Connection Issues with Pentair Protocol Adapter / Easytouch 8 system

[timothyb69]

What I am seeing:
After restarting my system this spring I am having issues connecting to my system with my ScreenLogic software from both my phone app and my computer. Checked all cabling to eliminate this as an issue.

Problem: I can only connect to my Pentair Easy Touch 8 pool system for the first 30-60 seconds after I cycle power on the protocol adapter. After that I cannot connect. Spoke with Pentair Tech Support and they believe it is the Protocol adapter after some trouble shooting and based on the characteristics of the problem.

Has anyone seen this issue before? Do you agree this is a protocol adapter failure.

Additional info: Protocol adapter is in the house connected directly to main router port with a brand new cable. RS-485 (4 conductor) goes from house to easy touch 8. I connected the protocol adapter directly to eeasytouch 8 with short cable and disconnected the other RS-485 connections (heater, chlorine generator, and VS pool pump) and still see the issue.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Jimrahbe]

Tim,

I have not heard of that specific problem..

On your PC, what happens after 60 seconds? Can you still get into the config setup pages from your PC?

Have you tried to reload the adapters F/W? https://www.pentair.com/en/knowledg...pa-software-downloads/screenlogic-update.html

Did you install a new modem or router during the off season?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[timothyb69]

on my pc or phone app it is the same. I lose my connection and cannot reconnect unless i cycle power to the protocol adapter again and the cycle continues. so after 60 seconds you cannot connect you cannot get into the config pages or get into the pool Control section. I replaced the ethernet cable going from the router to the record after I check the RS 485 wiring By bypassing with a short length of cable. It appears to be the protocol doctor but replacing it is expensive like around $400 and if that doesn’t fix the problem now I’m back to square one

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

Sounds like a LAN IP address conflict. Have you added any devices to your LAN? Are all the devices using DHCP or do any have static LAN addresses?

 

[timothyb69]

Good point. i don’t think this is the issue as the protocol adapter uses DHCP i believe. Nothing else on my network is having issues and i have not changed anything on my network since last fall.

 

[setsailsoon]

tim,

Before you fork out the big bucks I'd try to get into your router configuration and check to see if your connected device is communicating with the router properly. If not, this is a confirmation you need to replace the expensive device. I have Xfinity by Comcast. If yours is not the same you'll have a similar page you get to but not necessarily identical. To get to mine I type in 10.0.0.1 for the address in my browser then enter the login information. If you haven't set it up there are default settings for each modem. You can google for them. Below is the initial screen and the screen you want to get to is "connected devices (second screen). If your device is listed and green then it's communicating properly with your router indicating it's functioning. If not, its confirmation you may need to replace. I used this to help narrow down my iAqualink problem after a lightning strike. Problem turned out to be the communications chip on the board. Turns out they often get fried after a power surge. I had a red dot for the iAqualink. I deleted the connection and then reinstalled the device. Never got past the red dot. When I replaced the board it connected with a green dot immediately.

I hope this helps.

Chris

 

[timothyb69]

Chris:
thank you for taking the time to help my diagnose this. This is a good idea. i am going to che k my router and see the connection status of my adapter and see what i can find.
tim