Intelliflo pump status on Easy Touch 8 display shows "NO COMM!"

[thor77]

I have an approx 8-year-old system consisting of a Pentair Easy Touch 8 controlling an Intelliflo VS pump. It's been running great until the pump filter breaker went out. I turned off the main breaker, installed the new breaker and everything appears to work (including manually running the filter pump) however I can't run the pump automatically. When the schedule for the filter activates, the relay works, the filter light goes on however the pump never activates. The pump is in schedule mode (not stopped). When I check the pump status, it shows, "NO COMM!." If I reset the Easy Touch, the pump status changes to, "NORMAL." If I then go back to Auto mode, the relay works, the filter light goes on, and then approximately 15 sec later the status changes from, "NORMAL" to "NO COMM!." I'm guessing that I have an RS-485 issue. Does anyone have any ideas? Is there a replaceable RS-485 chip on the board? I could probably remove a regular chip however I've never messed with a surface mount. Do I need a brand new PCB?

Thank you and best regards,
Norm

 

[Jimrahbe]

Norm,

When the pump is being controlled by the EasyTouch, the pump's display should say "Display Not Active".. If it shows RPM, or similar display, there is an RS-485 issue.

I need to know if you are using ScreenLogic, a Pentair remote, or if you have a IntelliChlor SWCG??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[thor77]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply. The pump's display does not say "Display Not Active." I use the ScreenLogic app or Easy Touch to control and I do have an IntelliChlor. I am not able to turn on lights, start pumps, etc with the ScreenLogic app although it says connected. I also have a "Pentair Remote Control & Monitor" app that runs on my pc that says under Status, "Connected OK." I'm assuming for both apps it just means connected to the ScreenLogic box in my house connected to the network with the antenna cable connected to the antenna. Which I would then think that the problem has to do with the RS-485 function on the PCB in the Easy Touch. I did find on the forum a thread from you about cleaning the cable connection contacts between the pump and the Easy Touch. I was going to try that next. If that doesn't work, is there an RS-485 chip on the PCB that I can swap out? I'd rather try that than spend $800 - $1,000 on a new board. Thanks Jim!

 

[pjt]

Is priming enabled or disabled on your IntelliFlo?

Do you have a different comm port you can try with your pump's RS-485 cable?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Norm,

The problem with the RS-485 com port is that if any device goes down, it can lock up the bus so that nothing works.

The way to troubleshoot this is to disconnect all the RS-485 devices except between the Pump and the main board.

You don't initially have to remove every wire, just unplug all the RS-485 devices and make sure that J20 (com port on the main card) is not connected to anything but the two wires coming from the IntelliFlo pump.

You obviously do all that with the power off. Turn the power back on and see if the pump says, "Display not active". If it does, it means one of the other devices is bad (most likely) the ScreenLogic antenna. Or the Pentair remote antenna if you have one.

If the pump and EasyTouch will not talk to each other, then most likely the main board is bad. Could be the pump, but most of the time it is the main board. Could also be the cable between the EasyTouch and the pump. Usually, the connector at the pump gets corroded - check the pins in the pump as well as the connector itself.

Let me know what you find,

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[thor77]

Success! Thank you so much! I've got the, "Display not active" display on the pump again. It was the Pentair Remote antenna connection. I've got it running to a BBQ area and maybe some animal chewed the wire I'm back up and running. Thanks Jim! And thanks pjt for the suggestion. I would have tried that also if the unplugging hadn't isolated the issue.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Norm,

It is always good when a plan comes together..

You should think about becoming a onetime supporter. We are all volunteers, but without supporters there would be no place for us to help others. Think of it as paying it forward.

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Thanks,

Jim R.