Need Equipment Review (link to old thread included)

[Taylor1584]

Old thread Need equipment recommendations More detail from me and all the advice which I have taken is in the previous thread.

I am working my way through all the repairs on this new to me old house. I received this latest quote for new equipment.
Couple questions as I may not be reading this correctly.
1. It appears there are several automation, salt cell combinations listed here, am I seeing duplicate equipment? What was recommended and I think I want was the Intellicenter. My understanding is 521903 and there is also the 521906. I have pump, heater, sand filter, and 1 bubbler..
2. I don't need an indoor controller, my phone is fine.

I am assuming these are COVID/SUPPLY CHAIN prices going forward. I do not have any DIY expertise and will be having someone that can install and service do the work.

Meanwhile, I am contacting the supplier for the model numbers.

I may skip the new heater, it is working and is an old model, mechanical, not electronic. I have had more trouble with boards going out on a Hayward, and then a new Pentair, I am thinking about keeping the old. From the pictures on the original thread it doesn't look so good, but it does work.

Not sure if I should switch out the sand filter for a cartridge. I was originally but am undecided. It is not on this quote, it was a Clean & Clear 520. I can do the necessary backwashing but there is no way I can physically do a deep cleaning nor take big cartridge filters out to clean. So both of those tasks I would have to hire someone to do. With a big filter cartridge probably only once a year, with a sand filter I can do the backwash, but not sure of the timing of a deep clean. Not the Sand Filter is from Summer 2021.

Thanks for all the advice given so far, I alway appreciate learning more.

​

 

[Jimrahbe]

Taylor,

The CCP-520 has 4 relativity small cartridges. So, taking it apart and cleaning them is pretty easy to do.

If you like a sand filter, just get one. I personally am done with backwashing, MVP valves, added back pressure. If I build 10 more pools, they will all have large cartridge filters.

That said, it is your pool, and you should get what will work best for you.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[pjt]

What's labeled as "Control System" is probably IntelliCenter. You need to confirm this. If it's an IntelliCenter bundle with the SWG cell and transformer, you obviously wouldn't need those items separately.

What model IntelliFlo pump is proposed?

What is a technical service call? I'm guessing it's his labor fee.

You probably don't need a tutorial for that cost.

 

[Tcadwall0]

I'm seeing double charges. The control system with the intellichlor includes everything. the transformer and the cell. they should not be additional. Not sure why you need the call time. What you can't figure out in the manual, you can get answered here.

 

[guinness]

You probably just need the IntelliCenter i5P bundle with IC40 cell as it has 4 relays and can control 2 valves. If the Intelliflo is hard to come by you can now get the new Whisperflo VST instead.

Not sure if you get many thunderstorms in AR, but see if you can just use wireless. Keep the conduit with ethernet cabling for fallback. Seeing a lot of equipment damage on these forums after thunderstorms.

 

[generessler]

Yikes. This is why I do my own work. The heater is not hard to get for under $3k. The second-from-newest top-of-the-line model of Intelliflo (011028) bought in March cost me less than $1,700 all up. That price is still available. Businesses ought to do better. If the markup on the other items is the same, they're easily clearing $7k for installation. Possibly up to $10k. Maybe 2 person-days work including the ordering. Again, yikes.

 

[Taylor1584]

Taylor,

The CCP-520 has 4 relativity small cartridges. So, taking it apart and cleaning them is pretty easy to do.

If you like a sand filter, just get one. I personally am done with backwashing, MVP valves, added back pressure. If I build 10 more pools, they will all have large cartridge filters. Currently there is a new sand filter there, summer 21. I am debating on changing to a cartridge filter, which is what I had in my Houston Pool 2009-2021. If I do change to cartridge I will get bigger, less often cleaning.

That said, it is your pool, and you should get what will work best for you.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Taylor1584]

What's labeled as "Control System" is probably IntelliCenter. You need to confirm this. If it's an IntelliCenter bundle with the SWG cell and transformer, you obviously wouldn't need those items separately. I thought that what was what I was seeing, thanks for verifying.

What model IntelliFlo pump is proposed? I will ask, I have specified all models # but it's like pulling teeth.

What is a technical service call? I'm guessing it's his labor fee. That is the regular hourly service call rate, it's in the quote for my automation tutorial.

You probably don't need a tutorial for that cost. You have too much faith. I am assuming they set it up and include a basic run thru, don't know if this is on top of that. That said, I will probably video the entire thing, I feel so dense these days.

 

[Taylor1584]

I'm seeing double charges. The control system with the intellichlor includes everything. the transformer and the cell. they should not be additional. Not sure why you need the call time. What you can't figure out in the manual, you can get answered here.

You're the second to confirm double charges.
This is where I get confused, you say intellichlor includes everything, is that the same thing as Intellicenter. I am asking about Pentair 521903 and there is also the 521906, both Intellicenter, which includes cell and 2 actuators. I still don't know which I would use with the equipment I have, VSF, bubbler, Salt Cell, Heater, filter, light. That's it.

 

[Taylor1584]

You probably just need the IntelliCenter i5P bundle with IC40 Is that the Pentair 521906.? cell as it has 4 relays and can control 2 valves. If the Intelliflo is hard to come by you can now get the new Whisperflo VST instead. I have never heard of this one?

Not sure if you get many thunderstorms in AR, but see if you can just use wireless. Keep the conduit with ethernet cabling for fallback. Seeing a lot of equipment damage on these forums after thunderstorms. Just moved here from Houston area and yes I'm in NWA and they do get some big thunderstorms..I have several Mr. Sparky's now, inherited, and plan to have all updated with Surge stuff, whole house and on individual items, any advice is welcomed.

 

[guinness]

I think you can get away with Pentair 521905 (see below) and buy an actuator for your bubbler separately.

Pentair IntelliCenter i5PIC40 Kit - Pool only with Load Center and IC40

You can add surge protection to the load center, see below. Also add a suppressor to your ethernet cable.

Electrical Surge Protection - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Taylor1584]

Yikes. This is why I do my own work. The heater is not hard to get for under $3k. The second-from-newest top-of-the-line model of Intelliflo (011028) bought in March cost me less than $1,700 all up. That price is still available. Businesses ought to do better. If the markup on the other items is the same, they're easily clearing $7k for installation. Possibly up to $10k. Maybe 2 person-days work including the ordering. Again, yikes.

If I could I would do my own work. I'm a senior citizen, have no knowledge of plumbing or electrical, and for medical reasons don't have the physical strength and dexterity. Sometimes you just gotta pay for someone to do the work. I do heavily rely on TFP for advice for all pool related matters. I just don't get all these machines.

 

[Taylor1584]

You probably just need the IntelliCenter i5P bundle with IC40 cell as it has 4 relays and can control 2 valves. If the Intelliflo is hard to come by you can now get the new Whisperflo VST instead.

I think you can get away with Pentair 521905 (see below) and buy an actuator for your bubbler separately.

Pentair IntelliCenter i5PIC40 Kit - Pool only with Load Center and IC40

You can add surge protection to the load center, see below. Also add a suppressor to your ethernet cable.

Electrical Surge Protection - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I will look into that.

Not sure if you get many thunderstorms in AR, but see if you can just use wireless. Keep the conduit with ethernet cabling for fallback. Seeing a lot of equipment damage on these forums after thunderstorms.

 

[generessler]

If I could I would do my own work. I'm a senior citizen, have no knowledge of plumbing or electrical, and for medical reasons don't have the physical strength and dexterity. Sometimes you just gotta pay for someone to do the work. I do heavily rely on TFP for advice for all pool related matters. I just don't get all these machines.

Sorry I didn't mean to imply DIY is for everyone. It just looks like the markup here is quite high in my uninformed view. As a software engineer, billing $250 an hour is in the ballpark if you know what you're doing. So $2000 a day. This job will pull in more like double that. I realize these folks don't work all the time and have overheads. But still.

 

[Taylor1584]

Sorry I didn't mean to imply DIY is for everyone. It just looks like the markup here is quite high in my uninformed view. As a software engineer, billing $250 an hour is in the ballpark if you know what you're doing. So $2000 a day. This job will pull in more like double that. I realize these folks don't work all the time and have overheads. But still.

No worries, so many of you can DIY, and while I cannot, I do follow along as I do learn what to ask, look for, etc. The knowledge shared here is priceless. Hence my problem, I give detailed specs, model number, asking for a quote, and the quotes never contain the model numbers etc. Sometimes, there are super busy, I get that. One company, not this on, actually refused to tell me the model numbers, said I would know when they installed them. I responded would he go to buy a car, tell then red, and hand over 50K and be thrilled with whatever showed up. I do know they are having supply issues and would understand if they said we cannot get this model, we can sub in this model for X amount. It doesn't have my complete attention, I am attempting to do the save with a new HVAC system, new water heater, and water softener.