Looking for advices/recommendations on the pool automation and energy efficiency

[Dirk]

A most excellent and accurate perspective. It is easy to get carried away with gizmos without considering perfectly adequate alternatives. I, on the other hand, am a gluten for punishment, have an even simpler pool than chiefwej (no spa, no in-floor) and regret my automation selection only because I wish I had a more elaborate model!

My rebut to his take is that the "need" for automation is not based on how simple your pool is, as if a big complicated pool requires automation, and a small, simple pool would not get decent ROI. It's more about what you want to be able to do with your pool and equipment, and what you're willing and able to do and spend to achieve that. There are other considerations:

- willingness to explore and learn yourself how to put together a non-integrated solution (not everybody can or wants to)
- ease of use
- ease of maintenance
- appearance
- no simple, one-stop tech or service support for a multi-brand system
- missing out on some of the niceties only a one-brand, integrated system can provide
- reliability

To name but some...

There are no hard and fast rules. Explore what's possible with automation. Be clear about what it can and cannot do, be clear about what each model can and cannot do (this is where I went wrong). Decide what of what it can do you want. Then make your decision on the make and model, or if you want one at all, based on that data. You can't just ask: what should I buy? You first have to answer: what do I want to do?

 

[MyAZPool]

Agree with Mr. chiefwej. If you only have a pool (one body of water), you probably really don't need automation (especially since an Intelliflo pump has it's own internal scheduling features). But agree with Dirk as well. It may not be what you need but what you WANT!! If you want automation and want to pay for the "cool" factor, then go for it.

By looking at prior posts on this thread, it appears that that is just what you have (single body of water).

However, if you have a spa/spa heater, water feature(s), multiple lights that you want to put on a schedule, landscape lighting, additional sanitation devices such as Intellichem, etc, multiple pumps, multiple valves that can be (or you want to be controlled) via valve actuators and you want to control all of these items from your desktop, handheld device etc, then that is when automation gets "cool" :grin:.

There is nothing "cooler" than to decide you want to get in the spa later and you open the app on your phone, tap a button on the app, tell the app when you want to get in the spa and....

1. Have your automation open and close the correct valves for spa operation.
2. Set the spa temperature to your predetermined temp.
3. Adjust the pool and spa lighting to predetermined "scenes".
4. Activate and adjust the surrounding landscape lighting.
5. Activate or adjust any water features (spillovers/fountains etc.)

and have your app tell you when the spa is ready (it won't order or prepare your favorite adult beverage however :grin. That's on YOU...

and from anywhere in the world with cell or wifi service be able to...

Observe and adjust your current pump speed and flow.
Observe pool/spa temperature and chemistry settings and history.
Adjust pool equipment operation modes and scheduling (pump(s), chlorinator, chemical feeders, water features, lights etc).
Control other electrical items in the back yard such as gazebo/barbecue,cabana etc lights.

That's where automation is ....

Sorry, I got carried away (too much time on my hands today) LOL....

 

[Dirk]

Still don't agree (says guy with very simple pool).

I like to check on my pool temp while away. And my back yard temp, too.

I like to shut down my solar heater (and associated cost to run it), when I find out I'm not coming home in time to swim.

I don't like to run my solar after 3:00PM (PG&E), but I like to set it to while at the store if I know the kids are coming over late in the day.

I like to make my seasonal adjustments to filtering and sanitation from my laptop.

I like to turn on my pool light from my living room, or my phone, or my pool pad.

I like to change my pool light's color at night while my friends and I are sitting out there, without getting up.

I like that suction to the skimmer is automatically adjusted lower during a cleaner cycle, so that the cleaner works better, and vice versa.

I'd like to be able to schedule multiple filter cycles and multiple skimmer cycles throughout the day and night (but can't because I got the wrong model).

I'd like to be able to push a button on the living room wall and have my cleaner mode and/or my high-speed skimmer mode come on, right before guests arrive, and then have both go off automatically (but can't because I got the wrong model).

Shall I go on?

Sorry, this notion that automation is only needed when you have a spa, and lots of water features and lots of lights, or whatever, doesn't fly. It can be just as useful to a guy with a small pool with one light.

 

[MyAZPool]

Sorry, this notion that automation is only needed when you have a spa, and lots of water features and lots of lights, or whatever, doesn't fly. It can be just as useful to a guy with a small pool with one light.

You're right Dirk!

I too don't have a lot of extra's (waterfalls, spillovers etc) but I do have a spa w/heater, controllable water feature, programmable LED pool light and landscape lighting), but like you, I also want to do all of those things that you mentioned. (hurry up IntelliCenter retrofit kit)

And of course I forgot things like solar and automatic pool covers. Other good reasons for automation.

 

[Dirk]

Conversely, I'd say a spa puts the issue to bed. You can't have a spa without being able to heat it up while coming home!

 

[MyAZPool]

Conversely, I'd say a spa puts the issue to bed. You can't have a spa without being able to heat it up while coming home!

LOL... So right Mr. Dirk.

And when it comes to pool automation, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my girlfriend "Alexa" ...


You can turn on or off your various circuits like pool, spa, waterfall, lights, etc) with your voice.

There's no need to hunt for your wireless remote or iOS/Android device - just talk to Alexa on your Amazon Echo, Fire TV, Echo Dot or Tap.

After connecting Alexa to your Pentair IntelliTouch or EasyTouch or IntelliCenter in a few simple steps, just say commands like "Alexa, ask MyPool to turn on my Waterfall.", or "Alexa, ask MyPool what my pool temperature is.", or "Alexa, ask MyPool what my pool status is"

Here are examples of how you can use the Skill:

Alexa, tell/ask MyPool to turn on <AUX or Feature Circuit name – e.g. AUX1 or Spa Jets, Waterfall, etc.>

Alexa, tell/ask MyPool to turn on the Pool

Alexa, tell/ask MyPool to turn on the Spa

Alexa, ask MyPool what the Pool temperature is

Alexa, ask MyPool what the Spa temperature is

Alexa, ask MyPool what the pH level is

Alexa, ask MyPool what the ORP level is

Alexa, ask MyPool what my pool status is

The above request, depending on your installed equipment, will return for those with the IntelliChem pH/ORP system only (as checked in the IntelliCenter configuration):
Your <alias> pool is currently 87 degrees, pH is 7.35 and ORP is 725. The pool, chlorinator, etc., circuits are currently running.

For those with IntelliChem and IntelliChlor (as checked in the IntelliCenter configuration):
Your <alias> pool is currently 87 degrees, pH is 7.35 and ORP is 725. Your salt level is 3200 ppm. The pool, chlorinator, etc., circuits are currently running.

For those with only IntelliChlor (as checked in the IntelliCenter configuration):
Your <alias> pool is currently 87 degrees and your salt level is 3200 ppm. The pool, chlorinator, etc, etc. circuits are currently running.


Just thought I would throw this consideration for automation in the mix for good measure...

 

[chiefwej]

Conversely, I'd say a spa puts the issue to bed. You can't have a spa without being able to heat it up while coming home!

If you read my post then you may have noticed, I can turn on/off my spa pump, heater, and lights, all remotely, either with my cell phone or voice control via Alexa. Those particular features cost me about $100 to add. Three 110v Smart Switches (at about $20 ea.) and one 220v one ($58).

 

[Dirk]

Unless you have my iPhone:

"Hey Siri, what is the status of my pool?"

"Dirk, I cannot find any statues near you for you to duel. Would you like to hear about statues in Rome?"

"Hey Siri, how old are you now? Why are you still so stupid?"

"Dirk, I don't know how old Cupid is. Would you like to make a dinner reservation for next Valentine's day?"

"Sigh..."

 

[Dirk]

If you read my post then you may have noticed, I can turn on/off my spa pump, heater, and lights, all remotely, either with my cell phone or voice control via Alexa. Those particular features cost me about $100 to add. Three 110v Smart Switches (at about $20 ea.) and one 220v one ($58).

I think one could build a much more capable system, at substantially lower cost, than what is currently available from "the big three." They are shamefully behind on tech. But "build" is the operative word there.

You are assuming a level of skill, knowledge and motivation to do so that many (most?) do not possess. (Based primarily on the number of post here about dedicated pool automation systems vs home automation systems.)

I think your perspective is valuable, though. Not poo-pooing it at all. It's not commonly known that you can supplement or even replace pool automation with other solutions. I, personally, like to hear about these alternatives, and the OP should be aware they exist, for sure.

 

[MyAZPool]

chiefwej

Sorry, I did not notice that post (my bad).

Agreed, that IS pretty cool that you can turn on/off your spa pump, heater and your light using smart switches. I like it and it certainly shows a high skill level in such things. In fact, until the IC retrofit kit is made available in a couple of months, I too am using a Lutron Smart Switch to control my LED pool light activation, scheduling and scenes.


The problem is that I can’t find a similar solution to give me anything like this.. For now, I guess I’m stuck with opting for automation.

 

[MetalSpine]

Would be so kind to share links to the smart switches you are using?

If you read my post then you may have noticed, I can turn on/off my spa pump, heater, and lights, all remotely, either with my cell phone or voice control via Alexa. Those particular features cost me about $100 to add. Three 110v Smart Switches (at about $20 ea.) and one 220v one ($58).

 

[chiefwej]

Would be so kind to share links to the smart switches you are using?

Here is post with all the details:
Tips and Tricks - Page 15

Since that was posted, I have added some Smart Dimmers to my patio lights which allow voice control of light level from 1% to 100%.
Smart Dimmer Switch by Martin Jerry | SmartLife App, Mains Dimming ONLY, Compatible with Alexa as WiFi Light Switch Dimmer, Single Pole, Works with Google Assistant [For Sale NOW] - - Amazon.com