Help Setting up IntelliFlo VSF in ScreenLogic

[joesc230]

Hi all,

I just had a IntelliFlo VSF pump installed. Even though the company I hired is listed as authorized on the Pentair web site, the installer told me he doesn't know how to set up the IntelliFlo in ScreenLogic. He did set it up on the pump itself. Of course, I know I can call the company to complain but I'm unfortunately continuing to find that the companies around my area often don't know what they doing. For example, I had to have this particular installer come back after installing the new pump because they didn't properly bond the pump (the wire was literally just dangling there behind the pump) and there were a couple of significant leaks in the PVC after they initially installed the pump. I think it will be smoother for me to avoid them coming back again, so I'm hoping to be able to set it up on my own (hopefully, with some help from those on this site )...

I have the ScreenLogic Config app on my iPhone. I went to the IntelliFlo Setup section and see Pump 1 and Pump 2 listed. Pump 1 is my main pump and Pump 2 is my cleaner pump. Both pumps are set to "none," which makes sense since neither was a IntelliFlo. Now that Pump 1 is an IntelliFlo, I know it's obvious that I should set it to VSF. After doing so, the app lists "background circuits." I understand that each circuit can be set to run the pump a certain speed. For example, one speed for when my spa is running, and a different speed for when my pool is running.

My questions are:

- Are there recommended speeds that anyone knows for when I run my spa vs when I run my pool? In case plays a role: my spa has a spillway down to the pool when the system is set to pool mode. The app allows me to set the speed as GPM or RPM, so please let me know which measure you're referring to, if you are able to recommend a speed.

- If I set speeds in the ScreenLogic app, do I have to make any changes via the IntelliFlo's control panel? Or will the changes I make in the app overwrite whatever the installer set in the unit itself?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Joe,

Either the pump is controlled by the EasyTouch/ScreenLogic, OR it is controlled by the pump's control panel.. One has nothing to do with the other...

Go out to your pump and look at the display.. For the ET to be in control, the pump must say "Display Not Active"..

Please let me know what the pump's display says...

Post the following page from your ScreenLogic set up pages...

Heater Speed.PNG

• Jimrahbe
• Jan 3, 2019

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[joesc230]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply. In that case, the pump is definitely being controlled by the pump's control panel, as it seems to have such a display currently (not just a "Display Not Active" message). That doesn't surprise me since the tech that installed it didn't know what I was talking about regarding the ScreenLogic Config app...

Here's what my setup page looks like:


As you can see, they didn't do anything regarding the pump in ScreenLogic. I know I can toggle None over to VSF, and when I do, I get this:



I was thinking that I only need to set a Pool circuit and a Spa circuit. I do have a water feature, but it's a spillway running from the spa to the pool, when the system is in pool mode (not a standalone spillway). So I guess I need to know what a good flow speed for each circuit is, and if I'm correct that those are the only two circuits I should program.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Joe,

You are correct... Basically, for each Circuit you have, you set a speed where it makes sense..

It makes sense to add a speed for the Pool circuit and the Spa circuit.. But not, of course, a Lights circuit.

If you look at my example, you can see where I have Pool and Spa set at my minimum speed..1250 RPM.. (I suggest you use RPM and not Flow, but that is up to you)

I then have two additional Circuits that allow me to increase the speed to 1500 (Skim Low) and 2000 (Skim High) and then 2800 for my Waterfall..

Since you have a SWCG, it makes the most sense to run your pump as slow as you can and still make chlorine.. Since you have a heater, my guess is this will be about 1500 or so RPM.

I would start by setting you Pool speed to 1500 and your Spa speed to 3000... No one here can tell you what the right numbers are, you will just have to play with it..

Once you get the pump running from the ET, then you can use the main ScreenLogic page and ramp the speeds up and down and see what speeds make the most sense by using this page..

Pump Speeds.PNG

• Jimrahbe
• Jan 13, 2018

Once you can control the pump's speed, you can reduce the Pool Speed until the flow light on the salt cell turns red.. (Low Flow).. then slowly increase the speed until the light just lights and add 100 RPM.. That is the minimum speed you ever want to run.. It makes no sense to run the pump if you are not generating chlorine.

You will also might want to set up a couple of other Circuits to control your speed.. You need a speed for when you turn on your booster pump, you might want to have a couple of other Pool speeds to help with skimming or ??? You might want more than one Spa speed... ??? But, I suggesst you get the basic Pool and Spa speeds set up to begin with and make sure things are working ok.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[joesc230]

Jim,

Thanks so much for all the details. The EasyTouch screen says "NO COMM" when going to the IntelliFlo status. As far as the EasyTouch not communicating with the IntelliFlo goes, am I correct that if they were properly wired that the EasyTouch would automatically take over as long as I complete the IntelliFlo setup in the ScreenLogic Config app? (regardless of what they programmed into the IntelliFlo's control panel) If yes, then I think that the installer didn't correctly wire the IntelliFlo to the EasyTouch. I opened the panel and it looks to me like the black wire they ran from the pump is terminated at a wire nut, just sitting there. I could be wrong as the wires are all packed pretty tight in there, but I'm going to unfortunately have to call the installer to come back again.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Joe,

Up to you of course, but something that is an easy DIY fix...

Your installer is an idiot, BTW...

The cable from the pump only has two wires.. Yellow and Green.. You can connect the wire to any one of the com ports inside the EasyTouch. The plugs are also marked with the color.. Just connect the yellow wire to the yellow terminal and the green wire to the green terminal..

There is com port located on the back of the main board.. You can see it in center bottom of this pic...

Main PCB.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Jan 28, 2018

There are also three more com ports on the SWCG's power supply card mounted to the back wall of the ET.. It looks like this...

New SWCG PCB.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Jul 18, 2017
• 1

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

If you decide to do this, make sure all the power is removed from the ET and the pump..

Jim R.

 

[joesc230]

Hi Jim,

Thanks again for all your detailed information! I reached out to the company that installed it and the owner was embarrassed (as he should be). He couldn't believe his tech told me that they don't handle the automation aspect, and that the tech didn't correctly fix other issues. He is sending his service manager (instead of the tech) tomorrow to set everything up correctly. I'll definitely keep all this as a point of reference though, as I unfortunately have had really bad experiences hiring companies. I usually do everything myself, but I've been busy at work and figured I'd give a "professional" a shot...learned my lesson.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Joe,

Sounds like a great plan to me...

I suspect that they will set your pump speed way too fast, but that is something that can be easily be changed.

I wish I could get a job where I did not need to know anything... Oh, Wait... That is what I'm doing now...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[joesc230]

Update: The service manager came today and saw that the tech that installed the pump wired it wrong. He fixed the wiring and everything is working now.