2 valve actuators electrically hooked together

[Ab6349]

Hello, I have an easytouch 4 and I need to install 2 valve actuators on the same channel. One for the waterfall and one for the pressure side polaris 360. The whole idea is that when someone presses the waterfall button on the easytouch I would like the valve actuator to turn on the waterfall valve AND turn off the pressure side floor cleaner. I do not want the floor cleaner running the same time as the waterfall because I do not want to increase my pump rpm(superflo vs). I realize that I could just put them on separate switches but Im trying to make it idiot proof for the others. I cannot find the available current for the valve actuator circuit in the easytouch book. Anybody have that info or is there anybody that is running 2 valve actuators hooked in parallel together? Thanks

 

[Jimrahbe]

ab,

I don't know the answer, but it is wise of you to ask.. I'm sure the valve driver has some margin built in, but I would be afraid to connect the two in parallel without some solid info that the driver can handle it.

Let's see if one of our members has done this before...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jblizzle]

I'm pretty sure I've seen it recommended not to do this as the controller output would not be sufficient to turn both or it could overtax the controller. There might be a way to tie two different valve controllers such that they both turn when you push one button however.

For example I know on the Hayward systems that two of the valve controllers are typically slaved together to switch between Pool and Spa mode and so one valve on the suction side and one valve on the return side

 

[Jimrahbe]

ab,

Thinking about what Jason says above... Do you plan on having more than the two valves needed for the waterfall and cleaner??

Or... you could just move into this century and buy a robot..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Ab6349]

That's a good thought! Anybody know if I can assign valve A and valve B to the same circuit name on a easytouch4? That circuit name would be assigned to a Aux channel. So when I press the Corresponding Aux button both valve A and valve B would actuate.

 

[Jimrahbe]

ab,

I don't see why that would not work... Assign both A and B to the same Aux circuit...

Do you have ScreenLogic2?? If not, you should think about it, as it makes programming 10 x easier and much more fun to use.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Ab6349]

Jim, I will try it shortly.
I do not have the screen logic. Maybe in the future.
Thanks

 

[gary300]

A CVA-24 Actuator draws .65 amps when running. Normal operation for EasyTouch is to run two of these valves at once, but each one on a seperate driver device (transistor, triac etc) on the ET motherboard. Conservative design practice would be to design the driver for at least double the valve current demand. Putting two actuators in parallel on the same driver device may be flirting with the max design current. I would not even think about doing that, unless you want to fry a very expensive ET motherboard. Just MHO.

 

[Ab6349]

Thanks Gary. I agree, it's not worth it. I am going to put the valves on separate channels and see if I can assign both channels to the same Aux button. The result should be the same. I have two available valve channels so hopefully it should work out.