Help Programming New Valve on Pentair Easytouch

[palayman]

Hi,

I have an Easytouch2 4 with firmware 2.180

My pool came with 2 powered values.

When I switch from Pool to SPA mode both valves change position so that all water is returned to the SPA jets and is taken from the SPA bottom drain. When I switch back to Pool water is returned to regular jets in pool and SPA, while water is taken from the pool bottom drain and skimmer.

There is a small spillway out of the SPA into the pool, but it's not too impressive as I only run the pump at 2000 while filtering to keep my power bill down while getting enough circulations of the pool while filtering.

There was a manual valve to control the relative amount returned to the pool vs the spa to control the amount coming out of the spillway, but I was concerned about circulation in the pool so I leave the value open.

I had the idea to automate this valve so I could put the pool in SPILLWAY mode and up the pool RPM. I did this and a button showed up on the top right of the POOL screen in SCREENLOGIC and I had to option now to change the RPM for this mode.
Valve A: "Spillway" on "Configure Other Equipment" page
Pump 1, Circuit 3: Spillway, Flow 2750 on "Setup Inteliflow" page

Problem is when I turn it on the Spillway valve closes and the RPM go up as wanted, but the two other valves change to SPA mode. Not what I wanted. Any thoughts on what I've done wrong?

Paul

 

[Jimrahbe]

Paul,

The Spillway mode's operation is fixed to use the Intake and Return valves.. It has nothing to do with valve A..

When in the Spillway mode, the Intake valve is set to suck water from the pool and the Return valve is set to send all the water to the Spa. You can't change this operation.

Are you actually using the spillway mode, that comes with the EasyTouch, or did you just name a circuit "Spillway"? You can name any circuit, anything you want, but to actually use the EasyTouch's spillway mode, the Circuit Function has to also be set to "Spillway".

You have added an actuator to what is called "A make-up valve." When in the Pool Mode, the make-up valve sends water to the spa to cause it to overflow in to the pool.

If you set up the "real" spillway mode, your spillover will on work when you turn it on. Since the overflow into the pool is what keeps fresh water in the spa, it needs to run everyday.. Most people that use the Spillway mode, schedule it to run twice a day for 30 minutes each time.

I am not sure why you have to add an actuator to the Make-up valve, if all you want to do is increase the pump's speed? Maybe just me...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[palayman]

Paul,

The Spillway mode's operation is fixed to use the Intake and Return valves.. It has nothing to do with valve A..

When in the Spillway mode, the Intake valve is set to suck water from the pool and the Return valve is set to send all the water to the Spa. You can't change this operation.

Are you actually using the spillway mode, that comes with the EasyTouch, or did you just name a circuit "Spillway"? You can name any circuit, anything you want, but to actually use the EasyTouch's spillway mode, the Circuit Function has to also be set to "Spillway".

You have added an actuator to what is called "A make-up valve." When in the Pool Mode, the make-up valve sends water to the spa to cause it to overflow in to the pool.

If you set up the "real" spillway mode, your spillover will on work when you turn it on. Since the overflow into the pool is what keeps fresh water in the spa, it needs to run everyday.. Most people that use the Spillway mode, schedule it to run twice a day for 30 minutes each time.

I am not sure why you have to add an actuator to the Make-up valve, if all you want to do is increase the pump's speed? Maybe just me...

Thanks,

Jim R.

I named the valve I attached to Valve A circuit "Spillway".

I didn't know there was an actual Spillway mode. It wasn't setup by my installer and I don't know how to setup.

Not using spillway mode. Added shutoff valve for return to pool and tried to get it to shutoff with Spillway circuit I added.

I have circuit function set to Spillway, so I guess that is why other valves are moving. Looks like my extra valve wasn't needed although in the built in Spillway mode, water will come through the SPA jet massage jets rather than the regular return to the SPA.

Perhaps if I change the function of the new Spillway Circuit to N/A from Spillway, I will get what I want.

BTW even at high speed, with both returns working, flow in spillway is inadequate (IMHO)


Thanks,
Paul

 

[Jimrahbe]

Paul,

Change your Circuit Function from "Spillway" to "Generic" and then valve A movement will have nothing to do with the Intake or Return valve.

If the spillover used to be good and is now slow.. It is most likely a dirty filter.

If you want... show me several pics of your equipment pad, and maybe I can see something...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[palayman]

Paul,

Change your Circuit Function from "Spillway" to "Generic" and then valve A movement will have nothing to do with the Intake or Return valve.

If the spillover used to be good and is now slow.. It is most likely a dirty filter.

If you want... show me several pics of your equipment pad, and maybe I can see something...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Making the change from "Spillway" to "Generic" did the trick. Thanks @Jimrahbe!

Spillover was never any good. My general contractor used a questionable Pool Sub. Have been dealing with a host of issues including the pool finish.

Attached is a pic of pool equipment. It is on Ground level and the pool is up one level. Hence the 6 shutoffs on the 3 returns on the left and 3 supply lines on the right, so you can do maintenance without draining the pool. From left, spa return, pool return, skimmer return, spa jets, spa supply, pool supply. I added the electric valve on the pool supply to shut if off when I want the Spillway to work.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Jimrahbe]

Paul,

With your current design, it is easier for the return water to go back to the pool because you have more open pipes.. I would have "assumed' the valve on the far right would have been for the spa overflow return... But, I guess I would have been wrong..

Keep in mind that you do not want to leave the pool return water flow off for long periods of time...

If you used the built-in Spillway option, then ALL the water would go to the spa, when you turned on the Spillway function. You could then control the amount of spillover by controlling the pump speed.

But, whatever works for you works for me..

Thanks,

Jim R.