Circupool flow switch service

[sande005]

So of course I get the no flow light on my RJ45+ on the hottest day so far, and a Saturday no less. A little over a year old. I unplugged the RJ11 phone connector at the unit, and used my ohm meter on the pins. Yep, always an open circuit, no matter the flow. So it is the flow switch. Previous threads have noted it is easy to swap out - just unscrew and screw the new one in. But I have to wait for Monday to call them, and then there is shipping.

Anyone have any luck taking the existing out, and fixing it? Mine only has two wires - red and black, so I'm assuming there is no temp sensor in the switch.

Since I run it on a timer with the pump...might I dig out my old crimper and rj11 jacks, and make a shorting plug for it? Just for use until the new arrives, of course. Yeah, defeating a safety item, but it might get me through. Anyone done it? Would hate to damage the main control unit - then the warranty folks might frown a awful lot.

 

[Texas Splash]

I applaud your DIY skills. Besides the safety factor you noted, I would be concerned about the warranty as well. Maybe just leave it off and add liquid each day until the new one arrives?

 

[sande005]

Found the crimper. I used to have to build data cables for work back in the day before ethernet, so of course had similar in parts of my house. But no RJ11 "phone plug" ends.
Since it would mean a trip to the hardware store, a couple of cases of chlorine would be the better thing to spend money on....

 

[sande005]

So the good - Circupool quickly agreed the switch was bad, and is sending a new.
Irritating, but it is what it is - warranty is prorated, and I'm a few months over the 100% coverage. $28 shipped, vs the web price of $79 plus S&H.
The tech did say it was fine to just cut the cable, and twist the two wires together to make a temporary jumper to get production up and running.
(But to others finding this later - make sure by looking at the phone plug that there are only two wires. Some flow switches have a temp sensor also...so you are on your own if attempting this bypass of the safety feature the flow switch provides).

 

[TinFoilHat]

This is how I bypassed my Hayward flow switch. Then I made sure my T15 timer did not start the cell until after the pump was running and that it turned off the cell before the pump turned off.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

So the good - Circupool quickly agreed the switch was bad, and is sending a new.
Irritating, but it is what it is - warranty is prorated, and I'm a few months over the 100% coverage. $28 shipped, vs the web price of $79 plus S&H.
The tech did say it was fine to just cut the cable, and twist the two wires together to make a temporary jumper to get production up and running.
(But to others finding this later - make sure by looking at the phone plug that there are only two wires. Some flow switches have a temp sensor also...so you are on your own if attempting this bypass of the safety feature the flow switch provides).

Are they sending you the newer 3-wire switch? My 2-wire flow switch went bad after about 3 years.

 

[sande005]

Nope, just a 2 wire - apparently for the RJ45+ then temp sensor is in the main unit.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Yes, I misspoke. My issue was a bad temp sensor in the salt cell. I had to replace the 2-wire switch with the updated flow switch that includes the temp sensor.