IFCS Filter Pressure Fluctuation

[jorgeL]

Is it normal to have pressure fluctuations when the IGFC pop ups are cycling from one zone to the next?

Here is some background:

I just moved to a house with a pool with IGFC. Two pop ups were missing and there zones were not cycling. I don't know how long the equipment was in that state. I replaced the missing pop ups and bought a gear kit (just the gears) for the low profile 6 port 2" A&A actuator. Before I replaced the gears the filter pressure was at about 10 psi after replacing the gears the filter pressure went up to about 20 psi. It is at that pressure until it gets to one zone and then it goes down to 10 PSI there is a click sound in the actuator and then it goes up to 20 PSI.
To troubleshoot I switc back to the original cam with the new gears and now the pressure is fluctuating from 10 PSI to 20 PSI every time it goes from one zone to the next.

It is a bit puzzling to me that the pressure fluctuates but maybe it is normal with IGFC systems?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ajw22]

I think the pressure fluctuations are normal when switching zones.

Let’s see what @proavia thjnks.

 

[jorgeL]

Here is a video of what is happening and a couple more pictures:

New photo · Monday, Jan 27 ð¸
New photo · Thursday, May 1 ð¸

 

[proavia]

IFCS cycling between zones will always cause a pressure fluctuation. As one zone closes the next started to open causing a slight pressure drop. My filter gauge fluctuates about 4-5 pounds.

Is your IFCS water distribution valve a top feed or side feed?
Does it have the acrylic balls or T-valves?

There are 5 port and 6 port water distribution valves. There are also several different gearsets. Be sure you have the correct gearset for your style water valve. I think the foot that lifts the acrylic balls or T-valves are different as well.

 

[jorgeL]

It is a 6 port side feed with T valves. The replacement cam and gear set is a 6 port as well.
10 psi fluctuation seems high to me but I've never had IFCS. I was thinking of replacing the T-valves but it may not be necessary.

 

[proavia]

We were posting at the same time...
I see you have a side feed and T-valves.

A 10 pound pressure rise seems excessive. Is this on every zone change or just on one or two zones? If only on one or two, my bet is the T-valfe on those zones isn't fully opening.

 

[jorgeL]

I think it is on every zone change. I need to watch it for the full 6 minutes that it cycles through all zones to make sure.
The interesting part is that with the new replacement cam the pressure stays high for all valves except for one valve but if I switch the cam to the original one (just the cam, the gears are the new gears) then it changes pressure on every zone.

 

[proavia]

Compare both cams and let us know what is different about them.
Check from different angles.

With the old cam it still changes 10 psi?

 

[jorgeL]

Not a huge difference. The new cam has a narrower head, the part that lift the RTvalve, but not by much and it has a smoother transition, meaning the transition from closed to open is smoother because the slope of the cam is more gradual. If anything the new cam should work better.

 

[TinFoilHat]

I can see the fluctuations of my system by watching the wattage that my VSP pulls when the valves open and close. There is usually overlap between the zones and your new cam might have reduced the overlap a bit causing the last valve to be closing quicker than before it used to as it's beginning to open the next valve. You might be able to see this if you open the unit and move it through the valves, watching the last and the next valves. I know it's not easy to always see each valve fully while manually turning it all together.

 

[jorgeL]

I was looking more closely last night and the pressure difference is about 7 psi instead of 10.
The new cam keeps the T-valve open for less time than before but I'll check the overlap.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Then I'd say there isn't any problem there. The cam is a bit different so that would account for any difference you are seeing. If it cleans fine then there's nothing wrong. Something to keep in mind though, if your original popup heads are A&A Series 2 (uses the 3 prong install tool), your new heads might be what are now the G2 heads which have 4 different nozzle diameters built in. If your nozzles are set on low flow then that zone would have more back pressure when it's on.