iAqualink Outdated and Limited - What's on the Horizon to Improve on It?

[erikpiazza]

So my new pool just got started up so I finally have had a chance to see what the iAqualink system is all about. Wow, am I disappointed! I've been in the web design and development business since 1998 and the web interface for iAqualink looks and functions worse than things I worked on all the way at the start of my web career. The iPhone app looks more modern, but it's functionality is incredibly limited. The fact that I can't choose ANY color I want for the lights is absurd. I can't have red because someone at Jandy thinks that looks like blood?? Come on! Isn't it MY pool?

So my question is, is there any word on the street about improvements? Or is there another system that will work with my Jandy equipment that doesn't look/feel like 1999?

 

[ajw22]

Not to worry. Your Jandy LED lights will fail sooner then later. If you are lucky before the warranty expires.

I would not expect much with improvements. And any Aqualink improvements are done with firmware requiring a board replacement for a few hundred.

You can see the Aqualink revision history at Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

 

[erikpiazza]

Well, that's comforting! Lol!

So there is seriously no other system out there that's any better than this? At least there is an Alexa skill to send commands to it so I can mostly avoid even looking at this app/web page, but the way the lights function (flashing through every color every time you change colors) is so annoying. Also the fact that I can't have more than just two circuits (pool lights, spa lights) is crazy to me. I want to be able to control every individual light (2 pool lights, 3 bubbler lights, 1 spa light) individually - and ideally be able to create my own programs for them. I can't be the only person who wants this level of control.

 

[mknauss]

I want to be able to control every individual light (2 pool lights, 3 bubbler lights, 1 spa light) individually - and ideally be able to create my own programs for them.

For that level of control, each light will need its own transformer, and its own Relay.

 

[ajw22]

Well, that's comforting! Lol!

So there is seriously no other system out there that's any better than this?

Nothing that works with your Jandy equipment. The Pentair Intellicenter is better but you made your decisions already.

At least there is an Alexa skill to send commands to it so I can mostly avoid even looking at this app/web page, but the way the lights function (flashing through every color every time you change colors) is so annoying. Also the fact that I can't have more than just two circuits (pool lights, spa lights) is crazy to me. I want to be able to control every individual light (2 pool lights, 3 bubbler lights, 1 spa light) individually - and ideally be able to create my own programs for them. I can't be the only person who wants this level of control.

You can do that. It just takes the correct equipment.

You need a high voltage AUX circuit and relay connected to a transformer for each individual light you want to control.

Your profile does not say if you have an Aqualink RS4, RS6 or RS8 system.

Your profile also says you have the Fusion Soft dual mineral and SWG. I hope you do not have the mineral cartridge installed. Read Nature2 Fusion - Further Reading

 

[erikpiazza]

I have the RS-4, which I'm guessing is the most limited of the 3. I get that everyone has their brand preference, but my research showed very little to no different between Pentair and Jandy that I, as a first time pool owner, could tell. I wish my PB would've been more forthcoming about the options and limitations of the systems, but I know they all have their preferences and vendor relationships. Even if I did install all of the necessary transformers and relays, what control system/app would give me the ability to create my own programs?

 

[rstrouse]

There is this. GitHub - tagyoureit/nodejs-poolController: An application to control pool equipment from various manufacturers. with tons of interfacing options from Home Automation web sockets, REST, MQTT, and data logging.

Haven't spent enough time to work out the entire protocol on the Jandy Pumps though and I do not have that equipment. So if you have the wherewithal you could extend the pump support and omit the Jandy controller altogether.

In the end you will be disappointed with all the lighting solutions out there from any vendor. Somebody needs to come along and make a good DMX pool light fixture that pops into a light niche. When my IntelliBrites die they will get new guts with a DMX decoder embedded in the niche and a 24vdc led array.

 

[ajw22]

I have the RS-4, which I'm guessing is the most limited of the 3.

Yup, your RS-4 has 4 high voltage relays of which 3 or less are really available depending on your pool and equipment configuration.

I get that everyone has their brand preference, but my research showed very little to no different between Pentair and Jandy that I, as a first time pool owner, could tell.

Sounds like you are in the tech field. Jandy has the most closed and proprietary system architecture. Pentair has the most open architecture. That makes a difference if you want to customize the way it operates. Pentair is struggling with their software driven capabilities but at least they are trying.

I wish my PB would've been more forthcoming about the options and limitations of the systems, but I know they all have their preferences and vendor relationships.

Pool builders know how to build pools. That means dig holes, pour concrete, and sub-contract for plumbing and electrical. They have their standard menu of favored pool equipment driven more by equipment manufactures incentive marketing programs.

Pool builders will spend more thime with a customer on finsish color choices and tile selection then on the customers expectations on the pool automation system and the way it should be wired and configured. Because the builders don't own those systems or understand them. Few invest any time in educating themselves in what is broadly available in the marketplace.

Even if I did install all of the necessary transformers and relays, what control system/app would give me the ability to create my own programs?

The automation systems from the pool equipment manufactures are appliances with largely fixed functions. They are not DIY tool kits.

Create your own programs to do what?

There are DIY Rasyberry PI absed pool control systems on Github that folks have developed.

 

[santacruzpool]

I agree with you ! We need a better system.

I have always been frustrated by how limited the Jandy iAqualink interface is.

One of the biggest things I see is that it was a design based on PDA ,or whatever they call them (I don't have one). I think they outsourced the software - and it hasn't been updated in years...

Here are some things I would love to see:

Error logs

Seasonal auto adjustments (SWCG - Pump Run Times - acid dosing up/down)

Weather based adjustments - cold weather run times and SWCG % adjustments would be nice to have automatically done - during hot times the pump could switch to run at night until the temp of the pool returned to some set point. My Rainmachine unit does weather adjustments on the fly all the time. A pool controller that had some of that would be really nice. Sun hours and cloudy days could all be part of the factors.

Learning Mode - sort of nest like "learning" that would adjust as it learns the pool behavior and owner preferences

Free Chlorine Auto adjust option - if I input my FC test numbers (from a Taylor test) it would nice if the system then would automatically adjust up or down the SWGC output to keep it in my target range. Pretty much what all of us do after we learn our own pool. I adjust my pool settings all the time as the season and temperatures change.

The other things I see are that the Android app doesn't allow any of the setup and advanced options that the "WEB" page setup screen does. It would be nice if the somehow figured out how to get all of the function into their app.

 

[ajw22]

One of the biggest things I see is that it was a design based on PDA ,or whatever they call them (I don't have one). I think they outsourced the software - and it hasn't been updated in years...

The Aqualink design dates back to 1994 and while Jandy has added features they never rearchitedted it. Unlike Pentair who went through three generations of automation systems in that time - Compool for the late 1990's, EasyTouch/IntelliTouch in 2000-2020, and IntelliCenter from 2020.

Jandy is still selling the same first generation model as they have put new UI front ends on. The first controls was the All Button control panel. Then came the One Touch control panel in 2000. Then before we had phone apps they added the PDA to give it wireless controls. To update Aqualink for the phone app era they tacked on iAqualink with the phone apps. But the backend to all these controls is the 1994 design with a major board redesign in 2007.

The last revision to the PCB board firmware is T.2 in 2018.

The software updates has primaily been in iAqualink, the phone apps, and their cloud servers for remote access.