Lost Connection to both pumps

[4x4tx]

@Jimrahbe @bradgray So today at 7:21 AM I lost connection to both of my pumps by getting a communication lost to both my VS and VSF pumps. Are you guys saying a tech has to come out for this?

 

[4x4tx]

my response was in this thread fyi for the back story but was moved so it didnt make a lot of sense solo

INTELLICENTER WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH VSF PUMP

PLEASE HELP. we had a storm last week and it seems that the problem roughly corresponds with that although I am not quite sure about the dates. I suspect a brief power outage may have occurred. My pump stopped responding to the intellicenter. The pump display IS ACTIVE, showing GPM etc. It will...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

What model number VS pumps?

What firmware version is in the pumps?

 

[4x4tx]

What model number VS pumps?

What firmware version is in the pumps?

How can I tell? I’m out here going through the menus and have yet to see a firm ware version

 

[Jimrahbe]

4,

Since you lost com to both pumps, I would not think it is a F/W issue..

If you reboot the system do the pumps come back on line?

If not, I would try with just one pump connected to the com port at a time, and see what happens..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[4x4tx]

Found it

 

[Jimrahbe]

We have see several issues with the XF pumps having bad control heads for no com problems.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[4x4tx]

So take this cover off to start unplugging the pumps?

 

[Jimrahbe]

No... Just disconnect the com cable on the XF and see if the VS will work.. And then try the XF with the VS disconnected from the com port.

When you remove the com cable make sure there is no corrosion on either side of the connector..

All you are trying to do is see of the pumps will run when controlled by the automation, one at a time.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[4x4tx]

i unplugged them and rebooted the panel but nothing changed

 

[4x4tx]

I see no evidence the pumps recognize any connection to the panel at all …connections looked fine.

We did have some storms this morning and overnight

 

[Jimrahbe]

4,

What all is connected to your RS-485 com port??

XF
VS
IC40
??? Anything else?

Jim R.

 

[4x4tx]

4,

What all is connected to your RS-485 com port??

XF
VS
IC40
??? Anything else?

Jim R.

How can I tell? Need to open up panel? give me some instructions on what i need to do if you can

I would think that would be it...also have a heater that maybe plugs in there? @Jimrahbe

 

[4x4tx]

Nm

 

[4x4tx]

I lied, even the the pump screen said scheduled instead of manual it was not running the right and was just running last manual setting, here are some pics of the com ports

 

[4x4tx]

4,

What all is connected to your RS-485 com port??

XF
VS
IC40
??? Anything else?

Jim R.

@Jimrahbe Anything else to try ? I have a email into pentair support.

It is strange on my pump it says "scheduled" but its running on high which is not the actual schedule so not sure where that is even coming from. I can then manually turn it down. This is the I2, the other one has shown no signs of connecting at all.

 

[Jimrahbe]

4,

Your card has one com port with two connectors on the main card.. The white cable with 4 small wires is going to the top com port in your pics. I think the other end of that white cable goes to the Salt Cell's power supply (Surge card)

The other com port on your card has a white cable with only two wires, small green and yellow wires.. The other end of that white cable goes into wire nuts.. In your case, the wire nuts connect all the things that are connected to that com port. It is hard to tell for sure, but I think that only your two pumps are connected to this com port..

As a test, I would unplug the top com port connector (the one with 4 wires)

Then I would disconnect the RS-485 2 wire cable going to the VSF pump. Either at the pump or at the wire nuts.

Leave the VS pump connected to the wire nuts.

In theory this should mean that the only thing on the RS-485 bus is just the main card and the VS pump.

In Auto, the pump's display should say Display not Active.. If it does not.. It most likely means the main card has a bad com port.

If your pump shows "scheduled" it means that the pump is not under the control of the automation.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[4x4tx]

@Jimrahbe thank you. I am going to tech support on the phone before I start messing with anything. Just so i know, if its the board, what kind of $$ am I looking at? I am pretty sure we had an electrical surge as other issues have popped up right at this same time

 

[Jimrahbe]

4,

Was this a new install or just an a upgrade kit to make your EasyTouch or IntelliTouch into the new IntelliCenter??

Either way, it would be worth it to see if Pentair will cover it.. I would not tell them you had a power surge, just let them tell you what they think.

I have no clue what a new card costs, but the complete upgrade kit is about $1100 bucks... So you would think it would be less than that.

I like the idea of you going through Pentair to get a second opinion.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[4x4tx]

4,

Was this a new install or just an a upgrade kit to make your EasyTouch or IntelliTouch into the new IntelliCenter??

Either way, it would be worth it to see if Pentair will cover it.. I would not tell them you had a power surge, just let them tell you what they think.

I have no clue what a new card costs, but the complete upgrade kit is about $1100 bucks... So you would think it would be less than that.

I like the idea of you going through Pentair to get a second opinion.

Thanks,

Jim R.

@Jimrahbe No sorry this is the original unit I had on a new pool build back in 2022.....nothing has changed or been added to it, it just lost random connection. In theory with a new pool build, if all equipment was part of a new build and purchased for the same project it should be covered I think for 3 years. Now this was on the back end of covid and things were tough to get then so not sure if the builder bought it all at one or different times or even though different vendors....pentair may try to hide behind that