My AGP gets uncomfortably hot in July/August here in North Carolina. I want to use PVC pipe to create a sprayer/fountain to lower the pool temperature but I only want to run it for a few hours in the middle of the night. I do not have pool automation. I was thinking about teeing off of my return line into an actuated valve ( maybe a sprinkler valve) connected to some type of timer. Has anyone done anything like this, or have any suggestions?
DIY valve automation for cooling pool
- Thread starter JoCoSteve
- Start date
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,544
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I'm sure it could be done. Do you have a WiFi enabled irrigation controller? You should be able to find a 1.5" irrigation valve for the sprayer line. I assume you would run the pump and just activate the cooler during the pump runtime? You could use a Jandy style valve with an actuator and control it with an irrigation timer or simple WiFi relays.
Here's an article from the Wiki section. May help out a bit...
www.troublefreepool.com
Here's an article from the Wiki section. May help out a bit...
Cooling A Pool - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
I don’t have any type of controller right now. Looking for adviceI'm sure it could be done. Do you have a WiFi enabled irrigation controller? You should be able to find a 1.5" irrigation valve for the sprayer line. I assume you would run the pump and just activate the cooler during the pump runtime? You could use a Jandy style valve with an actuator and control it with an irrigation timer or simple WiFi relays.
Here's an article from the Wiki section. May help out a bit...
Cooling A Pool - Further Reading
I currently have very little knowledge about irrigation timers, so if there is something specific that I should consider, then please let me know.
I currently don’t have any type of controller, that’s why I’m reaching out to see what others have done before I reinvent the wheel
I would just leave my pump running 24/7 during the time period that I need to cool the pool. Right now I use the timer in my SWG to turn off the pump after night fall, so I would have additional electricity cost with this method.
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,544
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
First, I think you need to address the plumbing. I'm not sure a Tee with a single valve will work for you. The pressure would be split between the return and the fountain and water will take the path of least resistance. You'd probably need to use a diverter valve so you can shut off pressure to the return while directing it to the fountain. Having the ability to adjust the balance between the two will provide you with the proper pressure for your fountain. A diverter valve and actuator are probably going to run about $200 to $250.
Irrigation controllers are relatively simple devices. They plug into a standard 120v socket. They can have several different stations that you can program to switch on/off at given times. A low voltage wire runs to the sprinkler (or actuator) carrying 24 VAC power. You can choose a digital controller that you can only control or schedule from the timer or chose one with Wifi capabilities that provides control from a smart phone via app.
Most of the fountains I've seen are screwed or pressed into a standard pool return. Wanting to switch it on/off automatically at night provides a bigger challenge.
Irrigation controllers are relatively simple devices. They plug into a standard 120v socket. They can have several different stations that you can program to switch on/off at given times. A low voltage wire runs to the sprinkler (or actuator) carrying 24 VAC power. You can choose a digital controller that you can only control or schedule from the timer or chose one with Wifi capabilities that provides control from a smart phone via app.
Most of the fountains I've seen are screwed or pressed into a standard pool return. Wanting to switch it on/off automatically at night provides a bigger challenge.