Jandy WiFi controller

[Frank in FL]

Has anyone opened one of these up? I need to know if I can extend the wire by about 15’. Not sure if the wires are soldered into a board or screwed in. Where this is positioned on my house, I get very very weak WiFi signal. I don’t want to add a WiFi Booster if I don’t need to.

I called the mfg up and they were of no help

 

[ajw22]

Is that wire twisted pair? It look like Cat5 wire? I would try and splice wire onto it and try it.

 

[Frank in FL]

I took a chance and opened the controller up. As feared, the wires are soldered onto the board.
I’m no electrician, but I think a splice won’t hurt?

 

[ajw22]

Ok, it is an RS-485 cable. How long is the standard cable? The specs say it can do max data rate up to 40’.

Full Guide to Serial Communication Protocol and Our RS-485 |

Our RS-485 is a serial commuication protocol. Maxim Integrated's guide will show you types of serial communication protocols and answer FAQs on our RS-485.

www.maximintegrated.com

Best to find a length of 2 pair RS-485 wire. The construction of the cable matters in the data transmission.

RS-485 Cable: Critical to System Operation

EIA 485 technology (widely known as RS485) plus why and how cable is critical to system operation.

www.belden.com

More then you want to know about RS-485 but it explains why cable is critical to data transmission. We don’t know what data rate is being used and how critical the cable is in this implementation.

RS485, specifications and in depth tutorial - Lammert Bies

The RS485 standard. Tutorial about the RS485 specification and use. Comparison with other interfaces.

www.lammertbies.nl

Here is a discussion on RS-485 splicing I found.

RS-485 splicing

I had have had some trouble with splicing RS-485 the data bus on my Elk M1 system and have come up with what looks like an easy way to do a good job of it. http://www.showmecables.com/product/Maxblox-HD15-DB9-Terminal-Blocks-Hood-Black-Plastic.aspx?link=YMAL What do you guys think and do you...

cocoontech.com

@ogdento thoughts?

 

[Frank in FL]

The original cable is about 12-15’. I just bought 15 feet of this cable from Lowe’s looks like a match but not sure if it’s going to work because you mention specific data cable needs a specific cable.

 

[PoolGate]

It should work just fine. Instead of just splicing if you wanted you could use the 4 wire connector for it instead. But a splice should work. If it was me I would crimp on an RJ-45 end and use an RJ-45 coupler. I used to run network cabling though so I know how to do it.

 

[ajw22]

You want twisted pair cable. If you cannot find RS-485 I would use Cat5 or Cat6. You need to match up pairs on the two cables. The twisted pairs matter for maintaining the voltage differential and signal. You can try using RJ-45 connectors.

 

[Frank in FL]

What exactly is “twisted pair cable?”
The cable that is soldered onto the board appears to be solid copper and not braided or twisted.

You want twisted pair cable. If you cannot find RS-485 I would use Cat5 or Cat6. You need to match up pairs on the two cables. The twisted pairs matter for maintaining the voltage differential and signal. You can try using RJ-45 connectors.

 

[PoolGate]

Twisted pair is what Ethernet network cabling is. Each striped color cable is twisted with the non-color striped wire of the same color. So brown is twisted with brown/white, blue with blue/white, etc. The twists are critical in the data movement through the cable. Twists refer to the actual colored cable twisted with its non-colored twin, not the metal wire within the cable. Incorrect twists will cause the communications to fail especially at higher speeds. 10 mbs will work over twisted barbed wire fencing but 100mb and GB speeds need those twists to be correct. All that said, RS-485 is a sloppy protocol and I think it will work just fine with whatever cable you have. Wire it up and see.

 

[Frank in FL]

Just tried to splice the cable I had and it didn't work. Kept getting a connection error. After looking at both sets of wires, it appears that they are exactly the same. Both are solid copper and I didn't notice anything different when I took the shield off to strip the wires back. Looks like I may need to get that repeater after all, ughhh!

 

[PoolGate]

Hmm I think it should have worked. How did you splice them just twist them together? Make sure of course they aren't touching and how long was the cable?

 

[Frank in FL]

I used butt connectors, then re spliced by twisting them together. Total cable from pump to wifi unit was about 25'

Hmm I think it should have worked. How did you splice them just twist them together? Make sure of course they aren't touching and how long was the cable?

 

[PoolGate]

I used butt connectors, then re spliced by twisting them together. Total cable from pump to wifi unit was about 25'

If you mean the crimp colored ones I would just try simply twisting the ends together and seeing if it works. If so, work on a better solution to be permanent.

 

[Frank in FL]

Yes, I crimped on the little red butt connectors. When that didn't work, cause them are hit and miss for a connection, I cut them off and twisted the wires together.

If you mean the crimp colored ones I would just try simply twisting the ends together and seeing if it works. If so, work on a better solution to be permanent.

 

[PoolGate]

What is the reason to extend the antenna anyway? Poor signal? I just got the below and it works perfectly in my house to extend WiFi to every corner.

Amazon.com: NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX3700 - Coverage up to 1000 sq.ft. and 15 devices with AC750 Dual Band Wireless Signal Booster & Repeater (up to 750Mbps speed), and Compact Wall Plug Design: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX3700 - Coverage up to 1000 sq.ft. and 15 devices with AC750 Dual Band Wireless Signal Booster & Repeater (up to 750Mbps speed), and Compact Wall Plug Design: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

 

[Frank in FL]

Yes, my wifi signal is very weak on this corner of the house outside. I do have a power outlet on my lanai. Guess I can plug the booster you got into there.

What is the reason to extend the antenna anyway? Poor signal? I just got the below and it works perfectly in my house to extend WiFi to every corner.

Amazon.com: NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX3700 - Coverage up to 1000 sq.ft. and 15 devices with AC750 Dual Band Wireless Signal Booster & Repeater (up to 750Mbps speed), and Compact Wall Plug Design: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX3700 - Coverage up to 1000 sq.ft. and 15 devices with AC750 Dual Band Wireless Signal Booster & Repeater (up to 750Mbps speed), and Compact Wall Plug Design: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

 

[PoolGate]

Yes, my wifi signal is very weak on this corner of the house outside. I do have a power outlet on my lanai. Guess I can plug the booster you got into there.

This works very well but be advised it creates a new network so you'll have to program your aqualink to the new network it creates. It inherits the same password though. It is super simple to set up literally like 5 minutes.