Adding Solar Automation

[Cindy Colbert]

I currently have a DIY solar system that works sweet all except for it being manually controlled & far too often I forget to turn it off & on (last night lost all heat gain from 2 days prior - ugh). So I'm wanting to add an actuator to my Jandy 3-way valve and a solar controller.
I'm thinking the 'Pentair SolarTouch Solar Control System' at: Pentair SolarTouch Solar Control System with 3 Way Valve | Valve Actuator | 2 Temp Sensors | Water and Solar | 521632
would be the way to go but want to confirm it will work properly with my current equipment, potential future upgrades & would like to hear your recommendations. I called Pool Supply Unlimited but the man I talked with said he wasn't sure if it would work or not & that I should ask a professional installer (he was hard to understand but that could have been due to a bad phone line connection.

My pump is currently a Jandy FLOPRO #FHPM1.0 (I've had to replace the capacitor on it twice so I'd like the solar controller to be able to work with a future quieter variable speed with slightly more power).
The pump timer is an Intermatic Model: T104R with a 24 hour daily time switch.

Would the SolarTouch controller & the actuator be wired to the pump timer or the pump itself?
Is Pool Supply Unlimited a reputable & recommended place to buy from? Or would you recommend someone else & who?

 

[1poolman1]

I currently have a DIY solar system that works sweet all except for it being manually controlled & far too often I forget to turn it off & on (last night lost all heat gain from 2 days prior - ugh). So I'm wanting to add an actuator to my Jandy 3-way valve and a solar controller.
I'm thinking the 'Pentair SolarTouch Solar Control System' at: Pentair SolarTouch Solar Control System with 3 Way Valve | Valve Actuator | 2 Temp Sensors | Water and Solar | 521632
would be the way to go but want to confirm it will work properly with my current equipment, potential future upgrades & would like to hear your recommendations. I called Pool Supply Unlimited but the man I talked with said he wasn't sure if it would work or not & that I should ask a professional installer (he was hard to understand but that could have been due to a bad phone line connection.

My pump is currently a Jandy FLOPRO #FHPM1.0 (I've had to replace the capacitor on it twice so I'd like the solar controller to be able to work with a future quieter variable speed with slightly more power).
The pump timer is an Intermatic Model: T104R with a 24 hour daily time switch.

Would the SolarTouch controller & the actuator be wired to the pump timer or the pump itself?
Is Pool Supply Unlimited a reputable & recommended place to buy from? Or would you recommend someone else & who?

That is an excellent kit. Since it is a "stand-alone" unit, it will work with any pump. All it does is turn the valve when there is heat available. It is not designed to control a pump. When you upgrade to a VSP, just be sure to have it set to a high enough RPM to be able to fill the solar heater during "heating" hours generally between 11:00A and 5:00P.

It would be wired to the timer you have now. When you get a VSP, the existing timeclock can still be used for the solar.

 

[Cindy Colbert]

That is an excellent kit. Since it is a "stand-alone" unit, it will work with any pump. All it does is turn the valve when there is heat available. It is not designed to control a pump. When you upgrade to a VSP, just be sure to have it set to a high enough RPM to be able to fill the solar heater during "heating" hours generally between 11:00A and 5:00P.

It would be wired to the timer you have now. When you get a VSP, the existing timeclock can still be used for the solar.

Awesome & Thank You! Would that be both the SolarTouch & the actuator that gets wired to the timer? I'm ordering soon & may be posting back with more questions during setup. From what I've read the instructions aren't very straight forward.

 

[1poolman1]

Awesome & Thank You! Would that be both the SolarTouch & the actuator that gets wired to the timer? I'm ordering soon & may be posting back with more questions during setup. From what I've read the instructions aren't very straight forward.

Actuator plugs into the solar control. Power to the control only.