Automation - Century V-green 270, Aqualink RS4, pool/spa ---> iAqualink Wi-Fi control

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dhy4b

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Dec 22, 2018
6
Ormond Beach, FL
Automation - Century V-green 270, Aqualink RS4, pool/spa ---> iAqualink Wi-Fi control

Hi everyone! First post here, (after having scoured this very helpful forum for over an hour now) thanks to everyone who takes time out to help others in need.

I've got a 2005 built in-ground pool/spa combo that I would like to convert to an iphone controlled system. My main goal is to be able to get my spa going and heated when I'm at a restaurant, etc. My current setup requires me to go to my RS4 panel in my living room and press SPA to activate the valve to stop overflow into the pool, then go outside to the V-green pump and press OVERRIDE HIGH to get the pump going max RPM, then go back inside and press SPA HEAT to get the heat going--then wait 45 minutes for the water to heat. Needless to say, I rarely use my spa!

Now for the question: Has anyone with this equipment successfully completed an upgrade to the iAqualink 2.0 upgrade kit ($669) using the V-green Automation Adapter Kit? ($185)

From what I've been able to research, it seems like the iAqualink 2.0 upgrade kit is a fairly straightforward direct-swap with my 2005 era Aqualink equipment and it appears that if I use the V-green automation adapter kit, my variable speed motor will be able to be controlled by the iAqualink. I'm wondering if I'm correct in my assumptions or if I'm being naive in thinking I can take my relatively old setup and take it into wi-fi function for less than $900?

Thanks, in advance, for any information you all can share!

Danny

Current equipment:

IMG_6121.jpg
 
The automation adapter is going to use up 4 relay outputs on your aqualink panel. I have an RS8 and iAqualink with a Vgreen motor. I set the vGreen Step1 speed to high rpm for the Spa, when I switch from Pool to Spa the panel cuts power to the vgreen then resets it to the high RPM Step1 speed.

LMK if you end up getting the adapter, I havent heard any actual reviews on it
 
Sorry now experience with the v-green adapter but I did the upgrade kit for my rs system 5 years ago. Worked great. I would double check the requirements for iAqualink as I recall there was a requirement for a certain firmware version or later.. Even if this is the case you may be able to upgrade it. As to the result? We love the automation for all the stuff you mentioned. Having temp control at the spa also is fantastic!

Good luck and I hope this helps.
Chris
 
kelleyja said:
The automation adapter is going to use up 4 relay outputs on your aqualink panel. I have an RS8 and iAqualink with a Vgreen motor. I set the vGreen Step1 speed to high rpm for the Spa, when I switch from Pool to Spa the panel cuts power to the vgreen then resets it to the high RPM Step1 speed.

LMK if you end up getting the adapter, I havent heard any actual reviews on it
Click to expand...

@kelleyja I have your exact setup with the RS8, and I am looking at the Vgreen motor to replace a stealth single speed. Did you need to purchase the Vgreen automation adapter to get control via the RS8, or is it somehow able to be connected directly?
 
shellprompt said:
@kelleyja I have your exact setup with the RS8, and I am looking at the Vgreen motor to replace a stealth single speed. Did you need to purchase the Vgreen automation adapter to get control via the RS8, or is it somehow able to be connected directly?
Click to expand...

I connect it to the pump relay directly, without the automation adapter. I've tried connecting the RS485 output to the pump without success. Aqualink gives an epump error, even though the vgreen almost identical to the jandy epump.

The VGreen has a built in timer/scheduler - You can set 3 steps of speed and duration. For my setup I set Step1 to high speed (3000rpm) for 3 hours followed by a low speed Step2.

When switching from pool to spa mode, the power to the relay is cut causing the pump to go to Step1 so I get full speed when switching to spa mode. In either case the pump will default to low speed after 3 hours.
 
Kelleyja, and everyone,

so sorry for the massively delayed response. Had to put this project on hold for some major family matters to attend to. I am happy to report back (as a couple of you have already) that there is definite functionality with Century V-Green 270 and iaqualink 2.0, but it does require the iaqualink upgrade kit (includes a new control board), not just the wireless unit. Kelleyja, I am curious about your installation. When my unit switches modes, it also powers down the pump, but the pump simply reverts back to whichever part of the day's schedule it was doing before. It doesn't default back to the beginning of step 1. Can you tell me how you have your pump set up to default back to the beginning of step 1?
 
dhy4b said:
Kelleyja, and everyone,

so sorry for the massively delayed response. Had to put this project on hold for some major family matters to attend to. I am happy to report back (as a couple of you have already) that there is definite functionality with Century V-Green 270 and iaqualink 2.0, but it does require the iaqualink upgrade kit (includes a new control board), not just the wireless unit. Kelleyja, I am curious about your installation. When my unit switches modes, it also powers down the pump, but the pump simply reverts back to whichever part of the day's schedule it was doing before. It doesn't default back to the beginning of step 1. Can you tell me how you have your pump set up to default back to the beginning of step 1?
Click to expand...

So did you need the the V-green Automation Adapter Kit? ($185)?

Or did the new control board interface directly with the V Green pump?

Thanks!
 
JJOM said:
So did you need the the V-green Automation Adapter Kit? ($185)?

Or did the new control board interface directly with the V Green pump?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
In short, you don’t NEED the automation adapter kit, but you lose some functionality. If you want full functionality, you do need it. My installer originally hooked the Vgreen up to the iAqualink as a standard power on/off setup, with no automation adapter. When setup like this, the Aqualink only powers on/off the pump relay according to the Aqualink’s scheduler. When the Vgreen receives power, it turns on and honors whichever portion of its own programming is correct for that time of day because it has an internally kept clock, even with out AC power. Some have said the Vgreen defaults back to Step 1 after a power cycle—mine does not do this— it goes back to the step it should be on based on the day/time it powers back on. So with this automation adapter-less setup, I had Step 1 on the Vgreen set for 3450rpm (9am-11am) and step 2 at 2650rpm (11am-7pm). On the Aqualink, the schedule was set for filter pump on 9am - 7pm. Meaning, I was getting high speed filtration for my pool cleaner for two hours in the morning and then the Vgreen (Not the iAqualink) scaled it back to a lower speed for the balance of the day. I also set step 3 on the Vgreen to 3450rpm from 7pm - 12am for my spa (which I only use between those hours, usually). On evenings I am not using the spa, the pump doesn’t have power from the iAqualink from 7pm -12am, so Vgreen’s step 3 never takes place. But if I press Spa on the iAqualink (between 7-12am), the filter pump turns on at high speed again, along with the requisite valve actuations. This set up meant I could only use my spa with iAquaLink control between 7pm and 12am. And while this covers most scenarios, I feel the extra $185 to have control over pump speed at any time of day is worth it.

Side note- the automation adapter requires you to remove the onboard screen/controller. The automation adapter allows for 4 preset pump speeds, all of which are controlled in analog via rheostat dials. This means you don’t really know the exact numerical RPM you’re setting except for all the way counterclockwise being the min 600rpm and all the way clockwise being the max 3450rpm. Anything in the middle is approximately via 5% increments (according to the manual), which makes knowing the exact numerical RPMs largely impossible. I made a video recording with sound of the pump running at the 2650rpm before removing the control panel so that I could adjust the rheostat while listening to the pitch of the motor whirr and matched it via pitch/sound. I think I was able to match it accurately that way.

I now have the system completely up and running with the automation adapter and have full control of filtration, spa, cleaner, lights, all from my iPhone. Overall, I’m quite pleased with the setup. My mom has the Pentair system and it is definitely more elegant, with a better user interface, historical data graphs, etc, but it was a new build and cost nearly $3500. For a ~$1000 retrofit with the equipment I already had, this setup works great.
 
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dhy4b said:
In short, you don’t NEED the automation adapter kit, but you lose some functionality. If you want full functionality, you do need it. My installer originally hooked the Vgreen up to the iAqualink as a standard power on/off setup, with no automation adapter. When setup like this, the Aqualink only powers on/off the pump relay according to the Aqualink’s scheduler. When the Vgreen receives power, it turns on and honors whichever portion of its own programming is correct for that time of day because it has an internally kept clock, even with out AC power. Some have said the Vgreen defaults back to Step 1 after a power cycle—mine does not do this— it goes back to the step it should be on based on the day/time it powers back on. So with this automation adapter-less setup, I had Step 1 on the Vgreen set for 3450rpm (9am-11am) and step 2 at 2650rpm (11am-7pm). On the Aqualink, the schedule was set for filter pump on 9am - 7pm. Meaning, I was getting high speed filtration for my pool cleaner for two hours in the morning and then the Vgreen (Not the iAqualink) scaled it back to a lower speed for the balance of the day. I also set step 3 on the Vgreen to 3450rpm from 7pm - 12am for my spa (which I only use between those hours, usually). On evenings I am not using the spa, the pump doesn’t have power from the iAqualink from 7pm -12am, so Vgreen’s step 3 never takes place. But if I press Spa on the iAqualink (between 7-12am), the filter pump turns on at high speed again, along with the requisite valve actuations. This set up meant I could only use my spa with iAquaLink control between 7pm and 12am. And while this covers most scenarios, I feel the extra $185 to have control over pump speed at any time of day is worth it.

Side note- the automation adapter requires you to remove the onboard screen/controller. The automation adapter allows for 4 preset pump speeds, all of which are controlled in analog via rheostat dials. This means you don’t really know the exact numerical RPM you’re setting except for all the way counterclockwise being the min 600rpm and all the way clockwise being the max 3450rpm. Anything in the middle is approximately via 5% increments (according to the manual), which makes knowing the exact numerical RPMs largely impossible. I made a video recording with sound of the pump running at the 2650rpm before removing the control panel so that I could adjust the rheostat while listening to the pitch of the motor whirr and matched it via pitch/sound. I think I was able to match it accurately that way.

I now have the system completely up and running with the automation adapter and have full control of filtration, spa, cleaner, lights, all from my iPhone. Overall, I’m quite pleased with the setup. My mom has the Pentair system and it is definitely more elegant, with a better user interface, historical data graphs, etc, but it was a new build and cost nearly $3500. For a ~$1000 retrofit with the equipment I already had, this setup works great.
Click to expand...
I am looking for the best way to get this set up. I have the v-green 270 on order (backordered until mid-july everywhere). Can you share how you set it up with the automation adaptor? Do you find that it is good enough? Before I drop the extra $200 on the adaptor, I want to be sure it does what I need. I have plenty of extra relays, so it's not an issue, but it seems a bummer that since the aqualink explicitly has support for VSPs, there isn't a way for it to just talk to the pump directly.
 
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