24/7 sceduling help

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H

HiDustin

Member
Apr 20, 2024
7
Kailua, Hawaii
Pool Size
13000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-30
I been thinking about running 24/7 too. My question relates to how to mange this in conjunction with a heater the I believe requires 30gpm flow rate. I have my in-laws aging in place and they like the pool rather warm.

I have not figured out if it’s possible to run conditional schedules or automations.

I really want to set it and forget it, but if I run 24/7 I would like to maximize low VSP RPM when heater is on, but not actually heating the water as the temp is above its minimum temp setting.

Example:

Schedule 1: 6am - 6pm turn heater on and set temp to 85° {IF:ON} set VSP to 2250 RPM {else} set VSP to 1200 RPM {END:IF}

Schedule 2: 6:01 pm - 5:59am turn off heater set VSP to 1200 RPM

I think something like that would be awesome, but I have not been able to find much info on how to do something like that with the Pentair Intellicenter or home app.

In my opinion conditional operations an essential to automation. Got any advise or am I over thinking and over complicating?

Much appreciated!
 
Welcome aboard TFP! There are lots of ways to make this happen. We need a little more info:
  • Do you want to run the heater 24/7 or only certain times of the day or at random times?
  • What are you using to schedule right now? A simple timer? The pump timer? Or some kind of automation?
  • What is the pump model #
If you don't have any separate automation system you can likely use a digital input on the pump that takes a signal from the heater "call for heat" signal but that requires you get inside its wiring. If you don't feel comfortable with this you should not attempt it (240v wiring can kill you!). In that case you might be able to find a qualified tech to do it for you. But most of them will just want to sell you an automation system that costs thousands of dollars.

I hope this is helpful.

Chris
 
Welcome to TFP.

HiDustin said:
Example:

Schedule 1: 6am - 6pm turn heater on and set temp to 85° {IF:ON} set VSP to 2250 RPM {else} set VSP to 1200 RPM {END:IF}

Schedule 2: 6:01 pm - 5:59am turn off heater set VSP to 1200 RPM

I think something like that would be awesome, but I have not been able to find much info on how to do something like that with the Pentair Intellicenter or home app.
Click to expand...

An IntelliCenter easily does that. You just need to learn Pentair think. You don’t setup IF - THEN - ELSE conditional programming.

You schedule circuits with the settings and times you desire and the IntelliCenter runs it.

Your signature does not show what model VS pump you have.

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
setsailsoon said:
If you don't have any separate automation system you can likely use a digital input on the pump that takes a signal from the heater "call for heat" signal but that requires you get inside its wiring. If you don't feel comfortable with this you should not attempt it (240v wiring can kill you!).
Click to expand...
Chris, all heaters use 24 volt control circuits. You get into the wiring on the 24 volt control side of a heater and not the 240 voltage side.
 
HiDustin said:
I been thinking about running 24/7 too. My question relates to how to mange this in conjunction with a heater the I believe requires 30gpm flow rate. I have my in-laws aging in place and they like the pool rather warm.

I have not figured out if it’s possible to run conditional schedules or automations.

I really want to set it and forget it, but if I run 24/7 I would like to maximize low VSP RPM when heater is on, but not actually heating the water as the temp is above its minimum temp setting.

Example:

Schedule 1: 6am - 6pm turn heater on and set temp to 85° {IF:ON} set VSP to 2250 RPM {else} set VSP to 1200 RPM {END:IF}

Schedule 2: 6:01 pm - 5:59am turn off heater set VSP to 1200 RPM

I think something like that would be awesome, but I have not been able to find much info on how to do something like that with the Pentair Intellicenter or home app.

In my opinion conditional operations an essential to automation. Got any advise or am I over thinking and over complicating?

Much appreciated!
Click to expand...
If your heater is set to turn on at 6am, then it would seem unnecessary to have an if/else decision fork. If you tell the heater to come on, it’ll be on and so you can set your pump speed to match.
 
ajw22 said:
Chris, all heaters use 24 volt control circuits. You get into the wiring on the 24 volt control side of a heater and not the 240 voltage side.
Click to expand...
Allen, yep I'm aware of that but I only added the caution because once the heater is open they are much closer to 240 v than previously. Didn't mean to imply the call for heat was 240v. Extra cautious but seems like the right approach and I could have been more clear. Thanks for your help.
 
Bperry said:
If your heater is set to turn on at 6am, then it would seem unnecessary to have an if/else decision fork. If you tell the heater to come on, it’ll be on and so you can set your pump speed to match.
Click to expand...
Hey @Bperry thanks for chiming in. Thats what I thought at first, but I have not been able to figure out how to assign a pump speed to just the heater. I felt like I had more options before pentair pushed out their new Pentair Home app.

I agree, with what you said, just set the pool circuit to 1200 and then run just the one schedule to turn on the heater. I just can't determine the process or location of the settings. Maybe I just need to go directly to the Intellicenter panel?


Jimrahbe said:
Dustin,

What specific VS pump is at your in-law;s house??

Do they currently have any type of automation system??

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Aloha Jim, appreciate your reply as well. The in-laws live with me, so everything in my profile is accurate. Full pentair setup, but look at that its missing details for the VSP. It's an intelliflow VSP I will have to take a closer look and add it to my profile later tonight when I get home from the office!

Again big thanks for the replies!
 
HiDustin said:
I just can't determine the process or location of the settings. Maybe I just need to go directly to the Intellicenter panel?
Click to expand...
Do you have the IntelliCenter installed in your pool?

Put that with your VS pump model in your signature.

Look under your VS pump speed settings at the circuits listed. You should have a circuit named UltraTemp for your heat pump. You assign a speed to the heat pump circuit. If the speed is greater then current speed the pump speed will be increased when the IntelliCenter calls for heat.
 
ajw22 said:
Do you have the IntelliCenter installed in your pool?

Put that with your VS pump model in your signature.

Look under your VS pump speed settings at the circuits listed. You should have a circuit named UltraTemp for your heat pump. You assign a speed to the heat pump circuit. If the speed is greater then current speed the pump speed will be increased when the IntelliCenter calls for heat.
Click to expand...
He mentioned the Intellicenter app so I now see that's how Jim realized he has it... I didn't see that and would be good if he could put all the details in his signature. @HiDustin , would be helpful if you could do this and let us know if you need any help updating it. Welcome aboard and great that our experts are helping out already!
 

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setsailsoon said:
He mentioned the Intellicenter app so I now see that's how Jim realized he has it...
Click to expand...
He mentioned the Pentair Home app. Intelliflo3 pump and other Pentair devices all use the same app now.

The original post read like he was trying to understand the IntelliCenter prior to installing it.
 
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Thanks @setsailsoon & @ajw22, I will get that signature updated soon with the VSP model.

@ajw22 I am not sure, but I think my equipment installer took a different approach with the integration setup. I do see that adding a new circuit under the VSP settings there is the Ultratemp option. I will add it and test tonight.

However, does it matter that under heater settings I see an item for gas heater and not ultra temp? Like I said maybe my installer used an uncommon integration method…
 
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There are various heater control connections that can be used.

Show me this screen from your system.

Pentair_IntelliCenter_Ultratemp_HP_Controls.jpg
 
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Dustin,

We have asked about a million times.. What automation system do you have???

EasyTouch?
IntelliTouch?
IntelliCenter?
Or???

If you don't know for sure, show us a pic of the inside of the main panel..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
@Jimrahbe sorry, I added it to my sig as requested and should have been more specific than just mentioning settings in intellicenter and the home app in my original post. I assumed that would indicate I had an intellicenter vs considering installing it.

Yes, I have intellicenter installed.
 
Dustin,

If you have the IntelliCenter then all you need to do is add a circuit called heater and a speed you want the pump to run when the heater turns on..

Heater Circuit.jpeg

The heater circuit is in the drop down list of circuit speeds when looking at this pump speed page..

Settings, System config, Pumps, Speeds, add circuit, select heater and add the speed you want.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Thanks @Jimrahbe and @ajw22 I was able to confirm that yes my Ultratemp was installed and integrated asa gas heater by checking out the pools screen on the intellicenter. I was then able to follow your instruction and add a pump speed as outlined set to the heater item in the circuit select menu.

Success! I now have the pool running at 1200 RMP and it bumps to 35GPM (about 1750 RMP) when the heater fires up. As soon as it kicks off based on water temp the RPM drops right back to 1200!

I truly appreciate the help. The logic has quite a bit of a learning curve.

Cannon Ball!!!

~ Dustin

IMG_2145.jpg
 
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