Valve automation / DIY / SPDT relay / Z-Wave / Hubitat

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Hal3

Hal3

LifeTime Supporter
Jul 29, 2008
272
San Antonio, Texas
Pool Size
9000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
I am starting a fresh thread on DIY pool valve automation. There are many historical posts involving Raspberry Pi, Node Red, Arduino, etc. I want something simpler.

I have the Jandy actuator and I have looked at the wiring diagrams. Seems simple enough. I am looking for the exact items to use for implementation. I want to use my Hubitat Hub and rule engine for the controller. Then I will use a 24v thermostat/doorbell transformer to power the valve actuator.

Now I just need to pick out the SPDT relay, either natively Z-Wave controlled or Z-Wave controllable and put everything together.

I appreciate any comments or correction of any misconceptions.

Thanks!
 

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I think I may have implemented the simplest pool automation possible, and has worked for me very well over the past year. Only "hardware" for the automation piece is a wifi controlled plug outlet.

Here is the automation function I typically use:
  • "Alexa" turn hot tub on. We say this from anywhere in the house or speak into the phone if away from the house. Simple routine setup in Alexa does this:
    • power on 2 automate valves to switch water flow from pool to spa. Literally just wifi command to a wifi outlet. The valves then switch direction
    • Wait 1 minute then turn on heater, again simple wifi power on to outlet for heater
    • My pump runs about 16hrs per day so I don't have to worry about turning pump on or off for the hot tub activity. (would be nice if my pump would accept a power on/off command but it doesn't). Has not been any problem to date.
  • Safety concerns. I put up two Wyze cameras ($20 each) by my pool equipment. One to show the actual direction of the valves and if the pump was running. 2nd camera for showing heater display so I can remotely see the water temp. This is my method of making 100% sure I am heating the hot tub not the pool and making sure the pump is running. But primarily its my method to know when the hot tub is nice and warm/hot.
  • "Alexa" turn pool light on/off or "Alexa" turn spa/light on/off. Same for yard accent lighting. All simple wifi light switches setup to operate from the phone app or via Alexa
Cost for automation components about $75.

Happy to share more details if anyone interested. Certainly more elegant solutions out there, but passes a couple of key tests, my wife uses it, I use it all the time, voice commands definitely gets your friends saying "wow", dirt cheap approach! Been running very solid for past year since I first put this up.
 
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JonoVegas said:
I think I may have implemented the simplest pool automation possible, and has worked for me very well over the past year. Only "hardware" for the automation piece is a wifi controlled plug outlet.

Here is the automation function I typically use:
  • "Alexa" turn hot tub on. We say this from anywhere in the house or speak into the phone if away from the house. Simple routine setup in Alexa does this:
    • power on 2 automate valves to switch water flow from pool to spa. Literally just wifi command to a wifi outlet. The valves then switch direction
    • Wait 1 minute then turn on heater, again simple wifi power on to outlet for heater
    • My pump runs about 16hrs per day so I don't have to worry about turning pump on or off for the hot tub activity. (would be nice if my pump would accept a power on/off command but it doesn't). Has not been any problem to date.
  • Safety concerns. I put up two Wyze cameras ($20 each) by my pool equipment. One to show the actual direction of the valves and if the pump was running. 2nd camera for showing heater display so I can remotely see the water temp. This is my method of making 100% sure I am heating the hot tub not the pool and making sure the pump is running. But primarily its my method to know when the hot tub is nice and warm/hot.
  • "Alexa" turn pool light on/off or "Alexa" turn spa/light on/off. Same for yard accent lighting. All simple wifi light switches setup to operate from the phone app or via Alexa
Cost for automation components about $75.

Happy to share more details if anyone interested. Certainly more elegant solutions out there, but passes a couple of key tests, my wife uses it, I use it all the time, voice commands definitely gets your friends saying "wow", dirt cheap approach! Been running very solid for past year since I first put this up.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much!

That sounds like exactly what I want to do.

What electronics/relays/actuators do you use to set the valves?
 
I have two of these that I am planning to use to activate the valve actuators. I'm not sure exactly how to do the wiring. I'm going to try using two 15 amp relays per actuator with a common - and one relay + for open and the other relay + for closed.

There might be a more elegant way to do this with one relay per actuator.

www.thesmartesthouse.com

Zooz 700 Series Z-Wave Plus S2 MultiRelay ZEN16 VER. 2.0 with 3 Dry Contact Relays (20A, 15A, 15A)

Get It Done PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS 3 Powerful Dry Contact Relays to add Z-Wave control to any 12 - 240 V load under 15A / 20A NEW VER. 2.0: 700 Series Z-Wave chip for more range and faster communication; more advanced settings to separate inputs and outputs on the device for a more customized...
www.thesmartesthouse.com www.thesmartesthouse.com
 
The house we bought about 2 1/2 yrs ago had the following pool equipment:
  • IntelliFlow variable speed pump, so that was good
  • 2 Jandy valve actuators (flow in/out direction for pool / spa)
  • 400k Master Temp heater
  • Electric/control box that had standard power plugs for heater, valves, spa bubbler, spa light, pool light. Also each plug/outlet in the box had an old x10 control unit (I discovered this was the old tech way of automating on/off power).
So for me I only needed to:
  1. Buy a 3way wifi plug outlet like this Outdoor Smart Plug with 2 Sockets, OOWOLF IP64 Waterproof WiFi Outlet Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, Wireless Remote Control/Timer by Smart Phone, Individual Control, 2.4 GHz Network, Black: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
  2. I had an electrician do some very basic wiring to give me another power outlet in the box
  3. Plug the valve power into the wifi plug, configure the plug wifi app, config the Alexa app skill to turn on/off valves, do the same for the heater power, create a couple of Alexa routines and Voila, some pretty cool pool automation for a few bucks and research time.
Some pics attached (I know the control box has a spaghetti look, but there is some old stuff I think still in there that's not being used and again fairly basic power delivery function)
 

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Hal3 said:
I have two of these that I am planning to use to activate the valve actuators. I'm not sure exactly how to do the wiring. I'm going to try using two 15 amp relays per actuator with a common - and one relay + for open and the other relay + for closed.

There might be a more elegant way to do this with one relay per actuator.

www.thesmartesthouse.com

Zooz 700 Series Z-Wave Plus S2 MultiRelay ZEN16 VER. 2.0 with 3 Dry Contact Relays (20A, 15A, 15A)

Get It Done PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS 3 Powerful Dry Contact Relays to add Z-Wave control to any 12 - 240 V load under 15A / 20A NEW VER. 2.0: 700 Series Z-Wave chip for more range and faster communication; more advanced settings to separate inputs and outputs on the device for a more customized...
www.thesmartesthouse.com www.thesmartesthouse.com
Click to expand...
Did you ever get this to work? I am interested in one 2 way actuator valve that I can trigger open or closed using my SmartThings app via z-wave.
 
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I have a hunch I'm ultimately going this route. I just moved into this house a month or so back. The pool has a Jandy PDA controller, but it's only a PS4 and it doesn't apparently have enough outputs to control the heater. So I'll tackle that by just adding a Zooz 3 relay Z-wave module (waiting on USPS) to switch the heater. I've got AqualinkD running and that's nicer than the Jandy PDA, but it sure would be nice to move everything over to HomeAssistant with the rest of the automation gear I've been installing. One interface, easier to program, ability to scene things out, etc.
 
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Something I initially missed in my own version of this. These automated actuators take 0.5 - 1Amps to turn. Make sure your transformer is able to support that amount of power. More if you plan on operating multiple valves at once.
 
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Hi everyone.
New to Troublefreepools - just signed-up and have to work on my profile.
Pool season is just around the corner for me and I have been looking into automating one, 3-way valve to turn on/divert flow to 3 deck jets on a single pool return line.
I haven't purchased any of the automation equipment yet and just started looking into it. Hence, coming across this forum :)
Seems if I get:
- a valve actuator like a Intermatic PE24VA or Jandy JVA24
- 24VAC power supply
- wifi inching or self-locking relay

would be enough?
I'm pretty handy, but would like to save a bit of time (learning/trialing, burning out a few things trying, etc...) if someone could provide a bit of direction; whether through the forum, link to another thread or another website?

Essentially, I would like to say "Hey google... turn on my deck jets" and volia - and "Hey google... turn off my deck jets" and off they go.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
BTW JonoVegas and cmc0619 sounds like you are already there... can I contact you directly?

Regards,
Mark
 
mnicholl said:
Hi everyone.
New to Troublefreepools - just signed-up and have to work on my profile.
Pool season is just around the corner for me and I have been looking into automating one, 3-way valve to turn on/divert flow to 3 deck jets on a single pool return line.
I haven't purchased any of the automation equipment yet and just started looking into it. Hence, coming across this forum :)
Seems if I get:
- a valve actuator like a Intermatic PE24VA or Jandy JVA24
- 24VAC power supply
- wifi inching or self-locking relay

would be enough?
I'm pretty handy, but would like to save a bit of time (learning/trialing, burning out a few things trying, etc...) if someone could provide a bit of direction; whether through the forum, link to another thread or another website?

Essentially, I would like to say "Hey google... turn on my deck jets" and volia - and "Hey google... turn off my deck jets" and off they go.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
BTW JonoVegas and cmc0619 sounds like you are already there... can I contact you directly?

Regards,
Mark
Click to expand...
Sure! Also I did a guide in my sig. If you're on mobile turn your phone sideways and you should be able to see it.
 
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cmc0619 said:
Sure! Also I did a guide in my sig. If you're on mobile turn your phone sideways and you should be able to see it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Took a look at your post and also your YouTube. Nice setup! Quite a bit more sophisticated then I need to go. My Pentair pump has all it's own automation. I have a simple setup (no spa), so just need to control the 1 valve. BUT... maybe as I get into this it will grow :p. What brand of 24V transformer did you use?
 
mnicholl said:
Thanks. Took a look at your post and also your YouTube. Nice setup! Quite a bit more sophisticated then I need to go. My Pentair pump has all it's own automation. I have a simple setup (no spa), so just need to control the 1 valve. BUT... maybe as I get into this it will grow :p. What brand of 24V transformer did you use?
Click to expand...
I used a RS 797-5948. It's a safety isolation transformer which is a good idea around water. It's 72VA (100VA temporary) so that works out to providing 3Amps so a bit oversized for a single valve. A google search for 24VAC isolation transformer should find you something smaller in the 24VA to 48VA range though.
 
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