EasyTouch/ScreenLogic: Heater runs when Spa schedule runs, even though heat command is Off

[DrewLG]

I'm trying to prevent my heater from turning on when my Spa schedule runs.

Schedules on the EasyTouch are as follows:

• Pool mode (very low RPM) 21 hours/day, from 8pm until 5pm.
• Spillway mode twice a day during that time, for 20 minutes to freshen the spa water.
• Spa mode right after one of the Spillway schedules, for 5 minutes, to prevent water in the spa drain and the suction pipe from stagnating.

There's also a couple of Robot schedules, and a "Chlorinator" and a "High Speed" schedule (which are just higher RPMs in Pool mode).

Everything works fine except this: In the PC Screenlogic app, I've set the Heat Command option for both the Pool schedule and the Spa schedule to "Off". But the heater unexpectedly turns on every time the Spa schedule runs.

Total number of schedules is 10, including egg timers (I have no Run-Once schedules). I've compared my Screenlogic schedules to the ones shown on the EasyTouch LCD screen, and they match -- except I don't see a "Heat Command" schedule option on the LCD.

Am I misunderstanding what "Off" means in this context? Is there something else I should do instead, to prevent the system from turning on the heater for this scheduled Spa run, while still allowing the heater to work whenever I manually turn on the Spa for some soak time?

My schedules:

 

[Jimrahbe]

Drew,

I honestly do not know why it is not working, but try these two things...

1.... Menu, Settings, Manual Heat, ON..
2... In Screen Logic set heat command to "Don't change" instead of off.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

The ET has a “Heater” menu item. There are options for both the Pool and Spa. If you set the SPA heat option to OFF, then the heater should not come on. If it does, then it sounds like the heater may not be wired correctly.

Is the heater controlled by the Fireman’s switch or by RS485 ?

 

[ajw22]

Is the heater controlled by the Fireman’s switch or by RS485 ?

MasterTemp RS-485 heater control can only be done by the IntelliCenter. The EasyTouch always uses the Fireman's switch.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

1.... Menu, Settings, Manual Heat, ON..

Jim has the right answer (as usual). Setting Manual Heat ON disables scheduled heat. Spa heat will only come on when the spa is manually activated.

 

[DrewLG]

1.... Menu, Settings, Manual Heat, ON..
2... In Screen Logic set heat command to "Don't change" instead of off.

The ET has a “Heater” menu item. There are options for both the Pool and Spa. If you set the SPA heat option to OFF, then the heater should not come on. If it does, then it sounds like the heater may not be wired correctly.

Matt, I should have mentioned that the system's been unchanged and working fine in all other ways (including heating the pool or spa on command) for years. Sorry for leaving out that crucial bit of info.

Jim, Manual Heat was already on, but I toggled it off and then back to on for good luck. I've changed the Heat Command in the Pool and Spa schedules to "Don't Change" -- I'll post again tomorrow and let you know how that worked.

Thanks to both of you for the very quick responses.

 

[mknauss]

I have Spa Manual Heat checked and my heater runs when I select spa.

Any reason you are scheduling the spa for just 5 minutes? Not sure what that is achieving with Spillway already scheduled.

 

[DrewLG]

Any reason you are scheduling the spa for just 5 minutes? Not sure what that is achieving with Spillway already scheduled.

It's just to flush the spa drain line, which otherwise wouldn't get any flow in pool or spillway mode.

 

[mknauss]

Not sure that is needed. Have never done it in 9 years. Only when we turn the spa on. About twice a year.

 

[DrewLG]

Not sure that is needed. Have never done it in 9 years. Only when we turn the spa on. About twice a year.

Hmm, good to know. If Jim's idea doesn't fix it, maybe I can just delete that schedule.

 

[DrewLG]

@Jimrahbe It worked! Thank you!