Yes. If relay 1 is wired tor medium speed

Or if you have another available relay you can wire that in parallel with Aux 1 so you can use Aux1 to manually turn on medium speed

 

[BoneDr210]

Ok I'll jump 2 wires to aux4 (spare relay) from aux1 when I'm home and attach the aux 4 2-pin connector to the solar relay socket. Do I need to do any programming on the intellicenter or will the aux 4 relay automatically close when solar is on?

 

[ajw22]

Do I need to do any programming on the intellicenter

No

or will the aux 4 relay automatically close when solar is on?

Yes. It will be the SOLAR relay and not AUX4.