Automating Heater Bypass - Intellicenter

[dgreenb]

I've recently noticed an issue with the bypass valve where it will switch to the Heater direction upon the initial heat demand, but then close once it's reached the set temp. That all seems fine. However, if the temp drops again and there's a new heat demand, the bypass valve doesn't switch over again, so there's no flow and the high temp sensor trips and shuts off the heater. It'll keep doing the cycle every minute or so until I lower the set temp.

I feel like this used to work, but maybe we just never spent long enough in the Spa for it to matter, or now it's getting cooler and the second demand is happening quicker.



It's just using the fireman's switch to turn on the heater, and the bypass valve is being driven by the Intellicenter, not the heater. Is there a different setting I need somewhere?

 

[ajw22]

I suspect your bypass actuator is flaky. Before you buy a new one let’s do some diagnostics.

What models are the three actuators you have?

Swap the bypass actuator with your RETURN or INTAKE actuator and let’s see how things behave.

 

[dgreenb]

Hmm... worth a shot. I assumed it was a control failure since the valve does turn the first time (and turn back), but it's easy to test. I even have a spare laying around from this adventure:

Intellivalve Autopsy

When I opened up my pool this spring I learned that my heater bypass actuator wasn't working. I seemed to have fallen victim to the blinking Auto light like so many more on this site: https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/is-my-pentair-intellivalve-actuator-broken.255485/...

www.troublefreepool.com

I'll try and play around tomorrow if weather and work play along.