Need help with different shut off valves in my setup

[srinig1]

Bought a house with pool. Owner unfortunately did not leave any documentations behind. I need help in understanding the setup
I have one main pump (in the center next to filter), one pump that controls the pool robot (the black one) and one to control the fountain (in the rhs)

Here is the main pump

I dont understand what the three valves that is connecting to the main pump

1. Pool water enters through the single pipe in the Right hand side?
2. what is the control in the top for?
3. what are the 3 shut of valves in the Left hand side is for?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Jimrahbe]

1,

You have a pretty standard pool/spa equipment pad.

You have two automated valves that allow you to be in the pool mode or the spa mode.. Both valves in your pics are in the Pool mode.

The three valves to the left of your Intake valve allows you to adjust the amount of water that comes from your Main Drain and Skimmer #1 and Skimmer #2 (Assumes you have two Skimmers..)

What is it that is not working the way you want??

Edit.. Water comes up the single pipe on the right of your Intake valve only when you are in the spa mode..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TinFoilHat]

You should also not use the tab chlorine feeder as tabs are bad for continuous use. You, unfortunately with all of that equipment, do not have a Salt Water Chlorine Generator. You should use liquid chlorine exclusively and then consider adding the SWG that will make your life so much easier.

 

[srinig1]

You should also not use the tab chlorine feeder as tabs are bad for continuous use. You, unfortunately with all of that equipment, do not have a Salt Water Chlorine Generator. You should use liquid chlorine exclusively and then consider adding the SWG that will make your life so much easier.

thank you very much. I use liquid chlorine as much as possible.

 

[srinig1]

1,

You have a pretty standard pool/spa equipment pad.

You have two automated valves that allow you to be in the pool mode or the spa mode.. Both valves in your pics are in the Pool mode.

The three valves to the left of your Intake valve allows you to adjust the amount of water that comes from your Main Drain and Skimmer #1 and Skimmer #2 (Assumes you have two Skimmers..)

What is it that is not working the way you want??

Edit.. Water comes up the single pipe on the right of your Intake valve only when you are in the spa mode..

Thanks,

Jim R.

thank you for the response.

I don't have any problems. just I am not sure I am using all the functionalities. your response gave me things that I should look for and learn. thanks for that.

you are correct, I have two skimmers

I have a pentair controller. I assume Spa/pool/drain/fill modes are selected in service mode in the controller. Is that correct?
I have decent idea of spa/pool.

What does the drain do? Pool will be drained, if I turn all the pumps and put drain mode under service?

thanks

 

[Jimrahbe]

1,

You would be in AUTO (Not the Service mode) when using the Pool or Spa modes...

You have two automated valves.. The Intake Valve is in front of your main pool pump. The Return valve is after your heater.

In the Pool mode, the Intake valve is moved so that it sucks water from the Pool (Main Drain and Skimmers). The Return valve is moved so that it sends all the water back to the Pool wall returns. (Note.. if you have a spa that spills over into the pool, then in the Pool mode, a little water will also go to the spa causing it to spillover.)

In the Spa mode, the Intake valve is moved so that it sucks water from the Spa Drain. The Return valve is moved so that it sends all the water back to the Spa jets.

In AUTO the Drain and Fill modes do not work.. They only work when in the Service mode and are only used to drain or fill the spa.. In the drain mode the Intake valve is set to suck water from the spa and the Return valve sends the water back to the pool. In the fill mode, the process is reversed, so that water is taken from the pool and sent to the spa.

It is not a big deal, but I would adjust the Pool Main Drain valve so that it is only open about 10%. This will allow your skimmers to have more suction. You will have to figure out which of the three valve is for your main drain. Just shut one valve at a time.. and find the two valves that control your skimmers.. the other valve will be for your Main Drain.

Down the road you should think about getting a VS main pool pump, and a Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG)

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[srinig1]

1,

You would be in AUTO (Not the Service mode) when using the Pool or Spa modes...

You have two automated valves.. The Intake Valve is in front of your main pool pump. The Return valve is after your heater.

In the Pool mode, the Intake valve is moved so that it sucks water from the Pool (Main Drain and Skimmers). The Return valve is moved so that it sends all the water back to the Pool wall returns. (Note.. if you have a spa that spills over into the pool, then in the Pool mode, a little water will also go to the spa causing it to spillover.)

In the Spa mode, the Intake valve is moved so that it sucks water from the Spa Drain. The Return valve is moved so that it sends all the water back to the Spa jets.

In AUTO the Drain and Fill modes do not work.. They only work when in the Service mode and are only used to drain or fill the spa.. In the drain mode the Intake valve is set to suck water from the spa and the Return valve sends the water back to the pool. In the fill mode, the process is reversed, so that water is taken from the pool and sent to the spa.

It is not a big deal, but I would adjust the Pool Main Drain valve so that it is only open about 10%. This will allow your skimmers to have more suction. You will have to figure out which of the three valve is for your main drain. Just shut one valve at a time.. and find the two valves that control your skimmers.. the other valve will be for your Main Drain.

Down the road you should think about getting a VS main pool pump, and a Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG)

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thank you very much for the response. I think i have marked the flows now. figured out the main drain and skimmer controls. i think i have figured out pool/spa flow as well. I really appreciate your help

Changing the mode to pool and spa when in auto mode did not rotate the automated valves. first i thought may be the valves are faulty, then i realized there is a switch in the automated valve

this is my understanding
1. center is off
2. up is ON 1. (automatic?)
3. down is ON 2 (manual?)

in my pool, both the automated valves were in ON 2 position (i assume manual mode). i think that is the reason the valves did not move when i changed the valve setting in the panel.

I moved both to ON 1 ( i assume automatic mode).

In Auto mode, if i choose SPA, only the return valve moves to Spa position. lot more water comes out of the Spa overflow. the intake valve remains in pool position. i dont think this is correct. i understand in spa mode, water comes out of spa and goes back to spa

when i set in POOL, again, the return valve moves to pool position. no movement in the intake valve (remains in pool position)

in either case, the intake valve does not move.

I dont think intake valve is faulty; it moves between spa and pool positions in service mode. i think it does that only when i move the switch between ON 1 and ON 2. i am not able to explain when and why. I dont find a pattern.

Is Programming wrong? or is my understanding wrong? is my understanding of the manual switch wrong? Probably all of the above

Any help would be greatly appreciated. i am sorry if explanation above is confusing

 

[PoolStored]

is my understanding of the manual switch wrong? Probably all of the above

Does your valve move using the toggle switch? This is not clear in your explanation.

The toggle switch rotates the motor to the opposite position when moved between on1 and on2.

Valve Actuators - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Manual Override, Power On (Jandy and should work for others)

1. Move the toggle switch located on the bottom of the actuator to the opposite position (ON 1 switch to ON 2 or vice versa). This will rotate the motor to the opposite position.
2. Return the toggle switch to the original position after use.

Manual Override, Power Off (Jandy and should work for others)

1. Move toggle switch located on the bottom of actuator to the OFF (center) position.
2. Unscrew (counterclockwise) the locking knob above the handle four (4) full turns.
3. Push down on the locking knob (not the handle). This will disengage the gear train and allow the handle, and thus the valve diverter, to be moved to any position.
4. To return the actuator to automatic position, pull up on the handle while turning it clockwise or counterclockwise until you feel the shaft slide up into the gear train. Turn the locking knob down (clockwise) until snug.
5. Put toggle switch back to the original position.

If the intake does not go the opposite position, you probably have a bad microswitch which you can replace or replace the actuator.

 

[ajw22]

I dont think intake valve is faulty; it moves between spa and pool positions in service mode. i think it does that only when i move the switch between ON 1 and ON 2. i am not able to explain when and why. I dont find a pattern.

Are we discussing an EasyTouch or IntelliCenter system?

Open up the upper low voltage compartment and find where the RETURN and INTAKE actuators are plugged into the board. Swap the two connections.

If the INTAKE actuator still does not rotate in AUTO when changing POOL or SPA modes then the actuator is faulty.

If the problem moves to the RETURN actuator then the board is faulty.

Let us know what you find.

Is Programming wrong?

RETURN and INTAKE actuator behavior is hard coded. There is no programming to be wrong.