Hayward AQL-PS-8 Aqua Logic Remote will not connect to base station if filter is running?

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Vandenburg

Member
May 1, 2025
5
Brentwood, Tennessee
I've never had any problems with the remote connecting to the base station. However, recently I had to replace the water temperature sensor. Now the system is sensing the temperature just fine (so that now the heater is coming on like it should), but since then the remote says it cannot connect to the base station. Strangely though, if I switch from pool to spa, or to spillover, when it is taking the 30 seconds to switch valves the remove connects just like always. As soon as the filter kicks in, the remote can no longer connect to the base station. When I replaced the water temperature sensor it was only two simple wires and I didn't touch or change anything else. :( I've tried removing the new temp sensor but I still get the same behavior with the remote. I've also tried disconnecting the base station receiver and power cycling the entire system by shutting the breakers off for about 30 minutes. My first thought was that I needed to re-train the remote but it would not and obviously not needed since it will communicate while the valves are cycling.
Any ideas?
 
Welcome to TFP.

What model pump and heater do you have?

Vandenburg said:
.As soon as the filter kicks in, the remote can no longer connect to the base station.
Click to expand...
Filter kicking in? The filter is a passive non-electrical device. Please explain.
 
Vandenburg said:
I've never had any problems with the remote connecting to the base station. However, recently I had to replace the water temperature sensor. Now the system is sensing the temperature just fine (so that now the heater is coming on like it should), but since then the remote says it cannot connect to the base station. Strangely though, if I switch from pool to spa, or to spillover, when it is taking the 30 seconds to switch valves the remove connects just like always. As soon as the filter kicks in, the remote can no longer connect to the base station. When I replaced the water temperature sensor it was only two simple wires and I didn't touch or change anything else. :( I've tried removing the new temp sensor but I still get the same behavior with the remote. I've also tried disconnecting the base station receiver and power cycling the entire system by shutting the breakers off for about 30 minutes. My first thought was that I needed to re-train the remote but it would not and obviously not needed since it will communicate while the valves are cycling.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Don't be afraid of your system. Do a re-train, you lose nothing. Change the channel the parts use to communicate. It sounds like perhaps electrical noise is interfering with the radio signal. It is amazing how just starting from the beginning can solve so many problems with those systems.
Are there any high-voltage and low-voltage wires running together in the same side of the control panel? That can cause the issue and should never be done.
 
ajw22 said:
Welcome to TFP.

What model pump and heater do you have?


Filter kicking in? The filter is a passive non-electrical device. Please explain.
Click to expand...
It's a TriStar VS 950 pump connected to an AuqaLogic PS-8 system. Not sure of the heater model (it's a Hayward) but we're not having any issues with the heater at all. What I mean about the filter is that when I switch the system from pool to spa, or pool to spillover, or whatever then the filter turns off briefly while the valves are turning. During this time, the GLX-TW-RF-PS-8 remote unit connects to the base station again and the remote controls the system. As soon as the filter starts running, the remote says that it cannot connect to the base station and that the key presses are not received.
 
Post pictures of your equipment pad and the area around the Aqualogic panel.

I think by filter kicking in you mean the pump beginning running.

Sounds like the pump is throwing off RFI and interfering with the remote.

If the pump has a dedicated CB, flip the CB off and see if the remote operates properly.

Try what is described in post #3.
 
1poolman1 said:
Don't be afraid of your system. Do a re-train, you lose nothing. Change the channel the parts use to communicate. It sounds like perhaps electrical noise is interfering with the radio signal. It is amazing how just starting from the beginning can solve so many problems with those systems.
Are there any high-voltage and low-voltage wires running together in the same side of the control panel? That can cause the issue and should never be done.
Click to expand...
All the LV wires run down the left side and all the HV wires come up from the bottom. I couldn't see any places where they are laying next to each although what you suggest about electrical noise seemed plausible. I cleaned up and better organized all the wires in any case, but it didn't help. I did find that at any time the filter is not running then the remote connects just fine (the display shows it connecting just as soon as the filter is shut off) but within a second of the filter being turned back on and running the remote states it cannot connect to the base station. I reseated all the LV wires thinking that maybe when I removed the water temp sensor maybe I knocked a connection loose but no joy. Also, per your suggestion, I changed channel and retrained the remove and it said it was successful. But I could only do this when the filter was not running, then as soon as I turned the filter back on it's the same behavior where it loses connection.
 
That's correct, I just mean that the filter is running. At first I thought the remote only connected when the filter was off and the valves were turning between modes but since then I've confirmed that anytime at all that the filter is not running then the remove works just fine. Also, if I turn the dedicated CB to the pump off then the remote will connect right away. Since the remote has always connected just fine until I replaced the water temp sensor I figured I must have knocked something loose or displaced a loose wire but I've confirmed and/or reseated all connections.
 

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Do us a favor and talk about the pump running, not the filter.

I think you narrowed it down to the pump interfering with the remote.

How old is the pump? Is it under warranty?

Where is the water temperature sensor located in the plumbing?

Look at where the water sensor wire runs near the pump. Route the water sensor wires as far away from the pump motor as possible and see if that makes a difference.

While you posted pictures, I cannot see that type of detail regarding where wires are routed around your pump motor. Relocate any wires you can away from the pump motor.
 
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