Installing a heater bypass. Am I overthinking the actuators?

[Mark McLeroy]

Hello All:
I'm a new pool owner (about 1 1/4 seasons user my belt now). I have learned a lot in the past year and discovered that my PB probably cut some corners on the job. 1st after 1 1/4 seasons I am retiring the single speed Pentair pump he supplied and getting an Intelliflow VS (when you can find one). I also noticed my PB did not plumb a heater bypass into the system. My pool fiberglass with an attached spa. I have Intellicenter automation, When I switch from Pool to Spa mode my Intellivalves just switch over while the pump is running. All my 3 way valves have the center port as the input and they divert from the left to right ports for output. I want to attempt a DIY project and install the heater by-pass. The orientation of the 3 way valve that would make the most sense and avoid a few 90 degree sweeps would be for the right port to be the input and divert the output to the left or center ports. I would like to use an Intellivalve and automate this process but I am concerned because of the orientation of the new valve the system pressure would increase to much while the valve actuates to the new position. Is there a way for the Intellicenter to turn off the pump while the value is in motion and turn back on again when its in the new position. Or am I overthinking this?

Thanks,

Mark McLeroy

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Most valves are designed to operate while the pump is running and even at high outputs, so you may be overthinking this scenario. Not sure if I completely understand the rest of your question about the heater bypass and it’s purpose. This photo shows a heater bypass that is in open mode during the filter cycle and closes during heater cycles. Not shown is a second bypass for the filter system that activates during the spa cycle. Hope this helps, Ray.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

You should have the bypass actuator installed such that the movement will always have an open path for the water to flow. This will allow the valve to move and not have any adverse affects on the pump as there is always an open port.

Here is a pic of my heater bypass. Flow direction is from the bottom of the pic. Flow is either straight through to the heater or it exits left side for the bypass. When I originally had it set up, I programmed it so that it was either full open or full closed. So it would stroke between position 12 for bypass or position 24 for heater. When I had it programmed like this, when I would get a call for heat, the actuator would move the valve diverter towards the bypass opening blocking it, and at the same time, the heater port was opening up. So water would be split through both paths, until the actuator fully blocked the bypass port.

As you can see it is now positioned halfway. This was based on a recommendation from a member here, as well as Pentair's instructions for the bypass.

Hope this is helpful

--Jeff

 

[ajw22]

Have you read Heater Bypass - Further Reading

Do you have a MasterTemp Connected Heater with the RS-485 interface in the heater to control an IntelliValve bypass?

 

[Mark McLeroy]

You should have the bypass actuator installed such that the movement will always have an open path for the water to flow. This will allow the valve to move and not have any adverse affects on the pump as there is always an open port.

Here is a pic of my heater bypass. Flow direction is from the bottom of the pic. Flow is either straight through to the heater or it exits left side for the bypass. When I originally had it set up, I programmed it so that it was either full open or full closed. So it would stroke between position 12 for bypass or position 24 for heater. When I had it programmed like this, when I would get a call for heat, the actuator would move the valve diverter towards the bypass opening blocking it, and at the same time, the heater port was opening up. So water would be split through both paths, until the actuator fully blocked the bypass port.

As you can see it is now positioned halfway. This was based on a recommendation from a member here, as well as Pentair's instructions for the bypass.

Hope this is helpful

--Jeff

Hi Jeff:
Thanks for the reply. Do you mind me asking what is the reasoning use for a halfway position?

 

[Mark McLeroy]

Have you read Heater Bypass - Further Reading

Do you have a MasterTemp Connected Heater with the RS-485 interface in the heater to control an IntelliValve bypass?

I have the Pentair ETi UltraTemp Hybird Heater.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Do you mind me asking what is the reasoning use for a halfway position?

Not at all. There are several reasons. First, you always have water flowing through the heat exchanger so that it does not become stagnant. Second, I am in a freeze prone area, and I do not close my pool, so splitting flow ensures there is always water moving through both paths and I don't have to worry about a dead leg freezing.

The only reason to fully bypass the heater would be for maintenance purposes, or if you were going to drop your pH to an acidic level for any reason.

--Jeff