dradam said:
I recently wrote an article on my experience installing a Pentair automation system on my own. I hope the article will be of help to others considering the same project.
I am new here and found your interesting article. For a quite different reason I was looking for a similar solution as you described.
My reason is that I have an Ecosmarte sanitizing system, but after 1+ year I got algae again and again and many insects in the water every day. Having read this week several posts on this forum, I am convinced that my system is not doing what they pretend. In addition I am starting to do some landscaping around the pool and want to add a small pool for the little children. So enough reasons to change the system and add some more automation.
I was already convinced that I should go for a salt/chlor generator and I want to have it automated as much as possible, as I am sick of all the measuring I did and the problems I had/have with measuring the pH and other color based measuring, I really don't see the difference in color e.g. between pH 7.2-7.8.
As I have a Pentair IntelliFlo pump and very happy with it since the beginning, and knowing that Pentair has many solution for measuring, dosing and integration/automation, I decided already that my solution would be Pentair.
However, the website of Pentair is not very well supporting you if you want a guide for finding your personal solution, but it has at least all the product information you need to do it yourself. I was reading the differences between the EasyTouch and IntelliTouch, the IntelliPH and IntelliChem, etc. Here comes in your article. I know now which components I need and I only have to read the product specs for my detailed design and implementation.
My design/solution is 99% the same as yours, so thanks a lot. I am a DIY man like yourself, plumbing, electric, electronic, computer, communication, etc. I designed and built my own house and swimming pool.
Given the prices of the components and availability here in the Philippines, I am planning to start with the EasyTouch/IntelliChlor and will do the IntelliChem later.
Still a few questions.
Q1: Is there a temperature sensor in one of the components and can you read out the value on your screenlogic?
Q2: Is the EasyTouch brain fully controlling the VF pump, can you program and read the pump parameters via your screenlogic?
Q3: Is there somehow an alarm function with e.g. email if a certain parameter is out of range?
I am sure that when I start the detailed design & implementation there will be some more questions, it would be helpful if you are willing to answer them.
Thanks a lot again.