Which pool automation system?!?!

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stewbeans22

Member
Apr 15, 2025
24
South
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
Good evening all,

I have a 24’ round 54” deep Saltwater 8000 from pool factory running an Aqua trol RJ SWG. I am having issues with my SWG, and not sure if it is the cell or the board. Either way I know I’m about to drop some money on something for the SWG. I am an automation specialist so the itch I have now is to make the pool control more visible and better fine tunable via a mobile app. Not sure what I should do or get, but my end goals are to monitor whatever chemical reading and salt readings, monitor and control pump usage, and modify the run/stop times for the pump. I would also like to monitor and adjust the SWG with whichever system I decide to go with. Thank you in advance for any advise and all advise is greatly appreciated.
 
stewbeans22 said:
Good evening all,

I have a 24’ round 54” deep Saltwater 8000 from pool factory running an Aqua trol RJ SWG. I am having issues with my SWG, and not sure if it is the cell or the board. Either way I know I’m about to drop some money on something for the SWG. I am an automation specialist so the itch I have now is to make the pool control more visible and better fine tunable via a mobile app. Not sure what I should do or get, but my end goals are to monitor whatever chemical reading and salt readings, monitor and control pump usage, and modify the run/stop times for the pump. I would also like to monitor and adjust the SWG with whichever system I decide to go with. Thank you in advance for any advise and all advise is greatly appreciated.
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You're asking for an automation system that will cost as much or more than your pool. Jandy, Pentair, Hayward all make them to automate pumps, lights, SWG but you will be paying a high price for features that you will never use with a simple pool.
 
1poolman1 said:
You're asking for an automation system that will cost as much or more than your pool. Jandy, Pentair, Hayward all make them to automate pumps, lights, SWG but you will be paying a high price for features that you will never use with a simple pool.
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While i greatly appreciate the info, these are all items i will use. I am an automation specialist so having a "simple pool" is just not ok with me. To be honest, a regular SWG replacement that I need now will out-price my pool. I bought it used and installed it myself, so tht theory is out the window.

Do you have a suggestion as to which one i should go with?
 
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stewbeans22 said:
While i greatly appreciate the info, these are all items i will use. I am an automation specialist so having a "simple pool" is just not ok with me. To be honest, a regular SWG replacement that I need now will out-price my pool. I bought it used and installed it myself, so tht theory is out the window.

Do you have a suggestion as to which one i should go with?
Click to expand...
If you really like all the "bells and whistles," get the Pentair. Since you understand the way that type equipment works, you will likely enjoy it the most.
I prefer to sell Jandy as it is simpler for most pool owners to understand so I don't have to spend a lot of time on the phone re-explaining the way they work.
All the automation systems can be used to control more than just the pool equipment. They are, after all, just very expensive on/off switches that can be used with virtually anything that is electric (yard lights, fountains, sprinklers, etc). Just be sure to get the one that has the capacity (relays) that you may need as you have to replace the circuit boards to get more if you don't get it at first.
Just my opinion.
 
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Spend the money on a variable speed pump and large cartridge filter. Low RPM 24/7 runtime erases the need to mess with the pump to adjust skimming / filtering. You're covered around the clock. The SWG keeps you topped off around the clock as well. Adjust the SWG a literal handful of times a season and clean the filter at the end of the season.

Invest your funds in a way to create *less* fiddling with things, not more.
 
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1poolman1 said:
If you really like all the "bells and whistles," get the Pentair. Since you understand the way that type equipment works, you will likely enjoy it the most.
I prefer to sell Jandy as it is simpler for most pool owners to understand so I don't have to spend a lot of time on the phone re-explaining the way they work.
All the automation systems can be used to control more than just the pool equipment. They are, after all, just very expensive on/off switches that can be used with virtually anything that is electric (yard lights, fountains, sprinklers, etc). Just be sure to get the one that has the capacity (relays) that you may need as you have to replace the circuit boards to get more if you don't get it at first.
Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Thanks I will look into this. As for now I think im just going to replace my cell as it went bad and worry about automation later. Im even thinking of creating my own automation system since like you said they are basically fancy on/off switches. My only issue is monitoring the salt system remotely as the AquaTrol doesnt do any sort of integration to third party systems. Might have to hold off on the salt system till it completely dies then get something that will allow third party compatibility or get probes to constantly monitor the things i want such as salt ppm, oh, chlorine, etc. and bring it into my custom automation system for constant monitoring.
 
Newdude said:
Spend the money on a variable speed pump and large cartridge filter. Low RPM 24/7 runtime erases the need to mess with the pump to adjust skimming/filtering. You're covered around the clock. The SWG keeps you topped off around the clock as well. Adjust the SWG a literal handful of times a season and clean the filter at the end of the season.

Invest your funds in a way to create *less* fiddling with things, not more.
Click to expand...
I currently run my 2 speed pump on the low speed. I rather a sand filter as we have a lot of pollen in the south and im afraid the cartridge will clog up too quick.
 
stewbeans22 said:
I currently run my 2 speed pump on the low speed.
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GREAT. Skip the pump replacement and run it 24/7 and. Get this. Never need to adjust anything. 😁
stewbeans22 said:
we have a lot of pollen in the south and im afraid the cartridge will clog up too quick.
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Size matters, not style. I moved with 80+ oaks on an acre at my old place and started with almost double that. My 500 sq ft carts could have gone all year. I cleaned them once the crud was done falling but that was for me, not them. Evenso, twice a year is no biggie.

Or. Spend a ton of money so you can turn your pump on, off, up or down, and adjust the swg. But you need to go test the water to know how to adjust the swg so at that point, you're already out there to click the SWG button for free.
 

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You have a variety of ways to achieve automation.
  1. If you are looking for some pre manufactured pool control panel to manage the equipment then Pentair & Jandy are the main ones. Both of their systems will control the equipment well, but good integration into a home automation hub is terrible for both companies. (And EVERY other manufacturer or pool equipment).
    1. There are plugin’s for some home automation hubs that will expose limited information. (Example Home Assistant has a plugin to expose some information from Jandy’s cloud to your HA).
    2. If you are serious about integration, Their are open source projects like AqualinkD (for jandy) and NodeJS pool controller (for Pentar) that will do a far better job of integrating the controller panel into home automation hub, and expose a LOT more detail than Jandy or Pentair do, and also give you more control over equipment and far better mobile apps / control.
  2. If you want to build the controller yourself. Then NodeJS pool controller can directly control a VSP and SWG (I believe), & valve actuators are simple to control for anyone with even a little experience in Home Automation. There are also other projects out their.
 
Mutley said:
You have a variety of ways to achieve automation.
  1. If you are looking for some pre manufactured pool control panel to manage the equipment then Pentair & Jandy are the main ones. Both of their systems will control the equipment well, but good integration into a home automation hub is terrible for both companies. (And EVERY other manufacturer or pool equipment).
    1. There are plugin’s for some home automation hubs that will expose limited information. (Example Home Assistant has a plugin to expose some information from Jandy’s cloud to your HA).
    2. If you are serious about integration, Their are open source projects like AqualinkD (for jandy) and NodeJS pool controller (for Pentar) that will do a far better job of integrating the controller panel into home automation hub, and expose a LOT more detail than Jandy or Pentair do, and also give you more control over equipment and far better mobile apps / control.
  2. If you want to build the controller yourself. Then NodeJS pool controller can directly control a VSP and SWG (I believe), & valve actuators are simple to control for anyone with even a little experience in Home Automation. There are also other projects out their.
Click to expand...
This is some excellent info. I will look into the open source projects. Id much rather bring something into my HA via smartthings, but if thats not viable Im fine with a stand alone app.
 
You have Aqua Trol - that's Hayward. What pump do you have? When picking an Automation System keep in mind the System from one manufacturer may not control digital equipment from another manufacturer. Pentair's Intelliconnect is an economical route for your Pool, but they don't list Hayward salt systems in the manual. Pentair Intellicenter is more than you need possibly, but they list and allowance for the Hayward SWG in the manual. The Intellicenter Lite is full featured at a lower price, but 5 relays max and no breaker panel is included. Jandy TCX conversion fits right into your existing Intermatic time clock for convenience, but you can only get Jandy through dealers.
 
japoolspa said:
You have Aqua Trol - that's Hayward. What pump do you have? When picking an Automation System keep in mind the System from one manufacturer may not control digital equipment from another manufacturer. Pentair's Intelliconnect is an economical route for your Pool, but they don't list Hayward salt systems in the manual. Pentair Intellicenter is more than you need possibly, but they list and allowance for the Hayward SWG in the manual. The Intellicenter Lite is full featured at a lower price, but 5 relays max and no breaker panel is included. Jandy TCX conversion fits right into your existing Intermatic time clock for convenience, but you can only get Jandy through dealers.
Click to expand...
Yes I am aware I have the “Hayward” Aqua Trol system, however it cannot communicate by any means to any system as if does not have the serial connection and the aqua Trol firmware does not support it. I would have to change to the Aqua Rite as it does have the serial connection. I wasn’t sure if the “automated system” had the SWG controls built in and would simply connect my cell to it. From what I read is that I still need a separate SWG system no matter which automated system I were to choose.
 
stewbeans22 said:
From what I read is that I still need a separate SWG system no matter which automated system I were to choose.
Click to expand...
Hayward Omni systems have the SWG controller built in and the Aquarite cell connects directly to it.
 
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