Constant spillway automation needed

[JohnLand]

Need some equipment advice, currently don’t have automation so spillway is running all the time when the pump is on, I know that can raise ph. Constantly out of town for couple days for work, so unable to adjust valves manually everyday. do I need to install an automation system or constant spillway running ok.

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Constant spillway running causes pH to rise more rapidly and can erode the stone and grout in the spillway area. It is ok if you are willing to deal with the maintenance issues it creates.

 

[Jimrahbe]

John,

You could kluge something together to turn just your Return valve.. This assumes that you have Jandy style valves and not ball valves..

You'd need a valve actuator, a 24 VAC source (wall wart), and timer of some type that could turn on a relay.. You could set the timer to turn the valve so that the spillover would only run for a short time once or twice a day..

Show us several pics of your equipment pad, so we can see if this makes sense..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JohnLand]

Ignore the single speed pump I am replacing it with a intelliflo3

 

[Jimrahbe]

John,

Your return valve is right after your new salt cell...

I assume, you have this valve set to shut off any spa spillover... Is this true??

If so, you know that to get the spillover to work, this valve has to be open, at least some, to allow extra water to go to the spa, causing the spa to spillover..

If you added an actuator to this valve, then it would be in the position where it is now, when you did not want a spillover. When you did want a spillover, the actuator would open this valve and allow water to go to your spa..

If you plan to get an IntelliFlo3, you could also get the relay card, so you could use it as a timer.. (I think anyway..) Did you already have plans to use the relay card option for anything other than your salt cell??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JohnLand]

I have the spa return side very slightly open now, I did not plan on getting the relay card for the Intelliflo, was just going to keep the salt cell wired to the old timer.

 

[JohnLand]

Those of you that have automation, you’ll feel like it is worth the hefty cost for a basic spa/pool combo without any water features?

 

[ajw22]

Those of you that have automation, you’ll feel like it is worth the hefty cost for a basic spa/pool combo without any water features?

Yup.

 

[JohnLand]

Anybody here have the poolside tech attendant system?

 

[HermanTX]

Need some equipment advice, currently don’t have automation so spillway is running all the time when the pump is on, I know that can raise ph. Constantly out of town for couple days for work, so unable to adjust valves manually everyday. do I need to install an automation system or constant spillway running ok.

Thanks

I had a system where there was a return to the spa constantly when in Pool mode (in addition to returns to the pool). Could not changed it easily as the plumbing was underground. Fortunately my spa was level with the pool (not an elevated spa), so I just put my water level a little higher for the whole pool and with the VS pump on low speed it was more of a dribble over the spillway so it was not affecting my pH much.