IntelliChem Pentair show sanitizer feed locked - what to do?

[DennisBVegas]

Hi guys!

My Pentair IntelliChem water chemistry controller shows "sanitizer feed locked."

I already replaced 2x injection valves. one for chlorine and one for muriatic acid.

This message still shows after the replacement.

What does this mean?

How do I fix it?

Thank you!!

 

[ajw22]

Pentair Intellichem

My intellichem says ph 7.8 lock out Sanitizer feed locked. Salt level was 3600 now it says N/A I called Pentair and they said turn system off and back on that didn’t work. I would appreciate any help. Thanks

www.troublefreepool.com

On page 54 of the user manual it explains “LOCKOUT”. Essentially if the pH goes above 7.8, the assumption is the sanitizer (chlorine) becomes ineffective (it does not but that’s an argument for another day). So it basically shuts off the chlorination system . You need to manually get the pH below 7.8 and then reset the system.

Sorry, but this is why TFP dies not endorse using these probe-based automated chemical dosing systems. They are expensive, overly complicated and they manufacturers don’t understand the chemistry very well and so they put in silly lockout features like you’re seeing. They are simply more trouble than they are worth.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

@ajw22 beat me to it but, yes, this is just another silly “safety feature” built into the Pentair dosing systems. The logic that sanitizer becomes less effective with higher pH is only true when no CYA is present. When CYA is present, the changes in active chlorine concentration with pH are much, much smaller. They’ve simply built incorrect understanding into their “intelligent” systems …

 

[Lake Placid]

Pentair Intellichem

My intellichem says ph 7.8 lock out Sanitizer feed locked. Salt level was 3600 now it says N/A I called Pentair and they said turn system off and back on that didn’t work. I would appreciate any help. Thanks

www.troublefreepool.com

On page 54 of the user manual it explains “LOCKOUT”. Essentially if the pH goes above 7.8, the assumption is the sanitizer (chlorine) becomes ineffective (it does not but that’s an argument for another day). So it basically shuts off the chlorination system . You need to manually get the pH below 7.8 and then reset the system.

Sorry, but this is why TFP dies not endorse using these probe-based automated chemical dosing systems. They are expensive, overly complicated and they manufacturers don’t understand the chemistry very well and so they put in silly lockout features like you’re seeing. They are simply more trouble than they are worth.

@ajw22 beat me to it but, yes, this is just another silly “safety feature” built into the Pentair dosing systems. The logic that sanitizer becomes less effective with higher pH is only true when no CYA is present. When CYA is present, the changes in active chlorine concentration with pH are much, much smaller. They’ve simply built incorrect understanding into their “intelligent” systems …

May be a question to delete or kick to the curb If so - tar and feather me . In Becsys and Siemens Strantrol systems “installer” level programming could manipulate the lockout values (i.e. Raising PH lockout from say 7.8 to 8.5). Is this not possible in Pentair systems for the end users “safety”?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

May be a question to delete or kick to the curb If so - tar and feather me . In Becsys and Siemens Strantrol systems “installer” level programming could manipulate the lockout values (i.e. Raising PH lockout from say 7.8 to 8.5). Is this not possible in Pentair systems for the end users “safety”?

Users of Pentair systems don’t have that level of access to the code. Most certified Pentair installers probably wouldn’t change anything at that level but I doubt they’d even be sophisticated enough to think along those lines. They just install what they are given and don’t make changes.