More Questions on EasyTouch + ScreenLogic Programming

[Stoopalini]

I finally got the ScreenLogic setup installed yesterday, and am going through it, trying to set things up in a convenient way.

I have an EasyTouch PS-4 (with SCG integration) and a waterfall. Right now, it's setup as follows for the AUX and FEATURE circuits:



With pump speeds as:



For schedules, I have:



So the pump runs 24/7 at 1500RPM, then runs high speed at 2500 RPM for one hour int he AM (8am - 9am), and the waterfall runs at 2800 RPM for one hour in the evening (7pm - 8pm).

I'd like to have a way to trigger the waterfall to run in a low flow mode, as well as a high flow mode though. At first, I thought I would accomplish this with two AUX buttons ... one for low speed pump and one for high speed pump, and both actuating the same valve. But from what I can tell, valves can only be assigned to a single circuit ... so that idea is out.

My next idea was to have a single waterfall button, and just remove the pump speed (2800) from that circuit. And then have one of the AUX buttons assigned to the pump's "Pump High" circuit ... so in this way, the WATERFALL button would just actuate the valve, and it would flow at whatever the pump speed happens to be. So for waterfall high, you would have to also press the HIGH SPEED button .... but, I think I'm out of physical buttons to use due to have a PS4 instead of a PS8..

So a couple of questions:

On the PS4, is there a way to assign a FEATURE circuit to one of the 5-8 buttons? I believe these are strictly for the additional AUX circuits on a PS-8, but thought I'd check just to be sure. If I'm right, and I can't use these for anything on my PS4, then this may convince me to convert my PS4 to a PS8 by adding the 1k resistor to R42.




Next question is related to the 4-BTN SPA SIDE remote functionality ... Is the spa side remote a simple 4 button remote, where each button ties to one of the pins on the terminal block within the ET-4? And then a function gets assigned to the button? If so, could I add additional buttons (DIY style), wired to the spa-side terminals, and then select any circuit I want for each one? In essence, providing 4 additional physical buttons for activating/deactivating FEATURE circuits?

So connecting additional DIY buttons (latching or momentary?) to the SAP-SIDE REMOTE 1 terminal block:




And then assigning a circuit to the added buttons here:



If I can repurpose the SPA-SIDE remote functionality like this, then it may be a good way to create something user friendly for the wife and kiddos.

 

[Dirk]

@Jimrahbe knows this stuff so well... He'll find you. I wish I knew mine better...

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

In my mind, now that you have ScreenLogic, you are wasting a relay by using Aux three to rotate a valve.. Using a Feature Circuit as you describe makes much more sense to me..

The Spa side remote can turn any Aux Circuit or Feature Circuit on, so I see no problems making it do what you want.

The resistor trick may or may not work, it depends on when the card was initially programmed..

It sounds like you have a good handle on it..

Here is a crude diagram of the Pentair spa side remote..

img027-1.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Mar 14, 2017

Does your SWCG restarts at 7:59 each day?? Not sure, just asking.. Generally when you want to run a circuit 24/7, you set the time to 8 am to 8 am and not 8 am to 7:59 am.. Not sure the "missing" minute is a problem or not... You have to be in the Pool or Spa mode to make the SWCG work, so for one minute you are not.. Just curious, if it has any effect..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Stoopalini]

Thanks Jim, extremely helpful as usual!

In my mind, now that you have ScreenLogic, you are wasting a relay by using Aux three to rotate a valve.. Using a Feature Circuit as you describe makes much more sense to me..

Right, but without using an Aux, then the wife or kids have to have access to the app on a mobile device. I was hoping to enable a way for them to just simply press a physical button. Hence the question about using the SPA-SIDE functionality. I've a bunch of micro controllers and electronic components here at the house from previous tinkering projects, so figured I could just wire up some opticouplers to the spa side terminals, and have physical buttons at the panel to make it easy. And in doing so, it would be very easy to then make a wireless remote as well, to trigger those opticouplers from inside the house. It be about $10 in parts, vs $200 for the iS4 .. and my solution would be wireless as well.

The resistor trick may or may not work, it depends on when the card was initially programmed..

My EasyTouch was installed about 2 weeks ago, so I think I should be good with the hardware revision and firmware revision supporting the resistor add. I did read there was a firmware and/or hardware change some time back, and if you have a model which is prior to that, then you also need a firmware update. Hopefully that's not the case with mine.

The Spa side remote can turn any Aux Circuit or Feature Circuit on, so I see no problems making it do what you want.

It sounds like you have a good handle on it..

Here is a crude diagram of the Pentair spa side remote..

img027-1.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Mar 14, 2017

Perfect. So is appears the remote just momentary shunts the control pin (red, yellow, green or blue) to ground, which triggers the assigned circuit to toggle its state.

Does your SWCG restarts at 7:59 each day?? Not sure, just asking.. Generally when you want to run a circuit 24/7, you set the time to 8 am to 8 am and not 8 am to 7:59 am.. Not sure the "missing" minute is a problem or not... You have to be in the Pool or Spa mode to make the SWCG work, so for one minute you are not.. Just curious, if it has any effect..

I actually don't have the SWCG setup yet, as I'm only 2 weeks in to the new pool. Sep 25th will make 28 days, so I'm waiting for the weekend of the 26th to install the IC40. But thanks for the tip, I'll just change the schedule to be 8am - 8am instead.