Electrical/Technical Question on CircuPool Universal 40 SWG

[Seadweller]

Greetings!

I'm troubleshooting my CircuPool Universal 40 SWG, and I'm trying to rule out the transformer as the issue. I called CircuPool, and they don't have the resistance specifications, nor do they sell a replacement. The Universal 40 is identical to many brands, such as Pureline, Blue Works, Calimar, etc. It's also identical to the Hayward, with a different LCD board layout. I suspect they're all made by the same company, Ningbo Electronics.

I found the transformer resistance spec on the Hayward AquaRite, which is 2.1-2.9 ohms. The resistance on my transformer is 5.X ohms on both pairs of wires (gray/purple and white/blue). The Hayward and CircuPool transformers look identical, and seem to cross many brands. Unfortunately, the label on mine is faded and I can't read the model number. I replaced both the PCB's (main/LCD), and get no power to the system. I put the old PCB back in, and while it powers up, it "freaks out" with lights blinking and the LCD giving a strange readout.

Any insight would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Seadweller]

Well, after a bit more research, only Hayward provides the resistance specs for the transformer. None of the other brands, from CircuPool, to Blue Works, to Pureline, to Calimar, to Rx Clear, to, well, you get the picture, know the info. I did find that the technical specifications of the transformer are identical among all the brands, including Hayward. Further, the bridge diodes are the same specifications. I've come to the conclusion they all use the same technology, including the PCB's (the AquaRite style of system). Internal layouts and cases are identical.

Hayward changed the orientation of the LCD PCB so the LED's and switch are in different locations, thus the front panel was unique, but other brands are now following suit. The base PCB's are all the same. I can't imagine they're go the expense of running/designing their own run of PCB's. What's ironic is that all of the support departments from the various brands will tell you none of the components are cross compatible. I guess it's their way of protecting themselves against the identical, generic $400 systems on AliExpress.

Anyway, the Hayward transformer is an exact replacement for the CircuPool transformer, and all the other AquaRite style brands as well. What's crazy is that these systems are now $1K+, and the Hayward is 50% more than that. You can buy all the parts to assemble a complete control center for under $300, including the case and front panel.

 

[Mdragger88]

Another member, @RJ-45, works on these & has several posts on the similarities of these units. Unfortunately he hasn’t been around in a while but some of his info lives on including in this post thoughts on the Circu-Pool Universal 25 SWG for my pool

Have you ordered and installed the replacement? Keep us posted with your results!

 

[Seadweller]

Well, I have to be a man and admit a foolish oversight. In my rush to get the new board installed, I forgot to install the 2 jumpers for 120V operation. No wonder my dad aways said if I had any sense I'd be dangerous.

 

[Mdragger88]

That pool fever gets us all sometimes!

 

[Newdude]

In my rush to get the new board installed, I forgot to install the 2 jumpers for 120V operation.

ARRRRRR you kidding me ????

Glad it was a simple fix. Full steam ahead !!

 

[Seadweller]

No, I wish I was kidding , but here's what's really odd. I wired the new board up exactly as the old board, which is why I didn't put the jumpers in. The old board did not have jumpers, so I figured the jumpers might be for 220V operation. How the old board worked for 3+ years without the jumpers is a mystery to me.