Automation issues after power outages

[tightchevelle69]

To preface this, we had several short power outages from hurricane Helene and I don’t know if the issue started at that point or a couple days later. About a week and a half ago I noticed my hot tub wasn’t overflowing into the pool. Initially I thought my pool person hadn’t sealed the pump basket lid completely and it sucked air and ran dry, which has happened before. I checked the pump and it wasn’t running but the lid was in place and the basket area was full of water. I opened my panel and it said the pump should be running so I turned off the breaker for the pump and waited about 30 seconds and turned it back on and the pump came on. Next day I noticed the same issue and went through the same sequence and it started back up. 3rd day it still wasn’t running, I checked my wired indoor panel and it said “no comm”. Went out to the panel, flipped the breaker off and back on and the pump didn’t start. I opened the panel cover on the pump and pressed the start button and it started up. That is still the only way I can get it to turn on at this point. The indoor panel still says no comm. Every time the pump isn’t running I go out and the intellichlor ic-60 is on and my pool lights still come on at night. What can I check or is it time to replace the whole panel or pump? Pics attached of what I have.

Additional thought that may or may not be related. There have been several times over the last month that I have noticed the intellichlor circuit breaker has tripped.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TC,

Tell me what the display on the pump shows, when it should be running and is not... Is the display blank, or does it should an RPM screen of some kind, or does it show "Display Not Active"?

One thing to try is to disconnect the outside remote antenna, and see if the pump then starts to run normally from a schedule..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

Tell me what the display on the pump shows, when it should be running and is not... Is the display blank, or does it should an RPM screen of some kind, or does it show "Display Not Active"?

One thing to try is to disconnect the outside remote antenna, and see if the pump then starts to run normally from a schedule..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I will check the display when I get home. I know it did not say display not active.

The outside antenna, are you referring to the attached image? That’s the only antenna I know of and I don’t even know what it does or is for. I thought it was for the indoor panel until I realized that was wired.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TC,

Yes, that antenna.. You should just be able to unplug it..

I 'assumed' you had a wireless remote... If not, what is the antenna for? Do you also have ScreenLogic???

The basic problem with the RS-485 com port is that a failure in anything connected to the com port, can cause the whole com port to lock up.

If the pump does not show "Display not active" then the EasyTouch can't control it.. Might also check the com cable at the pump, and makes sure there is no corrosion on the pins, both the pins in the cable and the pins on the pump side.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

Yes, that antenna.. You should just be able to unplug it..

I 'assumed' you had a wireless remote... If not, what is the antenna for? Do you also have ScreenLogic???

The basic problem with the RS-485 com port is that a failure in anything connected to the com port, can cause the whole com port to lock up.

If the pump does not show "Display not active" then the EasyTouch can't control it.. Might also check the com cable at the pump, and makes sure there is no corrosion on the pins, both the pins in the cable and the pins on the pump side.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I dont have screen logic that I know of. I am the second owner and all i can tell you is the previous owners were cheap when it came to repairs. So there could have been a wireless remote at some point but we were never given it or have found one. My guess is if it stopped working he checked to see how much it was going to be to fix it and he decided to just toss it. Same reason there are all the extra wires in the bottom of the box, they run to switches by the back door that used to control the different pieces of equipment but whenever they put in the easy touch they just disconnected the switches and left all the wiring and switches in place rather than removing them and patching the wall. I have so many unused switches around the house its not even funny!

If its not raining this afternoon I'll see what the pump display says, disconnect the antenna, and check the cable and pins and let you know what I find. Thanks for the help!

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

Yes, that antenna.. You should just be able to unplug it..

I 'assumed' you had a wireless remote... If not, what is the antenna for? Do you also have ScreenLogic???

The basic problem with the RS-485 com port is that a failure in anything connected to the com port, can cause the whole com port to lock up.

If the pump does not show "Display not active" then the EasyTouch can't control it.. Might also check the com cable at the pump, and makes sure there is no corrosion on the pins, both the pins in the cable and the pins on the pump side.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Ok, there is no screen on the pump, that’s why I couldn’t remember what it said. To get the pump running I hit the start button and that light comes on and it starts. That’s the only thing that changes on the pump from running and not running. The pins look to be good and clean on the pump and the cable end. I unplugged the wire block inside the antenna end. Didn’t seem to make a difference that I could tell.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TC,

Rats... Using the EasyTouch panel, see if you can change the IC60's output percent.. I just want to see if the com port is working at all.

Set the output to zero and see if the output lights change to all off.. If it does, set the output to 100% and see if all the output lights turn green. It might take a few minutes for things to change.

While you are in the EasyTouch, check to see if your pump type is set to VS (don't change it right now) Then make sure that the Pool Circuit has a speed assigned.

Thanks,


Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

Rats... Using the EasyTouch panel, see if you can change the IC60's output percent.. I just want to see if the com port is working at all.

Set the output to zero and see if the output lights change to all off.. If it does, set the output to 100% and see if all the output lights turn green. It might take a few minutes for things to change.

While you are in the EasyTouch, check to see if your pump type is set to VS (don't change it right now) Then make sure that the Pool Circuit has a speed assigned.

Thanks,


Jim R.

Well I think it’s the ic60. On the intellichlor it said no communication. Pump doesn’t say vs but will allow you to change speeds. I unplugged the cable to the ic60 and the pump kicked on without me touching anything else. So I guess it’s time for a new one. Your thoughts?

 

[Jimrahbe]

TC,

Let's think about this for a minute...

Your Pump, Inside remote, and SWCG show no comms.. It could be the pump, or the remote, or the SWCG or the main card, as they all use the same com port.

I suggest that you disconnect the com port wires going to the SWCG's power center, and the wires going to the inside remote.. Then with just the pump connected to the com port on the main card, see if your pump starts to work..

I suspect that one of the devices that use the com port is bad, locking up the com port and not allowing any com port device to work.. To troubleshoot this problem, you need to connect just one device at a time and see if you can get any of them to work. If none work individually, then most likely the main card's com port chips are bad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

Let's think about this for a minute...

Your Pump, Inside remote, and SWCG show no comms.. It could be the pump, or the remote, or the SWCG or the main card, as they all use the same com port.

I suggest that you disconnect the com port wires going to the SWCG's power center, and the wires going to the inside remote.. Then with just the pump connected to the com port on the main card, see if your pump starts to work..

I suspect that one of the devices that use the com port is bad, locking up the com port and not allowing any com port device to work.. To troubleshoot this problem, you need to connect just one device at a time and see if you can get any of them to work. If none work individually, then most likely the main card's com port chips are bad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I disconnected everything and I have left the antenna unplugged since I don’t have anything for it to send a signal to. That’s leaves the wires that run to the indoor panel and the wires that run to the swcg board. With the cable from the ic60 still connected to the box, I still have the same issue no matter which set or combination of wires are connected. If I disconnect the cable that runs from the ic60 to the IT box then everything works correctly except the ic60 has no power going to it. Pump comes on and goes off with the button on the panel and the indoor panel. Indoor panel works fine and allows me to go through settings and options when it’s connected and the wires that run to the swcg board are connected and the cable from the ic60 is unplugged. As soon as I plug in the cable that comes from the ic60 it goes back to not letting me go through settings and giving me “no comms”

Edited to say the pins on the ic60 cable all look good as well. I’ve also had problems in the past of it not producing chlorine even after cleaning and low salt readings even though multiple tests from different places give me a good salt readings.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TC,

Just to make sure we are both on the same page...

There are two different Com chips in the SWCG system.. One is in the SWCG (cell) itself, the other is on the board the provides the DC power to the cell.. It appears to me this board (Surge card) is inside your automation, most likely mounted to the back wall of the EasyTouch.

Just want to confirm that this surge card was connected to the com port, when everything worked, with the cell disconnected.. If so, it sure sounds like a bad salt cell to me...

Edit.. How old is the cell??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

Just to make sure we are both on the same page...

There are two different Com chips in the SWCG system.. One is in the SWCG (cell) itself, the other is on the board the provides the DC power to the cell.. It appears to me this board (Surge card) is inside your automation, most likely mounted to the back wall of the EasyTouch.

Just want to confirm that this surge card was connected to the com port, when everything worked, with the cell disconnected.. If so, it sure sounds like a bad salt cell to me...

Edit.. How old is the cell??

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes, the card inside the easy touch is mounted to the bottom of the low voltage section and it was connected to the comm port with everything working as long as the cable was not connected from the cell itself.

I don’t know the age of the cell. We have lived in the house a little over 3 years and it didn’t look new when we moved in.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TC,

There is a S/N label on the bottom side of the cell, that same label has the MFG date..

Most cells last 5 to seven years. That said, most cells don't fail because of an RS-485 issue..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

There is a S/N label on the bottom side of the cell, that same label has the MFG date..

Most cells last 5 to seven years. That said, most cell don't fail because of an RS-485 issue..

Thanks,

Jim R.

never paid attention to that sticker before. Looks like it’s right at 6 years old so probably about that time.

 

[tightchevelle69]

TC,

There is a S/N label on the bottom side of the cell, that same label has the MFG date..

Most cells last 5 to seven years. That said, most cell don't fail because of an RS-485 issue..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yeah, I don’t think it’s a problem with the actual cable, just something on the board inside the cell. My local small pool supply store is supposed to get me a price on a new cell on Monday. I figure worst case scenario is I buy a new cell to put in and it doesn’t fix the problem then I can put it back in the box and keep it for when the current one is actually dead. Thanks for all your help. I’ll update when I get a new one and if it fixes the issue.

 

[mknauss]

For price comparison -- Pentair 521105 IntelliChlor IC60 Salt Chlorine Generator Cell

 

[Jimrahbe]

Also,

Pentair IntelliChlor Chlorine Generator IC60 Cell (to 60,000 gallons)

Jim R.

 

[tightchevelle69]

Also,

Pentair IntelliChlor Chlorine Generator IC60 Cell (to 60,000 gallons)

Jim R.

Got a new cell yesterday afternoon and put it in. So far everything is working correctly. I set a couple different on/off times yesterday to test and everything worked flawlessly and it came back on this morning at its regularly scheduled time. Thanks for the help @Jimrahbe and working through it with me! Im sure Ill be back here with issues again soon as all this stuff is getting older.