Intelliflo Pump Needs Two Brains

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D

drglanton

Bronze Supporter
Apr 11, 2020
135
Atlanta
My Pump needs two Brains for the FPH??

I have an Intellicenter as the brains of my system with all the benefits therein. My question is can the Pentair Intelliflo PUMP have two sources to turn the pump on and off as my heating system will require the pump to be activated IF the pump is scheduled not to be on via the Intellicenter.

Basically, brain #2 will take over and run the pump until it decides to turn off and release control back to Intellicenter and I need to figure out how to make this happen.

Connections could be:
1. Standard Connection through the Intellicenter for variable speed connections through the filter circuit. An RS-485 communication cable is provided with the pump and will be used to connect the pump to a Pentair automation system. Brain #1

2. Brain #2 Some how, some way, maybe an additional connection/signal to the pump via maybe through 24vac dry external contacts (building automation relay) or through Intellicenter someway when needed. The controller will supply 2 wires (+/-) at 24vac. The wires connect to the dry contacts as specified by Pentair.

I think the standalone module if needed, is called Pentair Intellicom II as a passthrough for Brain #2 will work with the Pentair Intellicom II.

What are your thoughts about either a direct connect to the pump while it is connected to the Intellicenter or another work around. Normally, brain #2 would just bypass the timer or controller by connecting directly to the 240 vac supply side and redirecting the 240 vac to the pump or through 2 wires (+/-) at 24vac.

Any ideas? Do you think this will work?
 
D,

I am puzzled as to why the IntelliCenter can't control your heater.. It just does not make sense to me.

Depending on what heater you have the IntelliCenter should keep the pump on until it cools down..

I believe that you are making this much more complex than it needs to be.

Tell us what heater you have..

You are not trying to power the heater through one of the IntelliCenter High Voltage relays are you.. ???

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
D,

I am puzzled as to why the IntelliCenter can't control your heater.. It just does not make sense to me.

Depending on what heater you have the IntelliCenter should keep the pump on until it cools down..

Tell us what heater you have..
Click to expand...

I am trying to figure out how to have my Pentair Intelliflow VSP respond to both the FPH Conrtrol (2 wires (+/-) at 24vac) and the Intellicenter which uses a RS-485 communication cable provided with the pump and will be used to connect the pump to a Pentair automation system.

If I figure out how to have the ONE pump come on when FPH calls for it and when the Intellicenter calls for it - - I will be perfect!

Some have suggested that the intellicenter ought to be able to take in standard control signals. Is there an adapter for it. Maybe one of our members that has this pump and that automation system can help.
 
This is a hack but you can find automated button pushers on the net. The FPH 24V can activate a relay that pushes the a button on a control panel. You need some logic gates with a current sensor on the pump power so the button is only pushed if pump power is off. Some assembly required.
 
So step #1 I would listen to the two previous posters and see if you can integrate the FPH with the Intellicenter.

So if that is not possible you need to be sure that the Intellicenter does not override whatever brain #2 will do. First thing I would test is manually turn on your Intelliflo from the control pad and see if the Intellicenter turns it off. If not then you can wire in an additional controller via rs-485 to turn on the pump independently from the Intellicenter. The risk is that the Intellicenter will have a schedule sometime later that might turn the pump off.

So again, step #1 would be the best option.
 
Katodude said:
So step #1 I would listen to the two previous posters and see if you can integrate the FPH with the Intellicenter.

So if that is not possible you need to be sure that the Intellicenter does not override whatever brain #2 will do. First thing I would test is manually turn on your Intelliflo from the control pad and see if the Intellicenter turns it off. If not then you can wire in an additional controller via rs-485 to turn on the pump independently from the Intellicenter. The risk is that the Intellicenter will have a schedule sometime later that might turn the pump off.

So again, step #1 would be the best option.
Click to expand...

One of the main questions is how to connect both brains to the Pump. If I could get Brain #2 to take over the pump as an override . . .
 
Did I miss the part where you told us what heater you have?

The way the IntelliCenter works is that it controls the heater and tell is to turn on.. The heater does not tell the pump or the IntelliCenter to turn on.

This seems to work well for everyone else that has a heater, so why is yours different?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Did I miss the part where you told us what heater you have?

The way the IntelliCenter works is that it controls the heater and tell is to turn on.. The heater does not tell the pump or the IntelliCenter to turn on.
Jim R.
Click to expand...
Sorry Jim - -Still researching this Free Pool Heater Recovery System. The integration is the challenge. The FPH controller will supply 2 wires (+/-) at 24vac. The wires can connect to the dry contacts.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Did I miss the part where you told us what heater you have?
Click to expand...

Jim, he is looking at...

Hotspot FPH AC heat reclamation pool heater - a review!

I have been looking at this product for the better part of two years and I'm very happy to say we have finally got one installed! I am very happy with this product and am equally happy to supply one of the first reviews of it. I know one of my own biggest uncertainties was the dearth of reviews...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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ajw22 said:
Jim, he is looking at...

Hotspot FPH AC heat reclamation pool heater - a review!

I have been looking at this product for the better part of two years and I'm very happy to say we have finally got one installed! I am very happy with this product and am equally happy to supply one of the first reviews of it. I know one of my own biggest uncertainties was the dearth of reviews...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...

I've spoken to a lot of customer service techs. . . they are all baffled and how to get the one pump to answer to two calls.
 
Controlling the pump happens by RS-485 serial signal. Since it is a serial type signal you can have multiple devices send the signal to the pump. The issue is if the Intellicenter is stateless or not. You can send a signal to the pump to turn on, however, I am not sure if the Intellicenter will see that the pump is on and not part of a schedule and try to turn it off. The easy test is to manually turn on the pump when it is supposed to be off according to the Intellicenter and see if it stays on.
 

Infinity Pool Control

I'm looking for a solution to trigger a Pentair EasyTouch 8P-connected VSF pump turn-on when my infinity pool tank (basin) reaches a set high point. Current plan is to install a Zodiac/Jandy Levolor II K2000 hi/low water sensor controller. BUT, of course Jandy and Pentair products don't work...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

This thread is the same basic problem.

The solar solution should work for you or you can run 30 gpm all the time.

You would need to run the pump continuously so that you get a water temperature reading, but you can run slow enough that the power cost is negligible.

When the solar circuit is triggered, the pump will change to whatever speed you have assigned to the solar circuit.
 
Last edited:
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Ok,

The system I looked up had a separate circulator pump to move the water through the recovery system.. The IntelliCenter has a couple of different heater outputs and at least one of them is for a low voltage relay that closes when the heater should be on.. The way the system works is that the IntelliCenter looks at the temperature of the pool and and if that is below the set point where you want the pool would turn the heater on.. or in your case turn on you circulator pump. I don't believe that it will do this if the main pump is not running.

Were you trying to use the IntelliFlo as the circulator pump and the pool pump?

Anyway.. Good luck with your project.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Ok,

The system I looked up had a separate circulator pump to move the water through the recovery system.. The IntelliCenter has a couple of different heater outputs and at least one of them is for a low voltage relay that closes when the heater should be on.. The way the system works is that the IntelliCenter looks at the temperature of the pool and and if that is below the set point where you want the pool would turn the heater on.. or in your case turn on you circulator pump. I don't believe that it will do this if the main pump is not running.

Were you trying to use the IntelliFlo as the circulator pump and the pool pump?

Anyway.. Good luck with your project.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...

I was hoping to use one pump as the pool pump. I guess another simple option is to incorporate a circulator pump controlled by the FPH. Not a bad idea
 
JamesW said:

Infinity Pool Control

I'm looking for a solution to trigger a Pentair EasyTouch 8P-connected VSF pump turn-on when my infinity pool tank (basin) reaches a set high point. Current plan is to install a Zodiac/Jandy Levolor II K2000 hi/low water sensor controller. BUT, of course Jandy and Pentair products don't work...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

This thread is the same basic problem.

The solar solution should work for you or you can run 30 gpm all the time.

You would need to run the pump continuously so that you get a water temperature reading, but you can run slow enough that the power cost is negligible.

When the solar circuit is triggered, the pump will change to whatever speed you have assigned to the solar circuit.
Click to expand...
I am going to switch over and definite read more about this. Do you think using the solar solutions solves the challenge with the Intellicenter?
 
JamesW said:

Infinity Pool Control

I'm looking for a solution to trigger a Pentair EasyTouch 8P-connected VSF pump turn-on when my infinity pool tank (basin) reaches a set high point. Current plan is to install a Zodiac/Jandy Levolor II K2000 hi/low water sensor controller. BUT, of course Jandy and Pentair products don't work...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

This thread is the same basic problem.

The solar solution should work for you or you can run 30 gpm all the time.

You would need to run the pump continuously so that you get a water temperature reading, but you can run slow enough that the power cost is negligible.

When the solar circuit is triggered, the pump will change to whatever speed you have assigned to the solar circuit.
Click to expand...

Hey James - checked the thread. Point me in the right direction . . . what part do you think is the solar solutions to my specific challenge?
 

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