Hey All!
First off thanks so much for all the great resources on this site. Really helping to put a pool newbie more at ease. We are scheduled for our pool to be built in June 2021 and are trying to finalize and sign-off on all of our equipment and I’m hoping you all can help especially when it comes to the decision on automation. In short, pool will be 18’ X 36’ rectangle w/ sun deck (approx. 18k gallons per designs), vinyl liner, 2 spillways (36” Atlantic Water Gardens Colorfall). No spa.
Equipment proposed from PB is as follows:
VS Pump 3HP Pentair Intelliflo part #011028
Heater Ultratemp 110k btu Pentair Part#460932
Cartridge Filter 200 sq ft Pentair Clean & Clear RP Part#160353
2 Pool Lights Pentair Microbrite Part#620428 (considering upgrade to color but unsure we would use it)
1 Largemouth Hayward Skimmer
Frog system Leapfrog Twin King Technology Part# 01-01-7850
Automatic Cover Motor is Coverstar Eclipse
Based on what I’ve read on the forum I’m already planning to have the PB remove the Frog system and give us a credit for it. We are interested in installing a SWCG which leads into the conundrum of what all to pay for the PB to install (unfortunately at the PB markups).
For automation I basically just want to be able to control the pump, SWCG, heater, lights, actuator valves for turning on the spillways, and sense the position of the cover (just so that the spillways won’t be able to turn on when the cover is closed). I’ve read through many of the posts from @cmc0619, @Katodude, and @MyAZPool and think that I am leaning toward having the PB do only the basic install with load center and then going down the separate box DIY raspberrypi route but wanted to get other opinions. I am admittedly a novice when it comes to electrical and coding but am willing to learn and will also have my father-in-law available who is a retired IT guy.
Thanks in advance for all the great advice!
First off thanks so much for all the great resources on this site. Really helping to put a pool newbie more at ease. We are scheduled for our pool to be built in June 2021 and are trying to finalize and sign-off on all of our equipment and I’m hoping you all can help especially when it comes to the decision on automation. In short, pool will be 18’ X 36’ rectangle w/ sun deck (approx. 18k gallons per designs), vinyl liner, 2 spillways (36” Atlantic Water Gardens Colorfall). No spa.
Equipment proposed from PB is as follows:
VS Pump 3HP Pentair Intelliflo part #011028
Heater Ultratemp 110k btu Pentair Part#460932
Cartridge Filter 200 sq ft Pentair Clean & Clear RP Part#160353
2 Pool Lights Pentair Microbrite Part#620428 (considering upgrade to color but unsure we would use it)
1 Largemouth Hayward Skimmer
Automatic Cover Motor is Coverstar Eclipse
Based on what I’ve read on the forum I’m already planning to have the PB remove the Frog system and give us a credit for it. We are interested in installing a SWCG which leads into the conundrum of what all to pay for the PB to install (unfortunately at the PB markups).
For automation I basically just want to be able to control the pump, SWCG, heater, lights, actuator valves for turning on the spillways, and sense the position of the cover (just so that the spillways won’t be able to turn on when the cover is closed). I’ve read through many of the posts from @cmc0619, @Katodude, and @MyAZPool and think that I am leaning toward having the PB do only the basic install with load center and then going down the separate box DIY raspberrypi route but wanted to get other opinions. I am admittedly a novice when it comes to electrical and coding but am willing to learn and will also have my father-in-law available who is a retired IT guy.
- Will I be able to accomplish everything outlined automation wise through the DIY solution?
- Regarding the SWCG – pros and cons of going with a Circupool model vs sticking with the Pentair Intellichlor? I would like to install this myself to avoid the PB markups. It seems like the only advantage of the Pentair Intellichlor would be if I went down the route of upgrading and installing everything into the Pentair Intellicenter with the built in load/power center but then I lose basically all warranty options and it significantly ups the budget.
- It looks like many people are perfectly happy running the nodejs pool controller on its own but what would I be missing out on by not having the Intellicenter also installed and using the nodejs dashboard functionality? Is it worth it just to pay the $4500 for the Intellicenter including the SWCG?
- Has anyone accomplished the monitoring of the position of the auto-cover via the DIY route? I can’t seem to find anything on the forum outside of the use of the pool cover expansion card with the Intellicenter. I think I will definitely need to have the rotary encoder (Automatic Pool Cover Parts) installed but unsure of how to integrate that into DIY controller interface.
Thanks in advance for all the great advice!