Heater settings

[DrewLG]

I did set a feature to run pump at lower rpm/gpm when heater is activated versus than running at whatever rpm set in other pump feature setting.

There's a lot of other stuff going on that I'm sure you want to solve first... But if I understand you correctly, you're saying that you want the pump to run more slowly with the heater on than with the heater off. Is that right?

If so, make sure that when the heater is on, the flow through it is in the range specified by the heater user's manual. It probably wants around 40-50 GPM, which for most installations is on the higher side of pump speeds.

 

[cmiller73]

There's a lot of other stuff going on that I'm sure you want to solve first... But if I understand you correctly, you're saying that you want the pump to run more slowly with the heater on than with the heater off. Is that right?

Yes.

If so, make sure that when the heater is on, the flow through it is in the range specified by the heater user's manual. It probably wants around 40-50 GPM, which for most installations is on the higher side of pump speeds.

I have. User manual says 40gpm min. I have my pump set just above that. So at this time, if pump/IC circuit is on, I can turn on heater and rpm on pump will slow to the specified gpm output. I find that the slower I pump water the better it is heated. Faster flow and water doesn't heat as much. That had to be configured in SLconfig under pump speed parameters.

 

[cmiller73]

Here is how my panel is wired. Yes pump/IC is on Aux2, but behind mb the connections are swapped with 1 & 2.
And, @ajw22 , as you can see, I do not have GFCI CB on pump or heater. Not sure why they didn't add that. I will look into adding those 2 GFCI breakers.

OAN, I see the heater is not on any relay circuit. Guessing the only thing that controls on/off of heater is the 2 wire lead to the ET panel? All I have is the power conduit and a small wire coming out of it. I do not have a RS-485. Is that because the EC doesn't have that port? I see the IC does.

 

[ajw22]

I find that the slower I pump water the better it is heated. Faster flow and water doesn't heat as much.

The heater puts out a fixed amount of BTU's regardless of water flow rate.

Faster flow gives you the feeling of lower exit water temperature but the amount of BTUs getting into the pool is the same whether the exit water temperature feels hot with a slow flow or feels luke warm with a fast water flow.

You will find the math in Heater Maintenance - Further Reading

 

[ajw22]

It is disappointing that installers are selling obsolete EasyTouch systems when the IntelliCenter is available. And that they do not follow the Installation manual or NEC requirements.

Your SWG transformer is wired for 240V and both the yellow and while wires would need to be moved to AUX3 relay if you still want to make that change.

Guessing the only thing that controls on/off of heater is the 2 wire lead to the ET panel?

Correct.

All I have is the power conduit and a small wire coming out of it. I do not have a RS-485. Is that because the EC doesn't have that port? I see the IC does.

Your EasyTouch has RS-485 ports and they are used for the IntelliChlor SWG and Pentair VS pumps.

The EasyTouch lacks the firmware to control a MasterTemp heater.

 

[cmiller73]

It is disappointing that installers are selling obsolete EasyTouch systems when the IntelliCenter is available. And that they do not follow the Installation manual or NEC requirements.

Your SWG transformer is wired for 240V and both the yellow and while wires would need to be moved to AUX3 relay if you still want to make that change.

View attachment 558266

To be fair, I didn't know the difference between ET and IC at the time. I never had a system like this. Guess I should have done a bit more research on what equipment I was getting. Came from a Hayward SWG and single speed pump system on Intermatic timer.

Well, even moving SWG, the system will not do what I initially questioned. That would be heater triggering pump to turn on. So no point except for taking SWG out of equation when heater is running. Which seems a few, even you, have suggested NOT normal practice.


Went through all those diagrams in the manual and didn't see that the ET had a RS485 for heater. Bummer, but I wonder if the IC configuration does the "hey heater turned on, better turn on pump" command?

 

[ajw22]

Went through all those diagrams in the manual and didn't see that the ET had a RS485 for heater. Bummer, but I wonder if the IC configuration does the "hey heater turned on, better turn on pump" command?

No it does not.

If the pump is not running the heater does not have a good water temperature reading.

The automation and heater only know the water temperature when water is flowing through the pipes where the temperature sensors are.

 

[cmiller73]

Looks like the upgrade panel would cost about $1k.

 

[cmiller73]

No it does not.

If the pump is not running the heater does not have a good water temperature reading.

The automation and heater only know the water temperature when water is flowing through the pipes where the temperature sensors are.

That makes sense in the event it was on a schedule.
If I turn it on, then it could.

Either way, the pump could start up 1st to get water flowing, then have heater start up "IF" water temp is below set temp. Likely would only need a bit of programming.