@MyAZPool and all other Pentair Intellicenter and Heater Users
So, you buy this over priced automation system........expecting it to "run the world"...... and in reality it has major issues and bugs. One bug in particular is this:
I have a heater bypass valve with an intellivalve hooked up to it (so water runs "around" the heaters (not through them) - the valve is set like this as the default. The heaters (I have both - Ultra Temp w/chiller and a Mastertemp) are communicating with the Intellicenter via the RS-485 cable (as it should be). I know some people have their heaters wired to a relay - but for now, I do not. On the panel of the intellicenter, upon waking it up - you see the screen with the Pool and Spa (I have a i10PS) settings. Theoretically, you are supposed to be able to set your parameters for the heaters there. For example, if you want your heater to turn on at 80 degrees, you set your set point and boom, your all set! NOT!!!!
No Where - anywhere - anyway - is there a command to open the heat bypass valve to allow water to flow through the heaters!
Am I missing something here - or is this functionality of the heater automation useless if you (A) have a heater bypass valve (B) keep it closed (meaning water usually runs "around" the heaters)
The way the system works, I am assuming you would have to keep the water flowing constantly through the heaters all the time, which we frown upon.....for a couple of reasons
a) bad for the heaters
b) I have to run the pump at a higher rpm in order to keep the SWG running.
c) higher pump speed equals higher pressure in system
d) all mean more use of electricity
I have a fix - but Pentair will never do it - All they need to do is add a socket on the board of the intellicenter for the bypass valve. Just like the "spa" and "return" are on it. Then the heater hits the set-point, the bypass opens, and heaters turn on..... Simple as pie
It will never happen.
So..........Has anyone else experienced this and if so - what is the fix - or in petair's world ..... the work around
Ron, I only utilize the "Return" socket on the mother board. Remember, I do not have a traditional spa, so I do not need the "Spa" socket as I do not have a need for it. Do you think if I put the Intellivalve (for the bypass) in the "spa" socket - we can get some functionality out of it? I am thinking at least when you hit "Spa" on the panel it will open the bypass (allowing water through heaters) fire up heater to setpoint temperature???? And (as it already does) - divert my water flow to the jets in the sitting area.......
Then maybe........is there a way in programming to utilize that same "Spa" socket identifier command to set up some type of schedule to heat / cool the pool accordingly????? At this point - I would be happy enough if I was able to tell the system to open the bypass, heat the pool to 85 or from 0400 - 1900...........something is better than nothing.
As of now - I have to disable ALL the schedules (I have like 8)........activate the bypass valve........activate the heater........remember to turn it off, blah blah blah
Oh, and sometimes if I am lucky - the system will divert back to a schedule, causing the heater bypass to close, causing no water to the heaters.......... Yeah that,s a great sound to hear (the pipes and heater rattling due to no H2O)!!!!!
And the chiller............well you know how that fails........
So, you buy this over priced automation system........expecting it to "run the world"...... and in reality it has major issues and bugs. One bug in particular is this:
I have a heater bypass valve with an intellivalve hooked up to it (so water runs "around" the heaters (not through them) - the valve is set like this as the default. The heaters (I have both - Ultra Temp w/chiller and a Mastertemp) are communicating with the Intellicenter via the RS-485 cable (as it should be). I know some people have their heaters wired to a relay - but for now, I do not. On the panel of the intellicenter, upon waking it up - you see the screen with the Pool and Spa (I have a i10PS) settings. Theoretically, you are supposed to be able to set your parameters for the heaters there. For example, if you want your heater to turn on at 80 degrees, you set your set point and boom, your all set! NOT!!!!
No Where - anywhere - anyway - is there a command to open the heat bypass valve to allow water to flow through the heaters!
Am I missing something here - or is this functionality of the heater automation useless if you (A) have a heater bypass valve (B) keep it closed (meaning water usually runs "around" the heaters)
The way the system works, I am assuming you would have to keep the water flowing constantly through the heaters all the time, which we frown upon.....for a couple of reasons
a) bad for the heaters
b) I have to run the pump at a higher rpm in order to keep the SWG running.
c) higher pump speed equals higher pressure in system
d) all mean more use of electricity
I have a fix - but Pentair will never do it - All they need to do is add a socket on the board of the intellicenter for the bypass valve. Just like the "spa" and "return" are on it. Then the heater hits the set-point, the bypass opens, and heaters turn on..... Simple as pie
It will never happen.
So..........Has anyone else experienced this and if so - what is the fix - or in petair's world ..... the work around
Ron, I only utilize the "Return" socket on the mother board. Remember, I do not have a traditional spa, so I do not need the "Spa" socket as I do not have a need for it. Do you think if I put the Intellivalve (for the bypass) in the "spa" socket - we can get some functionality out of it? I am thinking at least when you hit "Spa" on the panel it will open the bypass (allowing water through heaters) fire up heater to setpoint temperature???? And (as it already does) - divert my water flow to the jets in the sitting area.......
Then maybe........is there a way in programming to utilize that same "Spa" socket identifier command to set up some type of schedule to heat / cool the pool accordingly????? At this point - I would be happy enough if I was able to tell the system to open the bypass, heat the pool to 85 or from 0400 - 1900...........something is better than nothing.
As of now - I have to disable ALL the schedules (I have like 8)........activate the bypass valve........activate the heater........remember to turn it off, blah blah blah
Oh, and sometimes if I am lucky - the system will divert back to a schedule, causing the heater bypass to close, causing no water to the heaters.......... Yeah that,s a great sound to hear (the pipes and heater rattling due to no H2O)!!!!!
And the chiller............well you know how that fails........