Aqualink RS - Control of independent solar pump

[Total_Noob]

Hi,

Been looking at this site for a long time for all the excellent advise - best resource on the net - so I thought I would join to ask two questions. This is the first.

In Australia it is quite common for pools to be built with a separate solar feed and return for solar panels (lots of sun here in Australia). Not wanting to go into the benefits or not (there are a few posts on this on this site and around the web).

But I have one specific question. Is it possible to run a separate solar pump in the Aqualink RS system (assume the latest Rev T) without the filter pump (and SWCG) operating. The reason is because here in Oz the they are built as two separate lines, I may want to run the solar longer than the filter pump operates for the day?

If not - can any experienced Aqualink RS owners offer up possible hacks or workarounds.

Many Thanks for any help you may provide

TN


I note that the Aqualink RS installation manual page 10 states as per below....

To use Solar Heat
Highlight SOLAR HEAT and press SELECT. Use the SELECT button to turn SOLAR HEAT on or off.

HEAT PUMP: If a Heat Pump is properly connected to this system, HEAT PUMP will appear on the screen in place of
SOLAR HEAT.

If a solar sensor is not installed, EXTRA AUX replaces SOLAR HEAT and may be used to control an auxiliary (see
"Auxiliary Equipment" to turn on or off EXTRA AUX).

For solar heating to take place, the SOLAR HEAT (in EQUIPMENT ON/OFF) must be enabled, also the filter pump
must be on. Solar temperature must be at least 5° F above the water temperature and the water must be cooler than the
thermostat setting.

 

[kimkats]

I don't know but here is a bump to get this in front of more eyes.

 

[Pool Clown]

I bet you can run the pump on a schedule, just treat it like any another aux, but i don't think you could get it to be thermostatically controlled unless you had it tied to the POOL or SPA aux. You would just run it for X amount of hours per day. I suppose if your days are relatively the same temp throughout the season, you could dial it in pretty close with respect to run time.

 

[Total_Noob]

Hi Thanks for the idea of having a separate circuit. I am simply looking for an energy efficient system. I got a friend who is a builder to call Zodiac - the response was pretty clear and reasonably makes sense in my view as to why its designed that way:

Q. Can the Solar Pump be run independently to the filtration pump on the AquaLink (RS) i.e. Can the solar pump still work if it's assigned and the filter pump isn't operating? A. Yes the solar dedicated pump can run with AquaLink PDA or RS but the filter pump is required to run also. The reason for this is the temperature sensor for the pool water is installed on the filtration system so the AquaLink needs to know the water temperature to activate the solar pump. For this reason this is why we push the VS pump as the AquaLink systems are really designed for a one pump heating/filtration system.

 

[Pool Clown]

Great explanation, If you had not yet purchased a filter pump! If you already have a pump, that explanation doesn't help much. Or if your filter pump was old, and you were looking to replace, then yes, a VS pump would be the best choice. I believe Jandy RS will allow you to set a separate speed for when the solar cycles on (raise the speed) and then slows back down when solar cycles off.