This is a work in progress…I will be updating the first post with some of my latest progress, and through additional posts. Normally, I post projects after I have completed 90% of it. This is not the case with this automation project. This thread will be kind of like a pool-build thread, with updates when I get the time: concerns, successes, and failures.
What I am hoping is that I get some additional ideas from folks on these boards about enhancements, changes, possibilities. The great thing about this project is: as long as it holds my interest…it will never be done. I can envision making enhancements and changes for a long time into the future. That can be both a “good” and a “bad” thing.
1) Some Background
My wife and I are empty-nesters and in 2014 or so had not really used our pool in any appreciable amount for the previous 10 years. It was a “no-landscaping eyesore” in our backyard (all had slowly died off), and truthfully it was a PITA to maintain for no gain. In 2014 we took on a DIY pool remodel (link in my signature) and were very happy how it turned out. It got us swimming (some) again, but it wasn’t until last year we saw how much our 3-year old grandson loved the water that we really started enjoying our pool again. That same daughter had twins last year and our son has one on the way, so we will be swimming again for a while.
I actually didn’t officially start using the TFP method until Spring 2018, and have been very happy with the results; but I don’t think I will ever be happy with the doldrums of maintaining a pool…yeah, I know, that doesn’t go hand-in-hand with TFP methodology.
When my pool got extremely warm last year 95F, I decided I was going to try and automate my aerator, to cool down the pool some in early morning hours. Well that project is not even started yet, but “looking at it to see what it would take” was the trigger for a host of projects that led me directly to this automation attempt.
Included in that journey…protecting my pool equipment:
Retractable, Removable Pool Equipment Cover / Sun Shade / Protection
Adding a stenner pump and chlorine tank…recently expanded to include an acid tank:
Stenner installation with buried tank for AZ heat
And this marathon thread (don’t even try to read it) where I discovered more than I thought I ever could know about my In-Floor-Cleaning-System (IFCS)…and am still going at it. For a few days, this particular thread was titled "How I lost $1000s by not turning one valve in my pool system"...haha, and it was true!
Optimize Your In-Floor Cleaning Effectiveness and Efficiency
It was during some of those IFCS experiments in that last thread that I realized I had some shortcomings in my pool, especially with my Ecommand4 automation control. So I started thinking…and thinking…and thinking about what I wanted to change. Im still thinking about it.
My Personal Background (or… if you want to try something like this, what might be helpful?)
I grew up playing with Radio Shack electronic kits and that probably led me to becoming an electrical engineer. I’ve been retired for a while; however, since my pre-college years I have not really “played with electronics. “ I designed microcontrollers at Intel and so that has given be a good understanding of what is possible with arduinos, raspberry pi’s, and a host of other modern controllers. They are waaaaayyyy beyond what I worked on…especially with the software support.
As far as software, I did assembly language programming and something called HDL (Hardware Description Language). I have not had other higher level languages (well Fortran 35 years ago in a school class, and Basic on my Commodore64, haha). But those experiences have given me a background to understanding the principles of C++/java programming. Those with ZERO programming background would probably struggle with a project such as this.
Truthfully, what finally made me decide to go for this was a pool thread by another “tinkerer” who has less experience than I have and went all out. What I like about that thread is that he posts successes and failures…I have learned much from reading his updates, THANKS Brennon. I’ve linked to this thread before:
Automated Pool Controller
Finally, here is something to consider that I posted in a previous automation thread on these boards:
I think most of these [pool automation] projects are tackled by people who just love to tinker. Many, but not all, have a background in either software or electronics hardware, sometimes both (I envy those, haha). As talked about early in the thread, the “hardware” is always cheaper, but the time commitment is what usually disqualifies those who pursue these: many of these projects fail to reach launch.
Lots of other issues besides cost/time should be considered as well: safety, reliability, transferability (house sale) are among those. So, despite costs and limitations of commercial systems, they are the ONLY real option for 99% of pool owners who desireneed advanced automation.
Pool Controller Project Outline
This project will eventually be a pool controller for my swimming pool. It is very specific to my pool, but others may find parts of it useful in doing a similar project. I have obtained inspiration from many other pool projects that have been posted on the web, including some here on TFP. Special thanks to Zack, an awesome programmer (and not that bad of a son-in-law, too) who jump started me on ALL aspects of this program and who probably would have finished the entire project if he had a couple more days to spend on it, haha. Truthfully, there are sections of code in the Android app that I have not deciphered yet.
There will be a rather slow rollout of this project because almost everything is new to me, AND I am not in a rush.
The project will consist of these parts:
- an android app to control pool operation that directly communicates with the Particle Photon. This is designed with Android Studio and is written in Java.
- a hardware implementation that includes the Photon, relays, sensors, and supporting chips/components that will interface directly to my swimming pool hardware (pump, valves, sensors)
- a Google Sheets interface to the Photon that will allow me to log, store, and graph all desired data
- Photon firmware that will implement: all hardware functionality, interfaces to the Android App, and interfaces to the Google spreadsheet.
My goal is to have a completely self contained system that can operate my pool pump/valves for weeks without WiFi, not that it is necessary but in order to be self contained and not dependent on Wifi/internet. All scheduling will be maintained and implemented on the Photon itself (beside chemicals testing/maintenance). Scheduling will include the ability to schedule for all four seasons.
In addition I want it to (with WiFi available):
- collect and store data (temps, psi’s, Watts, gpm, chem injections, chem readings)
- send updates, warnings, alerts about the system status
- allow manual operations including overrides of existing schedule for pump/valves, lights, chemicals, waterfall, tbd
- everything (within reason) accessible-controllable via phone app
Some of these goals have already changed since I originally posted this on Github. I have made a BUNCH of progress...but that’s it for now.