Alternative Pool Automation and Sensor/Chemical Control and Integration

[RWTL]

@MyAZPool Thanks for putting together this detailed post outlining your journey. Regarding your pressure sensor...can you provide some additional detail on how this is connected to the raspberry Pi HATs? I'm not sure I understand how the data end is connected.

Thanks so much.

 

[MyAZPool]

@MyAZPool Thanks for putting together this detailed post outlining your journey. Regarding your pressure sensor...can you provide some additional detail on how this is connected to the raspberry Pi HATs? I'm not sure I understand how the data end is connected.

Thanks so much.

@RWTL
Thanks much and welcome to TFP...
My Atlas Scientific EZO-PRS Pressure Sensor is connected to one of my two White Labs Tentacle T3 Carrier Boards that "stack" onto the Raspberry Pi.




The Pressure Sensor will need to be converted from its default UART protocol to I2C (address 106 (0x6A).
The instructions can be found in the EZO-PRS Data Sheet.
In addition, Atlas Scientific Tech Support is very helpful in this regard as well.

I hope this is helpful to you.
Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks again.
r.

 

[RWTL]

I've been lurking so long that I didn't realize this was my first post! Yes, this is absolutely helpful and exactly what I was looking for.

I'm going to be adding a SWG and decided to add some future proofing plumbing while I'm in there. That led me down a big rabbit hole and a BOM that I've started to compile for my future automation cabinet. I'm running Home Assistant for the house, but just have a timer for the pool - so this is very exciting.

@RWTL
Thanks much and welcome to TFP...
My Atlas Scientific EZO-PRS Pressure Sensor is connected to one of my two White Labs Tentacle T3 Carrier Boards that "stack" onto the Raspberry Pi.

View attachment 524270View attachment 524271
View attachment 524272

The Pressure Sensor will need to be converted from its default UART protocol to I2C (address 106 (0x6A).
The instructions can be found in the EZO-PRS Data Sheet.
In addition, Atlas Scientific Tech Support is very helpful in this regard as well.

I hope this is helpful to you.
Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks again.
r.

 

[Katodude]

There is an integration to HA with the NodeJSPool controller.

 

[MyAZPool]

I've been lurking so long that I didn't realize this was my first post! Yes, this is absolutely helpful and exactly what I was looking for.

I'm going to be adding a SWG and decided to add some future proofing plumbing while I'm in there. That led me down a big rabbit hole and a BOM that I've started to compile for my future automation cabinet. I'm running Home Assistant for the house, but just have a timer for the pool - so this is very exciting.

@Katodude is right on. If you're looking to integrate your Home Assistant with pool automation, then you might want to look into nodejs-poolController. I have no experience with HA but I understand that it's integration with njspC works very well.
Here is the link to the nodejs-poolController Home Assistant Wiki page.
Home Assistant Setup Instructions

If after checking out the above link and you want to explore nodejs-poolController any further, you may find the following links useful.
nodejs-poolController splash page
nodejs-poolController main Wiki page
relayEquipmentManager splash page
relayEquipmentManager Wiki page

The really nice thing about the nodejspoolController is its imbedded "Nixie Controller". This allows a user who does NOT already have a pool automation system (i.e. Pentair IntelliCenter, EasyTouch etc), to automate their pool equipment (Stand-alone Mode). And when paired with relayEquipmentManager (REM), the user can associate equipment with relays connected to a Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, or BeagleBone computer.
Here is the Nixie Wiki...
Nixie Controller Setup

Have fun checking out the info and please let us know if you have any questions. You can also ask the developers of these platforms or other users questions as well at the link below.
nodejspoolController discussions page
r.

 

[RWTL]

@Katodude is right on. If you're looking to integrate your Home Assistant with pool automation, then you might want to look into nodejs-poolController. I have no experience with HA but I understand that it's integration with njspC works very well.
Here is the link to the nodejs-poolController Home Assistant Wiki page.
Home Assistant Setup Instructions

If after checking out the above link and you want to explore nodejs-poolController any further, you may find the following links useful.
nodejs-poolController splash page
nodejs-poolController main Wiki page
relayEquipmentManager splash page
relayEquipmentManager Wiki page

The really nice thing about the nodejspoolController is its imbedded "Nixie Controller". This allows a user who does NOT already have a pool automation system (i.e. Pentair IntelliCenter, EasyTouch etc), to automate their pool equipment (Stand-alone Mode). And when paired with relayEquipmentManager (REM), the user can associate equipment with relays connected to a Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, or BeagleBone computer.
Here is the Nixie Wiki...
Nixie Controller Setup

Have fun checking out the info and please let us know if you have any questions. You can also ask the developers of these platforms or other users questions as well at the link below.
nodejspoolController discussions page
r.

Yep, the Nixie controller and Nodejs is what brought me here. Thanks again for all the info. I really appreciate it.

 

[MyAZPool]

Yep, the Nixie controller and Nodejs is what brought me here. Thanks again for all the info. I really appreciate it.

Very cool. Please let us know here, how you're progressing as your diy pool automation adventure unfolds.
I hope you have as much fun with it as I and others have. It's very gratifying when it's all done and you get to reap the rewards of your work.
2.5 years now of my completed Raspberry Pi/Atlas Scientific/njspC/REM/InfluxDB/Grafana pool automation project and it's still going as strong as ever.
r.

 

[midlifecrisis]

@MyAZPool do you have a collective list of all your pool automation adventures? I've been evaluating your approach as well njspoolControler for the HA integration w/cloud access. I suspect a wiki here with links is a bit out of line, but a thread or post with links would be phenomenal if it wasn't too much work.

 

[RWTL]

One more question tonight

What made you decide on the Industrial vs the Laboratory grade pH sensor? It looks like the Industrial threads offer a more reliable connection under pressure.

 

[MyAZPool]

@midlifecrisis
Thanks...
The following links are my own pool automation related experiences. And you can use the njspC/REM links that I provided above in post #85 of this thread to explore njspC and REM further.
Pentair IntelliCenter Review and Information
Pentair IntelliCenter Pool Control Dashboard Instructional Guide
IntelliCenter OCP Load Center / Equipment Pad - Modifications and Retrofit
Alternative Pool Automation and Sensor/Chemical Control and Integration
Any Pool Automation Grafana / InfluxDB users out there?

I hope these might be helpful to you in some way.
Thanks again!
r.

 

[MyAZPool]

One more question tonight

What made you decide on the Industrial vs the Laboratory grade pH sensor? It looks like the Industrial threads offer a more reliable connection under pressure.

Yes Sir...
Couple of reasons.
1. I believe that @Katodude was the first of us to try out one of the Atlas Scientific sensors (pH). He had already did his due diligence on the matter and he recommend the "Industrial Grade".
2. I also spoke with Atlas Scientific Tech Support and they provided several convicing reasons on why the Industrial Grade sensors are a bit more "bullet proof".

And now after 2.5 years of uninterrupted service life of my three industrial grade sensors (pH, ORP, EC) in the brutal Arizona climate, I too can recommend that I think it's worth it to go the Industrial Grade route.
Thanks...
r.

 

[RWTL]

Yes Sir...
Couple of reasons.
1. I believe that @Katodude was the first of us to try out one of the Atlas Scientific sensors (pH). He had already did his due diligence on the matter and he recommend the "Industrial Grade".
2. I also spoke with Atlas Scientific Tech Support and they provided several convicing reasons on why the Industrial Grade sensors are a bit more "bullet proof".

And now after 2.5 years of uninterrupted service life of my three industrial grade sensors (pH, ORP, EC), I too can recommend that I think it's worth it to go the Industrial Grade route.
Thanks...
r.

Thanks. The cost is hard to swallow, but I also don't want to be on vacation and have one either fail or pop out of the holder!

 

[Katodude]

The industrial grade pH sensor has been rock solid. I have it plumbed into my main plumbing for quite a while now and it just works.

Also for integration into HA. There is a HACS integration called njsPC-HA. Works great.

 

[MyAZPool]

Thanks. The cost is hard to swallow, but I also don't want to be on vacation and have one either fail or pop out of the holder!

I agree. The Industrial versions were definitely more pricey. But they're built like a tank compared to the lab or consumer grades and I concur, a physical failure in the plumbing lines would be catastrophic with no one around to correct the failure in a timely manner.
Also, you may want to seriously consider a "bypass" plumbing line when installing your probes/sensors. That way if anything does go wrong or you just want to "service" a sensor, a simple valve closure will allow for the pump, filter, etc to continue to operate normally. Plus with a bypass, you can control the amount of flow going past the probes.
r.

 

[RWTL]

Two more questions...

I am having a hard time visualizing this section about the EC sensor...

EC probe comes permanently mounted using a ¾” slip union type fitting. Since the schedule 80 ¾” union that comes with the Industrial probe uses a ¾” tee, I had to purchase a second schedule 80 ¾” slip union, so I could glue the bottom part of the union onto my 2” tee.

 

[RWTL]

Two more questions...

I am having a hard time visualizing this section about the EC sensor...

Nevermind. I got it.

Can you tell me how wide your bypass module is from end to end?

 

[MyAZPool]

Nevermind. I got it.

Can you tell me how wide your bypass module is from end to end?

@RWTL
Here ya go. It's 3 feet from center of the tee to center of the Jandy 3-way valve.

 

[RWTL]

Have you seen any advantage to having the SWG communicate to the automation? I'm thinking of adding one, but am leaning towards a Circupool that wouldn't communicate. Interested to hear your possible use cases for automation.

 

[MyAZPool]

Have you seen any advantage to having the SWG communicate to the automation? I'm thinking of adding one, but am leaning towards a Circupool that wouldn't communicate. Interested to hear your possible use cases for automation.

Sure..
Good question. There's a few reasons for me anyway. By having my SWCG connected to my automation...
1. I can adjust my SWCG output remotely from my computer or mobile device. If for instance, I'm away for any reason, I can continue to monitor my ORP value (along with all of my other chem values) and if I see it (ORP) increasing or decreasing, I can adjust the SWCG output accordingly from a mobile device.


Or better still....

2. I can merely set my chlorinator to run at 100% and then enable my REM Chem Controller to "dose dynamically based on an ORP Setpoint" in the Chemistry > REM Chem >ORP Settings Tab within njspC.


3. Lastly, is the REM Chem safety feature called "pH Priority" that gives my automated muriatic acid dosing priority over my chlorinator. Essentially, this just means that REM Chem will temporarily disable my chlorinator anytime that automated acid dosing is occurring.

There might be more reasons that I can't think of at the moment, but those are my top three.
r.

 

[RWTL]

Sure..
Good question. There's a few reasons for me anyway. By having my SWCG connected to my automation...
1. I can adjust my SWCG output remotely from my computer or mobile device. If for instance, I'm away for any reason, I can continue to monitor my ORP value (along with all of my other chem values) and if I see it (ORP) increasing or decreasing, I can adjust the SWCG output accordingly from a mobile device.
View attachment 524886 View attachment 524888

Or better still....

2. I can merely set my chlorinator to run at 100% and then enable my REM Chem Controller to "dose dynamically based on an ORP Setpoint" in the Chemistry > REM Chem >ORP Settings Tab within njspC.
View attachment 524873

3. Lastly, is the REM Chem safety feature called "pH Priority" that gives my automated muriatic acid dosing priority over my chlorinator. Essentially, this just means that REM Chem will temporarily disable my chlorinator anytime that automated acid dosing is occurring.
View attachment 524874
There might be more reasons that I can't think of at the moment, but those are my top three.
r.

I'm smiling. I knew you would have some good examples. Ok, maybe the Intellichlor is the way to go. Looks like it can connect via a RS485 connection. I'll have to study the user manual a bit before I make my final selection.

Thanks!