Inherited a control board mess

Luxem87

Member
Jan 16, 2024
12
Central Florida
Pool Size
16000
Hey guys! A fun little backstory of my situation.

We just recently bought a new house that came with a pool. I’ve never owned a pool or had to know/learn anything pool related other than how to blow up a kid pool and break out the hose.

Long and crazy story short the previous owners completely let the automation system go to waste and they just rigged and patched things along the way. I will post pictures of everything but I’ve had to google, YouTube, self diagnose with common sense, and everything else to figure out what exactly I had and what exactly needed to be done to get it back to how it should be. Please keep in mind I’m completely ignorant and self taught in all of this.

When I first inherited this mess the relay board didn’t work at all. They had hardwired all the equipment straight to the breakers and would just flip them on and off when needed. I’ve repaired the control board and got the relays working. I rewired everything the best I could to run through the relays.

I believe I have the Jandy RS PS6 control board? I know it’s an older model. It is the control board that comes with the breaker box. The house used to have solar heating but was ripped off after the previous owners had their roof replaced and they never did anything else to it. My pump is a 3hp Calimar variable speed. Wired through a timer and to the relay box. I’m not sure on the filter size because I’ve yet to open that up. There is an Aqua Rite Chlorinator system hanging on the wall but wires are missing and it looks rough and not working. For now I’ve been adding chlorine tablets myself. As for controllers, there is a Spalink RS8 build into the hardscape by the spa and I assume it doesn’t work. After tracing another control wire I’ve discovered they used to have a controller mounted inside the house on the wall but that controller is AWAL. Only a Jbox that I can access and tug on to see where the wires going. There were 4 actuators randomly tossed in a bush beside the equipment still wired to the board. The valves are all manual now. I’ve recently discovered two actuators still work while two makes noise but don’t turn.

All of that in a nutshell. What should I do to get this back to its former automative glory… I’m looking at upgrading the control board or buying a controller to be able to set everything back up.
 

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Welcome to TFP.

Do you have a spa? It looks like you do not have the required actuators that go on top of the pool/spa return and suction diverter valves. Are there actuators on the diverter valves?

Show us pics of the complete equipment pad.

You cannot program the Aqualink from the outdoor control panel. You say you are missing the indoor control panel. If you don’t have that or the iAqualink WiFi antenna for app control you need to get something to program and control the system.

You have an old board that probably does not support the iAqualink WiFi app. What you need to get is the IQ30-RS IAqualink Upgrade kit that gives you a replacement board and antenna. Plus you probably need valve actuators.

Lets figure out all that you need since you are basically going to reinstall a new system.

And before you commit to a new Jandy Aqualink let’s discuss why you should consider changing to the Pentair IntelliCenter.

Show us all of your equipment.

 
Welcome to TFP.

Do you have a spa? It looks like you do not have the required actuators that go on top of the pool/spa return and suction diverter valves. Are there actuators on the diverter valves?

Show us pics of the complete equipment pad.

You cannot program the Aqualink from the outdoor control panel. You say you are missing the indoor control panel. If you don’t have that or the iAqualink WiFi antenna for app control you need to get something to program and control the system.

You have an old board that probably does not support the iAqualink WiFi app. What you need to get is the IQ30-RS IAqualink Upgrade kit that gives you a replacement board and antenna. Plus you probably need valve actuators.

Lets figure out all that you need since you are basically going to reinstall a new system.

And before you commit to a new Jandy Aqualink let’s discuss why you should consider changing to the Pentair IntelliCenter.

Show us all of your equipment.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/wik...i/index.php?title=Jandy_Aqualink_RS [/QUOTE]
The system at one point had 4 actuators. I’m assuming the control board stopped working so they made everything manual.
 

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Hey guys! A fun little backstory of my situation.

We just recently bought a new house that came with a pool. I’ve never owned a pool or had to know/learn anything pool related other than how to blow up a kid pool and break out the hose.

Long and crazy story short the previous owners completely let the automation system go to waste and they just rigged and patched things along the way. I will post pictures of everything but I’ve had to google, YouTube, self diagnose with common sense, and everything else to figure out what exactly I had and what exactly needed to be done to get it back to how it should be. Please keep in mind I’m completely ignorant and self taught in all of this.

When I first inherited this mess the relay board didn’t work at all. They had hardwired all the equipment straight to the breakers and would just flip them on and off when needed. I’ve repaired the control board and got the relays working. I rewired everything the best I could to run through the relays.

I believe I have the Jandy RS PS6 control board? I know it’s an older model. It is the control board that comes with the breaker box. The house used to have solar heating but was ripped off after the previous owners had their roof replaced and they never did anything else to it. My pump is a 3hp Calimar variable speed. Wired through a timer and to the relay box. I’m not sure on the filter size because I’ve yet to open that up. There is an Aqua Rite Chlorinator system hanging on the wall but wires are missing and it looks rough and not working. For now I’ve been adding chlorine tablets myself. As for controllers, there is a Spalink RS8 build into the hardscape by the spa and I assume it doesn’t work. After tracing another control wire I’ve discovered they used to have a controller mounted inside the house on the wall but that controller is AWAL. Only a Jbox that I can access and tug on to see where the wires going. There were 4 actuators randomly tossed in a bush beside the equipment still wired to the board. The valves are all manual now. I’ve recently discovered two actuators still work while two makes noise but don’t turn.

All of that in a nutshell. What should I do to get this back to its former automative glory… I’m looking at upgrading the control board or buying a controller to be able to set everything back up.
You have an old RS8 system board that, at one time, controlled a 2-speed pump (2-speed relay on the lower right of all the relays). Builder probably kept the other relays that would have come with that board. There don't appear to be any temperature sensors installed, either.

Right now it doesn't appear to control anything, unless the spa blower and pool light(s) can be turned on/off in service mode. Doesn't seem to be a heater in the system.

At one time it also had a Hayward Aquarite and then an AutoPilot SWG system (or the other way around), both of which are missing parts, the Hayward cell and the entire AutoPilot system, including the control panel.

As has been pointed out, without an indoor control you have no way of programming the system, and those are both a bit difficult to get and much too expensive, $800.00+. If you want to keep the Jandy, you need an iQ30-RS upgrade kit, +/-$1000.00. It will give you control with a phone app. You would also need at least two temperature sensors, aftermarket one work well.

The Jandy will not directly control that pump, but there is an automation adapter that could be installed. If your pump is now running on its own control, there is no need to rush anything. If there is a heater somewhere, it can be operated as a "stand alone" unit and valve turned manually until automation is installed. It can control an Aquarite, and you may only need a new cell, likely a T-15 given the age of the system.
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I suggest you start with the end in mind as through you were building a new pool with new equipment. Since you will be effectively buying a new automation panel and SWG. Then someday get a VS pump that can be RS-485 controlled by the automation panel.

I would not invest in the Jandy eco-system and over a few years I replaced all my Jandy equipment with Pentair.