IC40 with Easytouch

[kneufeld]

Hi all,
Silly question as I'm just learning about all of this and trying to do it myself- I'm trying to convert to salt. I bought an IC 40. I have the EasyTouch system. I can't hook the IC 40 directly to the EasyTouch? Assuming I need to get a separate power soure. The Pentair one costs about $700 while many others look identical are around $200. Any real difference? Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum.
Unless the Easytouch was purchased with the SWCG transformer and surge card installed, you need to get the independent power center for the SWCG. You will wire the power to the power center from the Load side of the Filter/Pump relay in the Easytouch. You will run a four wire 22 awg cable from the Power Center to a RS485 connection in the Easytouch.

Up to you on getting an off brand power center. You take your chances.

 

[Jimrahbe]

K,

I have never heard of a "off-brand' Power Center for the IC40..

Show us a link on what you think will work..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mknauss]

Put Intellichlor Power Center in Amazon search. --- lots of them.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Marty,

Thanks for the course correction...

I just 'assumed' that any off-brand would be just be the box and transformer, and would be without the surge card, or without RS-485 com port..

But once again... I was wrong!!!

While I would not buy an off-brand cell, it appears these off-brand Power Centers should work just fine.

@kneufeld .. I suggest that you buy one, and then give us some feed back as to how well they work..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DrewLG]

it appears these off-brand Power Centers should work just fine.

I've personally had negative experiences with counterfeit/knockoff electronics, and I've read about similar experiences from other people.

Pentair makes lots of profit on the stuff it sells, no question. But there's no way I'd ever try to save a couple hundred dollars by buying one of those knockoff 220W power supplies for my fragile $1000 salt cell, especially since I'd lose all of the Pentair warranty coverage if I did.

 

[kneufeld]

Thanks. Still trying to confirm if I need the external power supply at all. I believe my Easy Touch does have the transformer. Not sure about the surge card. Where would I look to find this?

 

[DrewLG]

Thanks. Still trying to confirm if I need the external power supply at all. I believe my Easy Touch does have the transformer. Not sure about the surge card. Where would I look to find this?

Open the EasyTouch box. In the upper right corner of the control panel are spaces for four circuit breakers. If only three are installed, your EasyTouch does not have the SWG transformer. If all four are installed, it probably does -- you can confirm by removing the protective cover over the high-voltage area.

Mine, with no built-in transformer:

 

[kneufeld]

looks like I don't the transformer installed already.

 

[DrewLG]

looks like I don't the transformer installed already.

Right. It would have been mounted below the EasyTouch transformer.

 

[Jimrahbe]

K,

It appears that the Pump/Filter relay on your panel is either not being used, or the installer used what should have been the Aux 2 relay as the Pump/Filter relay..

Any relay can be used as the Pump/Filter relay, but only a idiot would not follow the diagram on the door.

Not a big deal, but you will need to know for sure before you connect the SWCG's Power Center, as it MUST be connected to the Pump/Filter relay.. It is a requirement, not a suggestion, and is a safety feature to prevent the cell from exploding if run without water flow.

Cell's don't explode very often, but it can and has happened.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[kneufeld]

K,

It appears that the Pump/Filter relay on your panel is either not being used, or the installer used what should have been the Aux 2 relay as the Pump/Filter relay..

Any relay can be used as the Pump/Filter relay, but only a idiot would not follow the diagram on the door.

Not a big deal, but you will need to know for sure before you connect the SWCG's Power Center, as it MUST be connected to the Pump/Filter relay.. It is a requirement, not a suggestion, and is a safety feature to prevent the cell from exploding if run without water flow.

Cell's don't explode very often, but it can and has happened.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yikes! Thanks for the feedback. Very much appreciated.