Intelliflo Pump Needs Two Brains

Remember, a thermostat on the FPH will signal the need for the FPH to activate. So, in the normal set up, water always runs through the system. Mine will be 125 feet away. Its a 5 foot wire that an be expanded with a three pin terminal block. The other option will be to make a 125 foot run of the FPH thermostat closer to the pad and measure it there. Then, the valve bypass system would be perfect.
 
Run the 24 VAC control wire to the resistor relay inside the intellicenter box.

Install the fph temperature sensor in the pipe after the filter but before the three-way valve that selects the bypass or sends water to the fph.

When the fph wants to activate the solar circuit, it will send 24 vac to the relay, which will close the 6k ohm resistor and activate the solar circuit.

The pump will change to the speed that you set for the solar circuit and the Jandy 3 way valve will rotate to close the bypass and open the fph circuit.

You can run the pump continuously at about 1200 to 1500 rpm, which costs almost nothing (less than $1.00 per day).

Will you want a second heater in addition to the fph, such as gas or heat pump?
 
Note that if the fph would be damaged by operating with no flow, you should make sure that you install a flow switch in the plumbing near the fph.

This comes from the manufacture . . . Hi , there is no flow sensor included or needed. There is an over pressure limit switch built-in on all standard compressors. This is the normal way, for example, in a normal unit if the condenser fan were to fail, pressure would rise and it would stop the unit for protection. A condenser fan failing is exactly the same situation as if pump fails on a geo/recovery condenser.

Your thoughts?
 
You can run the pump continuously at about 1200 to 1500 rpm, which costs almost nothing (less than $1.00 per day).

Will you want a second heater in addition to the fph, such as gas or heat pump?

I am hoping not to need a gas or head pump. . . . others who have used the system, depending on region of the country, often do not need an additional heating source.
 
Run the 24 VAC control wire to the resistor relay inside the intellicenter box.

Install the fph temperature sensor in the pipe after the filter but before the three-way valve that selects the bypass or sends water to the fph.

When the fph wants to activate the solar circuit, it will send 24 vac to the relay, which will close the 6k ohm resistor and activate the solar circuit.

The pump will change to the speed that you set for the solar circuit and the Jandy 3 way valve will rotate to close the bypass and open the fph circuit.

You can run the pump continuously at about 1200 to 1500 rpm, which costs almost nothing (less than $1.00 per day).

Will you want a second heater in addition to the fph, such as gas or heat pump?

Any recommendations for a model for the Jandy 3-way valve?
 

521485 IntelliValve® Valve Actuator

Your system should have come with valves and actuators.

How many valves and actuators did you get already?
 

521485 IntelliValve® Valve Actuator

Your system should have come with valves and actuators.

How many valves and actuators did you get already?

I have not received my system yet. This will be a new install so I ma making sure all my plans and connections are in order. I am going to owe you BIG TIME!! Hopefully, you will be willing to accept a small honorarium for your professional assistance once I am all done!
 

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Run the 24 VAC control wire to the resistor relay inside the intellicenter box.

Install the fph temperature sensor in the pipe after the filter but before the three-way valve that selects the bypass or sends water to the fph.

When the fph wants to activate the solar circuit, it will send 24 vac to the relay, which will close the 6k ohm resistor and activate the solar circuit.

The pump will change to the speed that you set for the solar circuit and the Jandy 3 way valve will rotate to close the bypass and open the fph circuit.

You can run the pump continuously at about 1200 to 1500 rpm, which costs almost nothing (less than $1.00 per day).

Will you want a second heater in addition to the fph, such as gas or heat pump?

HERE IS A ROUGH DRAWING . ..
 

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The first picture is correct. However, I would probably use the 20k ohm and the 6k ohm resistors, but it should work either way.

The two wires to the right will connect to the solar temperature sensor terminal.

There are 3 temperature sensors terminals right next to each other and labeled temp sensors.

Connect the air and water temperature sensors as indicated on the label.

The formula for calculating the total resistance of resistors in parallel is:

1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/Rtotal.

The chart for resistance vs. temperature is in the installation manual.
 
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The first picture is correct. However, I would probably use the 20k ohm and the 6k ohm resistors, but it should work either way.

The two wires to the right will connect to the solar temperature sensor terminal.

There are 3 temperature sensors terminals right next to each other and labeled temp sensors.

Connect the air and water temperature sensors as indicated on the label.

The formula for calculating the total resistance of resistors in parallel is:

1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/Rtotal.

The chart for resistance vs. temperature is in the installation manual.

Just to recap - -

I actually will not be using actually Air and Water. My goal is to trick the system to open a pump by a 24 VAC signal sent to the relay- then a signal sent to the Intellicenter to control to pump at 35 GPM.

I will use a resistor in parallel to trick the sensor into a specific reading.The relay coil takes 24 VAC. When 24 VAC is applied to the coil, the contacts close and complete the circuit with the 6k ohm resistor.

The 20k ohm resistor (49 degree) would always be in the circuit. I will use a single pole single throw relay and add a 6k ohm resistor (98 degrees) in parallel. When only the 20k ohm resistor is connected, the automation reads the solar temperature as 49 degrees.

Two wires to the 24 VAC to the relay

The other two wires connect to which terminal on the Intellicenter?
 
The intellicenter has terminals for 3 temperature sensors.

One for air temperature, one for water temperature, and one for solar temperature.

You will connect a temperature sensor to the plumbing for water temperature and connect it to the water temperature sensor terminal.

You will connect an air temperature sensor to the air temperature sensor terminal and mount the air temperature sensor somewhere in the air but not exposed to the sun or next to anything heated by the sun.

You will connect the resistor array wires to the solar temperature sensor terminal.

When the 24 VAC is applied to the relay, it closes the circuit with the 6k ohm resistor and that activates the solar circuit.

When you set up your system in the setup menu, you will program your system as if the fph is solar.

You will have a solar circuit.

When the solar circuit is activated, the pump will change to the speed you have assigned to the solar circuit. It will also rotate the "solar" valve to send water to the fph.

When the 24 VAC is turned off, the 6k ohm resistor will be disconnected, the pump will resume its regularly scheduled speed and the "solar" valve will rotate back to the original position, which sends water through the bypass instead of to the fph.
 
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The way that solar works is that you input a target temperature you want the water to get to.

The system looks at the actual water temperature, the desired temperature and the solar temperature (on the roof).

When the actual water temperature is below the set temperature and the roof (solar) temperature is higher than the actual water temperature, the solar circuit activates and water is pumped to the roof to get the available heat.

For example, if the water temperature is 76 and the desired set temperature is 84 and the roof temperature is 108, solar will be activated.

When the roof (solar) temperature is equal to or less than the actual water temperature, the solar circuit is not activated because there is no heat available.

For example, water temperature 76, set temperature 84 and roof temperature 58. Solar won't be activated because there is no heat. In fact, the water will get cooled instead of heated.

In your setup, you will allow the fph to control the water temperature.

So, you will set the fph to the desired temperature.

In the Intellicenter setup, you will set the desired temperature about 5 degrees higher than the actual desired temperature so that the intellicenter doesn't interfere with the fph control.

As far as the Intellicenter is concerned the fph is solar and it will be setup and programmed as solar.

The only real difference is that we're using the resistors instead of the actual solar temperature sensor.

Otherwise it will operate basically as solar.
 
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I think I got it!

The only question I have is that the FPH system has it's own temperature sensor that triggers the 24VAC signal. So, to make this work . . and not be against the intellicenter temperature sensor connection or the air temperature sensor . . .

The FPH temperature sensor may read the water in the pipe is 75 and the goal is 80 degrees. The FPH will send the 24 vac to the intellicenter. solar connection. This pushes the 20k ohm resistor (49 degree) though the single pole single throw relay and add a 6k ohm resistor to change (98 degrees) in parallel. The intellicenter "Thinks" we are working to achieve 98 degrees? So, it runs the pumps 35 GPM and valves (if desired).

Then, then when the FPH temperature sensor reads 80, the 24 vac will end signal and return the intellicenter to it's normal function and closes the valve and returns to the schedule 10GPM

So, the Intellicenter desired temperature need to be set at 85 as not to interfere regardless of the intellicenter water temperature being higher or lower.
 
Basically, you are correct.

The formula for calculating the total resistance of resistors in parallel is:

1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/Rtotal.

When you have just the 20k ohm resistor, it will read about 50 degrees. The system thinks that this is the roof temperature so it doesn't activate the solar circuit.

When you close the 6k ohm resistor, the new resistance as measured by the system is 4615 ohms, which is about 109 degrees.

The formula for calculating the total resistance of resistors in parallel is:

1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/Rtotal.

1/20,000 + 1/6,000 = 1/4,615.

The main point of the solar temperature sensor is to tell the system if the temperature on the roof is high enough to make it worthwhile to activate the solar circuit and send water to the roof.

You will set the water temperature setpoint in the Intellicenter about 5 degrees higher than the actual desired set point so that the Intellicenter will always respond to the fph signal.

You will set the fph control to the actual desired temperature set point.
 
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I am very very interested in if/how you get this working in a sustainable manner. My pool should break ground in the next two weeks or so and I'm planning on buying the HotSpot as well and integrating during the build. My pool builder is only willing to make the plumbing connections for me though as part of the build and all other integration is "on me". I'm also getting the Intellicenter. The PB wanted to sell me the easytouch and has never installed the Intellicenter before. I insisted on the Intellicenter instead of the pool automation equivalent of buying a Nokia 4580 in 2020 when Iphone 11's are the current standard.
So even with them agreeing to use the intellicenter they said they are going to need the Pentair rep to come and show them what to do.
If I wasn't so far along in the process and have money already spent, I'd consider changing PB's based on this alone. But that's a post for another time. I want my pool this season and switching now would likely mean no pool for this summer.
 

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