I just had my pool opened for the season and I am receiving the "Chlorinator: Communication Lost" alert on my Screenlogic IOS app anytime I am in pool mode and running the heater. I am able to control everything else via the Screenlogic app except the IC 30 Intellichlor. The IC 30 is working manually, the flow sensor is working and it is able to generate and adjust the chlorine manually via the buttons on the SWG. I don't know why it isn't communicating with the app. Any suggestions? I have checked all the wiring connections and everything looks to be in good shape.
IC 30 - Chlorinator: Communication Lost
- Thread starter Nightingale
- Start date
..gale
Does your EasyTouch Automation have an internal salt cell power center, or do you have an external Cell Power Center?
Thanks,
Jim R.
Does your EasyTouch Automation have an internal salt cell power center, or do you have an external Cell Power Center?
Thanks,
Jim R.
Hi Jim,
I believe the power center for the salt cell is internal. The cord from the salt cell runs up the left side raceway of the control panel and ties into a chipboard in the upper right hand corner. The power to that board is fed from the main power panel of the Easytouch board. Does that answer your question?
I believe the power center for the salt cell is internal. The cord from the salt cell runs up the left side raceway of the control panel and ties into a chipboard in the upper right hand corner. The power to that board is fed from the main power panel of the Easytouch board. Does that answer your question?
..gale,
Since you have an internal power center, then you have a "surge card" on the back wall of the EasyTouch just to the left of the small circuit breakers.
This surge card is what makes the DC that the cell uses, but it is also where the communications gets sent to the cell.
For this to happen, make sure there is a 4 wires cable running from the J20 (com port) on the main card, to any of the three com port connections on the surge card. Make sure the connections are all ok.
Show me a couple of pictures of the wiring and surge card, like this...
Thanks,
Jim R.
Since you have an internal power center, then you have a "surge card" on the back wall of the EasyTouch just to the left of the small circuit breakers.
This surge card is what makes the DC that the cell uses, but it is also where the communications gets sent to the cell.
For this to happen, make sure there is a 4 wires cable running from the J20 (com port) on the main card, to any of the three com port connections on the surge card. Make sure the connections are all ok.
Show me a couple of pictures of the wiring and surge card, like this...
Thanks,
Jim R.
Hi Jim,
I will take some pictures and recheck the wiring around the surge card. This is exactly what I was looking at yesterday on my own pool and all the wiring seemed to be ok. Everything has been working fine for the last 2 years of operation. This is the third year for all the pool equipment as it was installed mid 2020. I hope the surge card didn't get fried somehow. At least the slat cell is operating locally and producing chlorine. I've climbed from 2050 PPM to 3200 PPM over the last three days as I get the pool water back to where it should be after opening. It's more of a nuisance that I can't control it on the IOS app. If the wiring checks out is there anything else you think it could be?
Thanks,
I will take some pictures and recheck the wiring around the surge card. This is exactly what I was looking at yesterday on my own pool and all the wiring seemed to be ok. Everything has been working fine for the last 2 years of operation. This is the third year for all the pool equipment as it was installed mid 2020. I hope the surge card didn't get fried somehow. At least the slat cell is operating locally and producing chlorine. I've climbed from 2050 PPM to 3200 PPM over the last three days as I get the pool water back to where it should be after opening. It's more of a nuisance that I can't control it on the IOS app. If the wiring checks out is there anything else you think it could be?
Thanks,
..gale,
Did you make sure that the IntelliChlor box is checked in the set up pages. No reason it should have changed, but something to check,
It is obvious that you have lost the communications between the EasyTouch and the cell.
1. Could be wiring
2. Could be a bad cell com port
3. Could be a bad surge card com port
If you have other things connected to your surge card, like an IntelliFlo pump and it is working and can be controlled by ScreenLogic, then it is less likely to be the surge card.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Did you make sure that the IntelliChlor box is checked in the set up pages. No reason it should have changed, but something to check,
It is obvious that you have lost the communications between the EasyTouch and the cell.
1. Could be wiring
2. Could be a bad cell com port
3. Could be a bad surge card com port
If you have other things connected to your surge card, like an IntelliFlo pump and it is working and can be controlled by ScreenLogic, then it is less likely to be the surge card.
Thanks,
Jim R.
..gale,
Are you getting a salt reading from the cell or a test kit???
Thanks,
Jim R.
Are you getting a salt reading from the cell or a test kit???
Thanks,
Jim R.
Hi Jim,
I have the box checked that the chlorinator is present and I can see the intellichlor on my app dashboard. I am still able to control my pump, lights, valves and heater via the Screenlogic IOS app, only the chlorinator is offline. I'm curious how it is receiving power but not communication through the RS485 cable. I'm assuming that the 4-pin cable carries the DC power and communication from the surge board to the SWG?
I have the box checked that the chlorinator is present and I can see the intellichlor on my app dashboard. I am still able to control my pump, lights, valves and heater via the Screenlogic IOS app, only the chlorinator is offline. I'm curious how it is receiving power but not communication through the RS485 cable. I'm assuming that the 4-pin cable carries the DC power and communication from the surge board to the SWG?
I am getting the salt reading from the cell. I hold the "more" button for 3 seconds and then cycle through the options to get the salt PPM reading.
..gale,
The two large wires carry the DC voltage and the two small wires carry the communications.
If the cell were being controlled by the EasyTouch you would not be able to set the output % at the cell itself.
You are not in the Service mode are you?
Thanks,
Jim R.
The two large wires carry the DC voltage and the two small wires carry the communications.
If the cell were being controlled by the EasyTouch you would not be able to set the output % at the cell itself.
You are not in the Service mode are you?
Thanks,
Jim R.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,715
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi Jim,
I am in Auto mode with the Easytouch control panel. Because I have lost communication from the Easytouch panel with the IC30 SWG I looked up how to get it running manually via the buttons on the IC30. I have set the output to 35% and I just checked the salt PPM this morning and it was at 3200.
I am in Auto mode with the Easytouch control panel. Because I have lost communication from the Easytouch panel with the IC30 SWG I looked up how to get it running manually via the buttons on the IC30. I have set the output to 35% and I just checked the salt PPM this morning and it was at 3200.
Hi Mknauss.
You are correct it is a Pentair IC30. The Screenlogic app calls it an "intellichlor" so I mixed up the correct terminology.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,715
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi Jim,
I am in Auto mode with the Easytouch control panel. Because I have lost communication from the Easytouch panel with the IC30 SWG I looked up how to get it running manually via the buttons on the IC30. I have set the output to 35% and I just checked the salt PPM this morning and it was at 3200.
Attachments
Hi Jim,
I turned the house breaker off and looked at all the wiring connections, they seemed good and tight. Is it possible that they had the power on before the plugged the power cord in to the SWG and that could have damaged the communications?
I turned the house breaker off and looked at all the wiring connections, they seemed good and tight. Is it possible that they had the power on before the plugged the power cord in to the SWG and that could have damaged the communications?
..gale,
You should never plug in anything that is connected to the RS-485 bus with the power on.
Your surge card looks good to me.. I guess it could be bad for RS-485, but I doubt it since your pump works and your ScreenLogic works.
It looks like your cell is bad or maybe the connector at the bottom of the EasyTouch is corroded.. I'd even look at the white connector right after the Surge card. Or... some small animal ate through the cable going from the EasyTouch to the cell.
While you are in there it would not hurt to look at the DC power going to the cell. On my system it is about 40 Volts DC when the cell is not making chlorine (Cell light on) and about 35 Volts DC when the cell is making chlorine (Cell light off) It is worth checking for future use, but I don't think it has anything to do with the RS-485 working or not.
Thanks,
Jim R.
You should never plug in anything that is connected to the RS-485 bus with the power on.
Your surge card looks good to me.. I guess it could be bad for RS-485, but I doubt it since your pump works and your ScreenLogic works.
It looks like your cell is bad or maybe the connector at the bottom of the EasyTouch is corroded.. I'd even look at the white connector right after the Surge card. Or... some small animal ate through the cable going from the EasyTouch to the cell.
While you are in there it would not hurt to look at the DC power going to the cell. On my system it is about 40 Volts DC when the cell is not making chlorine (Cell light on) and about 35 Volts DC when the cell is making chlorine (Cell light off) It is worth checking for future use, but I don't think it has anything to do with the RS-485 working or not.
Thanks,
Jim R.