I currently have an intex sand filter and an intex swg. They are new this year, but they drive me crazy because every time the power goes out the sand filter’s plug trips and I have to manually reset which then messes up the timing on the SWG. I want to go with an automated system. Hard plumbing and solar heat is on my honey do list for fall, so it would be a good time to switch. Recommendations?
Automation for above ground pool?
- Thread starter Acmfl
- Start date
I am no automation guru but I would find a DIY/Rasberry PI kind of project. Spending more than the cost of the rest of the pool on just automation is crazy IMHO, But if you want to spend your money doing it, I’m in to watch. 
I am no automation guru but I would find a DIY/Rasberry PI kind of project. Spending more than the cost of the rest of the pool on just automation is crazy IMHO, But if you want to spend your money doing it, I’m in to watch.
well I may find that true and nix the whole idea. If I can’t find/make something I will see about replacing the filter pump with a different one that would at least not trip all the time. If I could at least program it to run at different times of the day, not just for the swg, that would be a plus. Right now if I want to run the pool cleaner, it messes up the timer. If I want to run my fountain, it messes up the timer, etc.
I had an outdoor timer and it quit on me so I replaced it with a WIFI Outdoor Plug and am glad I did. You use the Smart Life app to control it. I have the pool pump on one outlet and have my SWG on a constant plug, the model of my SWG doesn't have a physical switch like my old one so you can't use a timer on it without internal electrical modifications (if even possible). So every time the power is removed it defaults to off state and you have to push the button on the control panel to power it on and start. Pain in the rear compared to the old model where I could use a timer on it.
Are you handy going the DIY route ? There are tons of tech gurus and fanatics here whom I sure would be happy to walk you through spending hundreds instead of thousands.
www.troublefreepool.com
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www.troublefreepool.com
Are you handy going the DIY route ? There are tons of tech gurus and fanatics here whom I sure would be happy to walk you through spending hundreds instead of thousands.
Google search results
We do almost everything ourselves, so my husband is very handy, and I am fairly handy myself since I always end up being his helper, researcher and QC on every thing we do. Hundreds would be much better than thousands. So yes, comfortable with DIY.
Yes this is exactly what happened to me when I replaced my black diamond cartridge filter with the intex sand pump. Unfortunately, it also trips the plug so I have to go into the sockit box protecting the plugs and reset that, then turn it on with the button at the time of day I want it to run, then after 30 minutes or so go turn on the swg. Which is a pain when I’m home, but really bad if I’m traveling. We’ve been having lots of quick power outages lately so it’s become an issue.
Are you using the Intex GFCI plug with a GFCI outlet? If so then remove the one from the pump and SWG and the GFCI shouldn't trip. I might be misinterpreting you on that. Are the new intex pumps run the same way as the SWG with no switch and manual timer like in the past?
I don't have a lot of power outages so I haven't had the urgency to figure out how to bypass the push button on the SWG so it will come on with my timer. If you figure out how to bypass that please share how you did it.
Yes, the intex pump and the swg both have the gfci plugs and no manual on/off Switch, just the button. Back in 2014 I had an intex swg that had a manual on/off switch. It was great! You hooked it up to a timer and it was on. There was no programming the unit, just the separate timer. I’ve had 2 intex swgs since and both have the new setup. Strangely, the swg plug doesn’t trip, just the sand filter. Every time we lose power Even if the pump isn’t running. Are you saying just cut off the plug ends and use a regular plug on the pumps?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,484
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Intex equipment is pretty low end. Look at upgrading to a Hayward pump and filter and an Aquatrol SWG that can control the pump and SWG runtime.
It all depends on your money versus hassle factor.
It all depends on your money versus hassle factor.
If your outlet already has a GFCI outlet or breaker yes remove the GFCI from the pump and SWG with a standard plug. If there are two GFCI's like that they seem to trip. If the circuit doesn't have a GFCI keep the cord GFCI's or put a GFCI outlet in and remove the ones on the cords (might be the better option).
That's what I did to my old Intex pump, cut the gfci off and replaced it with a standard 3 prong and plugged into a gfci outlet, worked great.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,050
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I 3rd what they said 
. So long as you’re plugged into a gfci it should be fine. I have done this & my swg’s no longer have to be reset due to power outages. My pump is not an intex though so not sure how that would go for u. I personally like the ease of the intex swg built in timer & my pump is on an intermatic timer so i just set it for on an hour before & off an hour after my swg. Easy breezy.
. So long as you’re plugged into a gfci it should be fine. I have done this & my swg’s no longer have to be reset due to power outages. My pump is not an intex though so not sure how that would go for u. I personally like the ease of the intex swg built in timer & my pump is on an intermatic timer so i just set it for on an hour before & off an hour after my swg. Easy breezy.
I have GFI plugs with in-use covers. I removed the Intex GFI bulky nightmare and installed a 90 degree plug from Home Depot. The timers in the Intex seem to be working fine though they are brand new. As mentioned we will be upgrading our pump and moving to 1.5" standard intake/exhaust.
My husband is going to be THRILLED that I’m adding more to his honey do list. I have rewiring electric, hard plumbing, solar heat, and now replacing gfci plug. Thanks for all the suggestions!
I had some time a couple weekends ago and did some testing for my SWG. I was able to figure out that it is indeed a momentary switch for the power button. I did a test to see if just shorting the switch if it would indeed come on and off with my wifi outlet switch and it does. The only drawback that I can see is that with the power switch shorted you no longer have control of any of the buttons on the control panel and the boost button now will turn on/off the SWG. This is not a big deal to me and it seems that all the alarms, faults still function (low, high salt etc.) I originally shorted the switch and my timer was set to 5hrs so in order to change the setting to 12hrs I had to remove the short and set the timer on the SWG and then short it again. I just used a short piece of wire to short the switch and now when I power on the SWG from my smart plug it comes on and starts running. I don't know if there will be any downfalls of this but as of now it is working as it should minus no control of the panel buttons. I am willing to take the chance on this because it is old and I just replaced the titanium cell and it was getting a high salt fault so I had to bypass the control panel anyway for the cell to work. Here are a couple pics of what I did.
Do you have any automation setup as of yet? Depending on how far you want to go with it will depend on what you will purchase and setup for your needs.
I am not going to go crazy with my setup so I am just using products that work with the "Smart Life" app. I can set up "automation" based on time, weather, sunset and some of the if this then this stuff. It gives me the option to manually turn stuff on or a timer/count down. From what little research I have done for the home automation it seems like a good majority of people don't like the cloud based stuff like this for the bigger automation stuff but it works fine for me.
There are other app based stuff out there also, you just have to kind of keep everything the same so you don't have to have a bunch of apps running all your stuff. I can use Google home, Amazon echo etc with my setup also.
Good luck with whatever you decide to go with if you go that route.
Do you have any automation setup as of yet? Depending on how far you want to go with it will depend on what you will purchase and setup for your needs.
I am not going to go crazy with my setup so I am just using products that work with the "Smart Life" app. I can set up "automation" based on time, weather, sunset and some of the if this then this stuff. It gives me the option to manually turn stuff on or a timer/count down. From what little research I have done for the home automation it seems like a good majority of people don't like the cloud based stuff like this for the bigger automation stuff but it works fine for me.
There are other app based stuff out there also, you just have to kind of keep everything the same so you don't have to have a bunch of apps running all your stuff. I can use Google home, Amazon echo etc with my setup also.
Good luck with whatever you decide to go with if you go that route.