Intellitouch and Mastertemp Communication

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Veryexpensivepools

In The Industry
Jul 9, 2022
65
Dallas
Where does the comm cable go for the mastertemp from the
intellitouch? I want full functionality on from inside and at the automation and all I’m finding is using the fireman’s switch to turn on/off the heater at an existing setting. I want to be able to adjust the temp from inside. Where on the control board does the comm cable plug? The existing system has 4 comm wires routed in 2 bundles to the fireman’s switch but it’s missing functionality.
 
The IntelliTouch firmware does not support RS485 control of MasterTemp. That is unless there is a new firmware version out there with the protocols built in. AFIK you must use the heater control relay to the fireman's switch on the heater for that controller. Changing the temp is not one of the things you miss using a two wire hookup. Arguably it is better because the thermostat is then matched to your pool water temp sensor and not the internal sensor on the heater.

The only thing extra that you get from the RS485 connection are error messages from the heater. IntelliCenter is the only Pentair controller that decodes and displays these error codes. There are some other warts with the RS485 protocol but most of them can be overridden with IntelliCenter.

When you set the heater up, change the set temp for the pool and spa settings to 104 and IntelliTouch will manage the thermostat functions for the heater. It will also manage any required cooldown functions and short cycles.
 
V,

You don't need RS-485 to have full control over your heater.

Basically, all the fireman's switch or loop does is to allow the IntelliTouch to tell the heater to heat or not heat. The heater is set to on and 104 degrees and just left that way. When the automation see's that the pool water is below the wanted temperature set point, it closes a small relay which closes the fireman's loop and turns the heater on. When the water temp gets up to your set point, the relay opens and heater shuts off.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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That was my understanding but I want full feature control like adjusting temperature from phone or home interior panel NOT just the fireman’s switch of on/off at existing setting. Do the new mastertemps not have the J3 2 wire gas connection?
 
Yes the new MasterTemps have a 2 wire connection. Hook it up to the heater relay on the IntelliTouch board and you will have complete control over the heater to include setting the temperature and turning it on and off.
 
rstrouse said:
Yes the new MasterTemps have a 2 wire connection. Hook it up to the heater relay on the IntelliTouch board and you will have complete control over the heater to include setting the temperature and turning it on and off.
Click to expand...
To what port? There is no 2 port on the circuit board anymore. It has a 4 port and a 3port covered by a sticker that says comm or fireman switch reference manual
 
Veryexpensivepools said:
but I want full feature control like adjusting temperature from phone or home interior panel
Click to expand...
V,

That is exactly what you get using the fireman's switch. You adjust the temp you want and if the heater is on or off right at the IntelliCenter or by using your phone or PC. (I assume you already have ScreenLogic.)

Why do you think that is not the case???

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Because I thought all intelligent communication runs only through the circuit board such as preferences, programming, settings. The idea that through the fireman’s switch I can change the temperature from my intellitouch hand held inside the house doesn’t make as much sense as wiring directly to a com port but I’m only seeing a 4port and 3port with the 3port having a sticker saying use this or the fireman’s switch.
 

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Post a picture of that sticker. It is likely over the jumper for the fireman’s switch. Also are you sure you have an IntelliTouch. Take a picture of that remote. If it is a MobileTouch controller I would hardly refer to it as a remote. It is more like a boat anchor or an anvil. All of the Pentair automation has touch or intelli in the name and it is very common to get them confused.
 
rstrouse said:
Post a picture of that sticker. It is likely over the jumper for the fireman’s switch. Also are you sure you have an IntelliTouch. Take a picture of that remote. If it is a MobileTouch controller I would hardly refer to it as a remote. It is more like a boat anchor or an anvil. All of the Pentair automation has touch or intelli in the name and it is very common to get them confused.
Click to expand...
Yes I’m sure it’s an intellitouch. The sticker is a white circle over a 3 prong com port labeled comm OR reference manual for fireman’s switch connection
 
Ok so that is not the comm port you will find the comm port on the lower right hand side of the control board and it will have 4 screw terminals. Ignore that connection it will do nothing for you. Under the sticker you described it should say firemans switch. There will be a jumper connecting the bottom two terminals together that you should remove. Then connect the two wires from the IntelliTouch personality board labled GAS HEATER not the one labeled ELEC HTR. There is no polarity on this connection so either wire can be hooked to either terminal. While they call this a fireman's switch it simply calls for heat when it is shorted and shuts off the heat when it is open.

Finally, there is a 3-pin jumper on the main control board for the MasterTemp. All this does is disable the Pool/Spa mode on the control panel for the heater and is labeled JMP1. I suggest you move it so that the bottom pin #1 is shorted to the center pin. This will make it so the heater thermostat cannot be switched between pool and spa. You do not want this because it can be confusing when the heater shuts off before it reaches the setpoint because one of the setpoints is set lower than the temperature selected by IntelliTouch.

After you have verified your connections and set the jumpers. Re-apply power to the system and set the temperature setpoint on the MasterTemp control panel to 104 degrees which is the max temp for the heater. You will now be able to set the temperature from any Pentair controller you may have on your system.
 

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rstrouse said:
Under the sticker you described it should say firemans switch. There will be a jumper connecting the bottom two terminals together that you should remove.
Click to expand...

Pentair_MasterTemp_Firemans_Switch.jpg



Pentair MasterTemp Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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rstrouse said:
Ok so that is not the comm port you will find the comm port on the lower right hand side of the control board and it will have 4 screw terminals. Ignore that connection it will do nothing for you. Under the sticker you described it should say firemans switch. There will be a jumper connecting the bottom two terminals together that you should remove. Then connect the two wires from the IntelliTouch personality board labled GAS HEATER not the one labeled ELEC HTR. There is no polarity on this connection so either wire can be hooked to either terminal. While they call this a fireman's switch it simply calls for heat when it is shorted and shuts off the heat when it is open.

Finally, there is a 3-pin jumper on the main control board for the MasterTemp. All this does is disable the Pool/Spa mode on the control panel for the heater and is labeled JMP1. I suggest you move it so that the bottom pin #1 is shorted to the center pin. This will make it so the heater thermostat cannot be switched between pool and spa. You do not want this because it can be confusing when the heater shuts off before it reaches the setpoint because one of the setpoints is set lower than the temperature selected by IntelliTouch.

After you have verified your connections and set the jumpers. Re-apply power to the system and set the temperature setpoint on the MasterTemp control panel to 104 degrees which is the max temp for the heater. You will now be able to set the temperature from any Pentair controller you may have on your system.
Click to expand...
I understood everything you said with a clarity question about...

“Finally, there is a 3-pin jumper on the main control board for the MasterTemp. All this does is disable the Pool/Spa mode on the control panel for the heater and is labeled JMP1. I suggest you move it so that the bottom pin #1 is shorted to the center pin. This will make it so the heater thermostat cannot be switched between pool and spa. You do not want this because it can be confusing when the heater shuts off before it reaches the setpoint because one of the setpoints is set lower than the temperature selected by IntelliTouch.” ...

Is the 3 pin jumper you’re referencing already wired with a jumper or is it an open 3 pin port? I see a 3 pin port but it has the sticker over it suggesting use this OR the fireman’s switch at fenwall and if so, to reference user manual.

From what you’ve said I think you’re saying ignore fireman’s switch at fenwall and wire from intellitouch GAS connection to the Mastertemp circuit board at the 3 pin??
 
Veryexpensivepools said:
What I am stuck on is using the fireman’s switch to turn on off heater but not adjust temperature settings remotely. The fireman’s switch can accept temperature communication despite not being a circuit board?
Click to expand...
There is NO remote connection on your MasterTemp to an IntelliTouch that will adjust the temperature settings in the heater. NONE.

And it is not necessary. The IntelliTouch will handle temperature control for the heater using the IntelliTouch water temperature sensor.
 
ajw22 said:
There is NO remote connection on your MasterTemp to an IntelliTouch that will adjust the temperature settings in the heater. NONE.

And it is not necessary. The IntelliTouch will handle temperature control for the heater using the IntelliTouch water temperature sensor.
Click to expand...
So you’re saying the temperature is set via intellitouch for a desired set point that overrides the manual button mastertemp set point of 104 ?
 

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