Aqualink Freeze Protection

[dielseman]

Hi,

Came across this article about freeze protection, FAQs: Freezing Temperatures | Swimming Pools | Spas .


I understand it is important to clean and maintain the pool during the cold weather. We have an Aqualink and want to make sure the pool equipment and pool are protected from cold temperature.

There is a Freeze Protect option on the Aqualink control panel. I'm not sure if this is setup, but would like to get this programmed correctly. Do we just set the filter to run if the weather drops to freezing? According to the article from Sterling Pools we do not need to run any other auxiliaries like booster pump or the floor cleaner.

Also, we do not have a tarp/cover for the pool. Will running the filter during cold temperatures be enough to protect the pool from the weather? Do I need to add any specific chemicals or cover the equipment?

Thanks,

 

[dielseman]

Anyone have feedback on this?

 

[mknauss]

Sorry no one replied!

Most modern variable speed pumps and automation systems have freeze protection. Normally it is Enabled as default. You can sometimes adjust the temperature that it is activated at. It may also actuate valves and even turn on heaters if it goes into Spa mode.

I have no experience with Aqualink. Do you have the operating manuals for your equipment?

Could you fill out a signature so we know what type of equipment you have without asking each time? See Pool School - Getting Started

Take care.

- - - Updated - - -

There is no need to cover the pool unless you need to for safety or leaf fall issues.

You should maintain your chemistry as you did all summer. Test pH and FC every few days and adjust as necessary. Maintain your FC based on [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

No need to cover the equipment. Some folks use a tarp and drop light under it to protect the surface equipment if you are going to have very low temps for extended periods.

 

[Dodger]

I have an Aqualink and I believe my Freeze Protect mode is enabled (though I have never been up in the middle of a winter night to see if it actually turns the pump on!).

From the main screen, it's under "Menu" => "System Setup" => "Freeze Protect". Once you select that, you'll see the temp it is set at currently. You can adjust the trigger temp here, but the lowest is goes is 36 degrees F. I could be wrong, but have not seen any way to shut off the Freeze Protect mode.

 

[PoolGate]

iAqualink allows settings between 34-42 F. I don't think you can turn it off for the pump. If it has power, it is on. I could not find a way to deselect it on the screen below.

 

[dielseman]

Sorry no one replied!

Most modern variable speed pumps and automation systems have freeze protection. Normally it is Enabled as default. You can sometimes adjust the temperature that it is activated at. It may also actuate valves and even turn on heaters if it goes into Spa mode.

I have no experience with Aqualink. Do you have the operating manuals for your equipment?

Could you fill out a signature so we know what type of equipment you have without asking each time? See Pool School - Getting Started

Take care.

- - - Updated - - -

There is no need to cover the pool unless you need to for safety or leaf fall issues.

You should maintain your chemistry as you did all summer. Test pH and FC every few days and adjust as necessary. Maintain your FC based on [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

No need to cover the equipment. Some folks use a tarp and drop light under it to protect the surface equipment if you are going to have very low temps for extended periods.

I have an Aqualink RS8. The panel has a freeze protect and automatically runs the filter. Do I need to run any other auxiliaries like the booster pumps, floor cleaner?

- - - Updated - - -

iAqualink allows settings between 34-42 F. I don't think you can turn it off for the pump. If it has power, it is on. I could not find a way to deselect it on the screen below.

Do you run any other auxiliaries beside the pump like a booster pump and floor cleaner?

 

[PoolGate]

I have an Aqualink RS8. The panel has a freeze protect and automatically runs the filter. Do I need to run any other auxiliaries like the booster pumps, floor cleaner?

- - - Updated - - -

Do you run any other auxiliaries beside the pump like a booster pump and floor cleaner?

My system is pretty basic I don't have any other pumps just the one and no spa. Just those 2 water features. I also have a vacuum port that I don't use but it does have water so I would need to put an automated valve on it in order to cycle it for freeze protection. I guess if I checked the box it would turn them on and run water through them if freeze was detected.

For me all of this doesn't matter since my pool will be winterized.

 

[santacruzpool]

I have the freeze protection set to 34 here in Northern California. Since most of our low temps are only early in the morning here I also switch my winter pump run time to overlap with that coldest pre-dawn time frame - therefore I don't end up with extra pump run time when I don't need it. I typically run the pump during the winter starting at around 3-4 AM and run it for 4 hours.

Even being on the coast of California the freeze protect does kick on quite often, even though I don't think the water is ever close to freezing in the pipes. Not sure I really need it...but it is nice to have especially when/if we get a deep cold blast from Alaska.

 

[Silver_2000]

I also set my VS pumps to low speed since they just need a small flow to keep from freezing

I have 3 vs pumps that are set in Iaqualink to come on in low temps

I also have a swim jet pump and a cleaner boost pump that have NO freeze protection so I usually cover the equipment with a tarp and add a drop light to keep some heat in.

 

[Dodger]

My mistake, the lower end is 34F as was stated above. Our RS buttons are sticky. Much easier to see the valid range via our iAqualink (thanks PoolGate.)

The Freeze Protect on our system covers both our main and waterfall pumps, but does not activate any of our other features (spa mode, in-floor system.)

 

[dielseman]

My mistake, the lower end is 34F as was stated above. Our RS buttons are sticky. Much easier to see the valid range via our iAqualink (thanks PoolGate.)

The Freeze Protect on our system covers both our main and waterfall pumps, but does not activate any of our other features (spa mode, in-floor system.)

Thanks! You think I need to run the booster pumps? Also, what version aqualink do you have? Noticed your using the iAqualink which is nice. Would like to set that up but dont think its compatible with RS8.

 

[Dodger]

Sorry, I'm not able to answer about booster pumps since I don't have any.

Our AqualinkRS One Touch panel was installed inside the house before we moved in. The indoor panel and its corresponding outdoor control panel look like the 7092 conversion kit (when I search it on the 'net). I am not sure if that is the version, though. Let me know how to figure that out.

We had iAqualink 2.0 added after we moved in. I do recall that the installer had some issues with firmware revision or something like that. I think he had to swap a chip to a newer revision. Anyway, he got it to work.


Edited to add:
Are your booster pumps different from your main pump?


Second edit:
My best guess from reading the online Jandy Automation brochure is that we have the RS-PS8, based on Pool+Spa, Shared Equipment, 7 Auxiliaries (I'm pretty sure), + JVA control(x2). According to this same brochure, iAqualink is an available option for all RS, PDA, and Z4 Automation board options, but there is no RS8 Automation model.
My next project is to figure out how many of the Aux positions we are using, so that I can add one or two functions to the automation.