looking at putting in new pentair system looking for advice

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Melnic

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Jun 7, 2017
217
Maryland
OK, I have an existing Pentair Intelli Touch setup from the previous owner of the house I purchased last spring.
I have only a Pool, No Spa and don't plan to add one (at least not to add to this system)
Here is what is installed right now:
Intelli Touch System i+3
3HP Intelliflo Pump
Intellichlor IC40 chlorine generator (Salt pool)
ThermalFlow Heat Pump Model HP900
Polaris cleaner with a 3/4 HP 220/115V (looks like it is wired for 115V as the breaker is just one pole)
Pool Light
Deck lighting (perimeter of the pool along 2 faces of a retaining wall and steps)
Water Fall (activates a valve I think to the main pump lines)
Fountain (does not really work and I never use it)
Pavilion lighting


I want to get this (I think this is what I need)
Pentair 522353 EasyTouch PL4 Automatic Control System Base with ScreenLogic

right now, the Intellichlor and the Intelliflow pumps do not communicate with the Intellitouch.
I want the Pump, Chlorine generator and heat pump to communicate to the new controller.
I want to be able to use my iphone to control the system.

I noticed that my current system has breakers installed in it for:
1) Pump (220V)
2) Polaris Cleaner pump
3) Pool Lights
4) Deck Lighting
5) Pavilion
6) Water Fall
7) Fountain

There is a separate breaker panel on the side that feeds the Intelitouch system This comes from the House breaker panel
It has lots of openings.

Questions
Is what I linked all that I need?
What do I do about the breakers in the existing system?
Do I need anything else?
I would not mind paying more than what I would pay from the vendor in the link if it meant I would get phone and/or email support from a technician.
 
Mel,

I would not wish the "lite" version of the EasyTouch on even my worst enemies.. :p Anything with an "L" in the model number, such as PL4 or PSL4 is really a cheap imitation of the real thing. They do not include a load center, they only allow four programs and fewer pump speeds and only one Feature circuit. The unit you selected only has four relays.. One of which is dedicated to controlling the SWG. The unit you have now I assume has 8 relays...

It would make more sense to repair what you have and add ScreenLogic, but I see your dilemma.. the cost to repair might be about the same as a new system... :(

Have you done anything to troubleshoot your current system? I "assume" the main board is bad, but it could be many other things.

Let me know if you are interested in running few tests to see if we can salvage what you have...


Thanks,

Jim R.
 
What I have worked when I shut the pool down last fall.
My goal is:
Add the Screenlogic
Add communications to the pump so I can change speeds with screenlogic or through automated programming
Add communications to the Intellichlor (its is not hooked up right now)
Update now so I can use this for next 8-10 years. I just don't see this working for me over the time I'll be in this house before I downsize.

Is this what you are saying I need:
Pentair 8 Relay Automation EXPERT Bundle
 
Mel,

The EasyTouch single body system that you listed above will work just fine... I am not trying to be negative, but want to make sure you have all the facts you need to make a decision...

1. We always recommend that any salt system be rated at 2 x the volume of your pool.. This makes your IC40 pretty small for a 35K pool.. Not as bad an issue in Maryland as it would be in Texas... :p

2. I am not sure what you have now, but if your current IntelliTouch has a built-in SWCG power supply, then if you replace the IntelliTouch, you will have to buy an external SWCG power supply for your IC40. If your current IC40 is in two pieces... a Cell and a separate metal box then you already have the external power supply...

3. If you do not already have it, your IntelliFlo pump will need a serial control cable if you want to be able to control the pump's speed.

Thanks for posting and good luck with your project,

Jim R.
 
Thx for the continuing info.
1) Salt cell struggled last year ONLY until I had salt level measured and then after adding the right amount of salt, it was fine. I will say I had to run it at 60%. If it goes, I'll look at upgrading that thx.
2) Pictured is the salt cell power center it is plugged into.
3) gotcha on the serial cable.

When I'm done, I can ebay or classifieds what parts I remove and maybe recover some costs.
I have also the Pentair Mobiletouch 2 remote that will no longer be used.


saltpowersupply.JPGcontrol.JPG
 
Melnic said:
What I have worked when I shut the pool down last fall.
My goal is:
Add the Screenlogic
Add communications to the pump so I can change speeds with screenlogic or through automated programming
Add communications to the Intellichlor (its is not hooked up right now)
Update now so I can use this for next 8-10 years. I just don't see this working for me over the time I'll be in this house before I downsize.

Is this what you are saying I need:
Pentair 8 Relay Automation EXPERT Bundle
Click to expand...

Yes, I would go with the 8. I have the intellitouch 4 and sure could use the extra circuits. I’ll be maxed out after I install my heat pump next week. Especially if you get the screen logic, you will want to control everything with your phone.
 
Mel,

You do realize that you can add ScreenLogic to what you currently have... right???

There is almost no difference between what you have now and a brand new EasyTouch.. Both were designed just after the stone age... :p

Jim R.
 
yes, i thought about adding the screenlogic late last summer. when the guy was hooking up the new pump he said something about not having something with the old board I had. He did not hook up the communications either. He made it sound like what I had could not be upgraded or needed a new board.
 
Mel,

So I did a little research and found out that before about 2005 the IntelliTouch panels did not control VS pumps...

If you drop down the door on top... try to see if you can find the F/W version number. The one article I read said that version 1.090 dated 10/19/2006 works..

So if you have 1.090 or higher then you should be good...

The article also said that the main board could be "Flashed" with new F/W that would allow it to work, but this is something at a Pentair tech would have to do, so I have no idea of the cost.. A whole new board is about $600 bucks so you would assume it would be a lot less than that...

Thanks,

Jim R.
 

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Mel,

If your main board will not talk with your pump, it might not talk with ScreenLogic either... Buying ScreenLogic will not help unless you can control your pump...

The ScreenLogic kit that you want is the 552104, just like you listed above...

Do me a favor and go out to your outside panel, if you have the one with the little 3" display or if not use your remote and look under Menu and find "Setting" and you should see a list that looks something like the following...

Clock
IntelliFlo
IntelliChlor
IntelliChem


Please let me know if you see these four items and if not, what four items you do see???

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Here are pics, my pool is still shut down so I have the breaker turned off.

Looks like the RS485 port is hooked up to the heat pump and the wireless link box right now. I think they did not have the intellichlor originally and added it but they did not hook up the serial link.

So maybe all I have to do is hook up the serial links for the intellichlor and pump?

I could probably use the 2nd port for that if I get a spare plug from digikey or somewhere?

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Mel,

It appears to me that you have the necessary F/W to run the IntelliFlo (1.100) ... :goodjob:

You don't need to buy a new connector.... Just take the unused connector off the ISR4 port and use it.. You could cut it to length, if you want, but that does not seem necessary...

If your wireless remote works.. then that means your com port works... I suspect all you need to do is wire up the pump.. Keep in mind, just like your heater, the pump is only connected with two wires.. The red and black power wires... are NOT used, just the Green and Yellow from the pump. Do you have the data cable that should come with the pump???

If you install ScreenLogic2 first, it will make programming the system about 10 x easier...

Thanks,

Jim R.

- - - Updated - - -

I could not really tell anything about the internal wiring as the pictures is too much of a close up... Don't really need it anyway.
 
cool.
thx for all the help!
I can't recall if they ran the serial cable when installing the pump (I think he did) but I have plenty of twisted pair RS485 cable at work to use. (I'm an Engineering manager and EE by discipline)
I'll plan to get the Screenlogic2 set up before the intelichlor and pump
 
Mel,

The problem will be getting the connector to connect to the IntelliFlo... The cable is supposed to come with the pump..

If you are an EE then I've been telling you stuff that you probably already knew... :p

Jim R.
 
Hi guys,
Jim is spot on with everything he's told you but I just wanted to add that you don't even need a new connector... you can connect multiple wires to a single black/yellow/green/red connector. That is how mine is set up on my i5 system (it only has 1 port).

On the outdoor board both rs-485 port inputs are actually connected together where they feed into the communication chip(s) +/- inputs... rev A and B boards have 1 comm chip, rev C and D boards have 2. I honestly don't know why they're using 2 comm chips on the later boards unless there's something that needs full duplex rs-485.

Hope that helps,
Tom
 

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