Another Intellicenter Issue

[markdpratt]

I think I may have an Intellicenter issue. We recently noticed that our 2 feature pumps stopped working. The filter pump is running fine and the pool lights work fine.

When activating the feature pumps from the main Intellicenter panel, I hear the relays click, but the pumps never come on (see photos of our feature pump panels).

I have tried Resetting the main Intellicenter panel several times but, in the past, the filter pump would shut down and restart. Now, when I push Reset, the main filter pump never shuts down. I also get a panel “Hard Reset Error” which I have never received in the past when resetting the panel.

I’ve attached photos of the feature pump panels, the filer pump panel, and the Hard Reset error message.

Any thoughts on further troubleshooting before I call my pool company for a service call?

Thanks, Mark

 

[proavia]

Are you sure that's a hard reset error?
From the pic, it looks like a message to remind you to set the date and time.

 

[ajw22]

This is not an error message. With your Date & Time set to manual you get this any time the panel reboots.

 

[markdpratt]

This is not an error message. With your Date & Time set to manual you get this any time the panel reboots.

OK; good point on the reset message - but regardless, when I push the panel Reset button and the panel shuts down and restarts, the filter pump never shuts down. Shouldn’t it shut down and then restart?

And I still cannot get the feature pumps to run. Any thoughts on what the problem could be there?

 

[ajw22]

I never tried rebooting the IntelliCenter while my pump was running. I always out it in SERVICE mode that stops the pump before a reboot.

The pump keeps on running once the IntelliCenter tells it to run. The IntelliCenter sends a heart beat to the pump at some interval that tells the pump the IntelliCenter is still there. When you reboot the heart beat may go away for a bit and if the IntelliCenter did not come back I think the pump will eventually stop.

Your feature pumps controlled by RS-485?

Check that the pump speeds are properly set in the IntelliCenter and some glitch did not set them to 0.

 

[markdpratt]

I never tried rebooting the IntelliCenter while my pump was running. I always out it in SERVICE mode that stops the pump before a reboot.

The pump keeps on running once the IntelliCenter tells it to run. The IntelliCenter sends a heart beat to the pump at some interval that tells the pump the IntelliCenter is still there. When you reboot the heart beat may go away for a bit and if the IntelliCenter did not come back I think the pump will eventually stop.

Your feature pumps controlled by RS-485?

Check that the pump speeds are properly set in the IntelliCenter and some glitch did not set them to 0.

Both feature pumps are controlled by RS-485 and each are properly set in my Intellicenter: 2250 RPM for my bubblers and 1050 RPM for my scuppers.

FYI, Pentair, under warranty, replaced both drives in my Superflo VSP’s several weeks ago (to correct their firmware). Maybe an issue has developed in those new drives as the filter pump is still fully controllable via the Intellicenter.

Any other ideas before I make another warranty claim with Pentair?

 

[ajw22]

The usual way to debug a RS-485 problem is disconnect all the other devices and only have one device connected to the RS-485 bus. See if individual pumps run or if one is causing the problem.

If a single pump connected does not run you can suspect the pump and make the warranty claim.

 

[markdpratt]

The usual way to debug a RS-485 problem is disconnect all the other devices and only have one device connected to the RS-485 bus. See if individual pumps run or if one is causing the problem.

If a single pump connected does not run you can suspect the pump and make the warranty claim.

Thanks Allen.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

when I push the panel Reset button and the panel shuts down and restarts, the filter pump never shuts down. Shouldn’t it shut down and then restart?

Mine does not shut down when I reset the panel with the reset button. Continues running the entire time. SWCG will power down and back on, as does the IntellipH.

IIRC, the water features pump will shut down when resetting the panel, but I would need to confirm this. It's been a while since I've reset the panel with the features running. Filter pump is on 24/7.

Can you confirm the addresses for the feature pumps are still set correctly? Maybe something caused the addressing to go wonky.

--Jeff

 

[markdpratt]

Mine does not shut down when I reset the panel with the reset button. Continues running the entire time. SWCG will power down and back on, as does the IntellipH.

IIRC, the water features pump will shut down when resetting the panel, but I would need to confirm this. It's been a while since I've reset the panel with the features running. Filter pump is on 24/7.

Can you confirm the addresses for the feature pumps are still set correctly? Maybe something caused the addressing to go wonky.

--Jeff

Jeff, excuse my ignorance - how do I confirm the addresses are set correctly for the two Super Flo’s?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Jeff, excuse my ignorance - how do I confirm the addresses are set correctly for the two Super Flo’s?

From the local panel... Settings/Advanced System Config/Installation Setup/Pumps - in there it should list all the pumps that are programmed and what the addresses are. Just want to make sure that all pumps have a different address.

It's a stretch, but something I would check.

--Jeff

 

[ajw22]

From the local panel... Settings/Advanced System Config/Installation Setup/Pumps - in there it should list all the pumps that are programmed and what the addresses are. Just want to make sure that all pumps have a different address.

It's a stretch, but something I would check.

--Jeff

And then in SERVICE mode go into the control panel of each pumps settings and confirm the addresses match.

 

[markdpratt]

And then in SERVICE mode go into the control panel of each pumps settings and confirm the addresses match.

I confirmed the pump addresses were correct for both feature pumps.

I then requested a service call by my pool company. The tech came today and, after troubleshooting and discussions with the regional Pentair rep, determined that both of the new Super Flo VST drivers had failed (they were both replaced a few weeks ago to correct a firmware issue). He is requesting warranty replacement of both drives.

Hopefully that will fix the problem.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I confirmed the pump addresses were correct for both feature pumps.

I then requested a service call by my pool company. The tech came today and, after troubleshooting and discussions with the regional Pentair rep, determined that both of the new Super Flo VST drivers had failed (they were both replaced a few weeks ago to correct a firmware issue). He is requesting warranty replacement of both drives.

Hopefully that will fix the problem.

Crazy that they both failed that quickly. Hope that corrects the issue and they last a bit longer this time.

--Jeff

 

[ajw22]

I confirmed the pump addresses were correct for both feature pumps.

I then requested a service call by my pool company. The tech came today and, after troubleshooting and discussions with the regional Pentair rep, determined that both of the new Super Flo VST drivers had failed (they were both replaced a few weeks ago to correct a firmware issue). He is requesting warranty replacement of both drives.

Hopefully that will fix the problem.

Pentair seems to have a lot of QC problems recently.

Let us know how the next round of pumps work.