Pentair IntelliFlo VS not responding after 8pm

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P

Pesh

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2020
70
Austin, TX
I have an IntelliFlo VS that was installed YEARS ago.

I recently upgarded my Intellitouch i9+S automation system to an IntelliCenter. Ever since the upgrade, I can no longer control my IntelliFlo VS after 8pm Central Time. Pentair says I need to upgrade to a newer pump and the "old" pump that i have is misbehaving but cannot be supported???

The IntelliFlo works without fail during the day thru automation programming and adhoc changes (thru iOS app or touch screen). But after 8pm the only way it works is thru physical direct interaction with the pump but not thru Automation???

Any ideas?
 
P,

Well, the idea that the pump is the problem does not pass my smell test... :mrgreen:

What happens at 8 pm? Does the pump just shut off?

I suspect that at 8 pm, a schedule kicks in that turns on a circuit that does not have a pump speed assigned.

Show me all your schedules and pump speeds for each Circuit.

When the pump quits does the pump's display still say "Display Not Active"?

What do you need to do so that you can run the pump from the pump's control panel?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim to answer your questions:

What happens at 8 pm? Does the pump just shut off?
- Normal automation ends way before 8pm. However, when i try to activate the pump after 8pm, for example to turn the Spa on, it just doesn't respond via automation interface (touch screen wall panel / iOS app).

I suspect that at 8 pm, a schedule kicks in that turns on a circuit that does not have a pump speed assigned.
Show me all your schedules and pump speeds for each Circuit.
See attached.

When the pump quits does the pump's display still say "Display Not Active"?
When I go to the physical pump drive interface, it displays normal information and allows me to turn on, select pre-programmed settings (buttons 1 - 4), etc..

What do you need to do so that you can run the pump from the pump's control panel?
Its a long walk to a not-so-easy to access portion of the pool equipment area, which makes it less-than-ideal to deal with. Especially when spa water temp is 50F and I want to heat it to 95F, which takes about an hour.
 

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Pesh said:
When the pump quits does the pump's display still say "Display Not Active"?
When I go to the physical pump drive interface, it displays normal information and allows me to turn on, select pre-programmed settings (buttons 1 - 4), etc..
Click to expand...
That would be a clue. Only when the comm cable is disconnected or in service mode does the pump display show an operational menu. Otherwise, states not active. Does your control panel show a mode change?
 
P,

Tomorrow, when the pump is running between 9 am and 6 pm, please go look at the pump's display and see if it says "Display not Active".

Let me know what you find.

I would also like to see the pump speeds that are assigned to each circuit in the IntelliCenter.

When the pump is running, do you see the RPM and wattage on the IntelliCenter?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim-

I was able to confirm a few things...

During normal hour operation the display does say "Display not Active". Also per your ask, here are a few screenshots showing various circuits and pump speeds and when the pump is running with RPM and wattage in a few different modes.

From everything I can see, the pump is working as expected.

It is a complete mystery to me as to why the VS pump just "looses" comuunication after 8pm but then regains it the next morning for normal behavior per the automation schedule. Also, during the day, adhoc actions like turning the Spa on/off, waterfall on/off, etc. work without issue.

Pentair tech support is blaming the age of the pump and recommend I purchase a new IntelliFlo3 pump. Nothing like a $2000 recommended fix by the manufacterer...
 

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Don't assume every member of Pentair's tech support team has the same knowledge. When I call a company's tech or customer support and I don't like the first answer I get, I'll call back to get someone else. This can be more effective than the ol' "Let me speak to your manager," as that can backfire and put them on the defensive. Seek someone else that might have an answer. That could be @Jimrahbe, or someone else here, or someone else at Pentair. Alternately, sometimes you can ask that your support issue be escalated elsewhere, like to an engineering team. I don't know if Pentair offers that, but many companies do.

I have a different Pentair controller altogether, but when I couldn't figure out how to fix a couple of problems that just wouldn't respond to the correct procedure (Errant, misbehaving schedules in my case. Sound familiar?), a complete factory reset and manual reconfiguring of all settings did the trick. Keep that in mind if nothing else works. If you go down this path, remember to take notes and/or screenshots of all your current settings to make the reconfiguring easier. I waited years to finally attempt that, and was kicking myself afterwards, because the reconfiguring took a few minutes vs all the time I wasted banging my head against the problems in every other way.

If the pump has a similar reset process, you could do that one, too.
 
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P,

I still do not think the pump is the problem, but have to admit I do not see anything that is obviously wrong..

Run this quick test.. Put the automation in the Service mode.. Wait about one minute, and then go out and look at the pump's display. See if it says "Display not active, or if the display shows RPM or similar screen, or if the display is blank.

If this were my pool, as a test, I would change your Pool Circuit schedule from 9 am to 6 pm to 8 am until 8 am. This should make the pump run 24/7. The other schedules are fine as is. Then see if the pump shuts off after 8 pm or if it runs 24/7.

Keep in mind that while troubleshooting this problem, it would be best to not manually turn things on and off. When you manually turn things on, you can often cause the egg-timer to kick in and it will control the circuit rather than the schedule. The default egg-timer will shut things off after 12 hours.

I don't see a speed for your waterfall circuit, but I don't see how that would cause the problem you are having.

I just want to confirm that you are using the new IntelliCenter and not some other Pentair automation system.

The IntelliCenter gets over the air updates for its F/W.. Do you know if you have the latest F/W installed? What F/W revision do you have?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim-

I'll try the Service Mode Test tomorrow and report back.

I changed the Pool Circuit for 8a - 8a (effectively 24 hours) and the pump works as expected. The pump is running after 8pm and it says "Display Not Active" on the pump drive.

To answers to your other questions...

Re: Egg Timers. See attached picture.

Re: Waterfall Circuit and pump. My waterfall has a separate dedicated Pentair Pump (not an IntelliFlo, just a booster pump). I dont remember the model, but can figure it out and report back if needed. Since there is a different dedicated pump for the Waterfall, when I activate it after 8pm, it behaves as expected.

Re: Automation. I previously to have an IntelliTouch i9+s (since August 2012) and did not have any of these issues. I had other issues which caused me to upgrade my system to an IntelliCenter (via the Upgrade Kit). It took me over a year (from time of my order to time of delivery... supply chain issues, i guess) to get the kit and install it. The IntelliCenter went online Summer 2022. It is running the latest version of firmware, v 2.006 (new as of January 2023). I've confirmed 2.006 on the IntelliCenter panel by the equipment and also on the indoor touchscreen panel.

Thanks.
 

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Jimrahbe said:
P,

Since the waterfall is a separate single speed pump, it does not matter..

I'll wait for your updates.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Jim - I just updated my post with a slight tweak. I tried the 8a - 8a update and the pump works as expected. The pump is running after 8pm and it says "Display Not Active" on the pump drive. With the 8-8 setting, i am able to trigger the hot tub and heater.
 
P,

When you want to run the spa, are you just pushing the Spa button or are you manually turning on the pump and then the spa?

I do not have the IntelliCenter so I am not familiar with the screens, but all you should need to do is select Spa and the pump should come on at the Spa speed automatically.

I think the fact that the pump runs after 8 pm now, proves the pump is not the problem. It is a programming issue of some kind.

If you look back at Dirk's post, he suggests deleting everything and starting over. I would not do that yet, but keep it in mind if we can't figure out what the problem is. I've seen several EasyTouch systems that had weird problems that were fixed by erasing all the programming and starting over.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jim-

After the pump test post-8pm, I agree with you. When I turn on the Spa, I'm just pressing the "Spa" button on either the touchscreen panel in my home or via the iPhone App. I'm not using the "Spa" circuit on the pump menu.

I do think it is a programming issue or bug in IntelliCenter Automation firmware, which Pentair doesnt want to admit to. Let's see how the system behaves tonight.

-Pesh
 
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Jimrahbe said:
P,

Were you able to do the Service Mode test?

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Sorry, i didn't get a chance to do the test.

However, magically the system is now behaving after "8pm". I'm not sure if it was the firmware update to 2.006 (not sure when that actually occurred) or your suggestion of modifying the main pump automation scheduled from 8a - 8a that got things communicating correctly again.

Regardless, many thanks for your patience and assistance. The system behaving as it should, saved me $2K for now and life is grand.
 
Pesh said:
Sorry, i didn't get a chance to do the test.

However, magically the system is now behaving after "8pm". I'm not sure if it was the firmware update to 2.006 (not sure when that actually occurred) or your suggestion of modifying the main pump automation scheduled from 8a - 8a that got things communicating correctly again.

Regardless, many thanks for your patience and assistance. The system behaving as it should, saved me $2K for now and life is grand.
Click to expand...
Fantastic. Glad you got it working!

What do you think @Jimrahbe, you and me split the $2K, say 50-50? (Quick, before @Toxophilite wants a cut, too.)
 
  • Haha
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