New build and need some help with equipment

[SBall]

Plan:

4 returns and 1 skimmer
Two speed pentair pump
Cartridge filter

4 small lights using the 1.5" fittings

Gas heater


I have little desire to "tinker"...I just want things that work and are simple. My parents pool had a single switch for the pump, no lights. Was ridiculously simple. I am not opposed to going that route and just having a manual switch for each of the three items (pump, lights, heater). That being said, I am not opposed to having a nice interface that controls everything together. I'd love some ideas. Thanks.

 

[kimkats]

Not in my bag of tricks but here is a bump!

 

[duraleigh]

What size will your pool be?

 

[SBall]

16'x36' rectangle

 

[duraleigh]

For not much money, you can add another skimmer to REALLY help circulation in a pool that size. You could also reduce the returns to two or three but the 2 skimmers will be more beneficial.

 

[SBall]

Could someone point me in the right direction for the master "box" I need. I have a 120V Pentair Dynamo dual speed pump on my mini-pool that I intend to use for big pool, and seems like most here like the Pentair stuff. I am not going with salt, which is part of my confusion because most of the boxes seem to have that in the description.

I want to run a 240V line from master panel in the house to the "box". I want the box to handle all loads, I don't want a bunch of boxes hanging all over the place. My outputs, or loads, are:

120V dual speed Pentair Dynamo
Pool lights #1
Pool lights #2
Heater
Room for expansion (outdoor lighting, fan, etc)

Would be nice to have some sort of remote control item that I can keep in the house to turn pump/lights on/off, but not necessary.

 

[SBall]

[h=1]Pentair EasyTouch 4P Single Body Pool and Spa System, $700ish on Amazon, and if I am being honest with myself...I like having room for expansion for "what-ifs"...but the reality is that I have pump, lights, heater and that is it. [/h]

 

[Jimrahbe]

s,

Pentair makes a lot of different models of their automation systems... You will have to include the P/N or model number...

You do not want to buy anything with the model number of PL4 or PSL4 as the "L" indicates a "lite" version of the EasyTouch.. It has a very limited number of schedules and functions that it can do and does not have a load center.. If you buy one of them, you will be very sorry...

Here is a link to a good ET4... https://sunplay.com/collections/pentair-easytouch-control-systems/products/pentair-easy-touch-control-system-520591

Here is a link to an ET8... https://sunplay.com/collections/pentair-easytouch-control-systems/products/pentair-easy-touch-control-system-520703

Since you have a 2-speed pump you will also have to buy a 2-speed relay...

If you want to control things remotely, from your phone, tablet or PC, you will need to buy ScreenLogic2... https://sunplay.com/products/pentair-screenlogic-interface-and-wireless-522104

Below is a overview of what the EasyTouch can do...

Many people have pools without automation and they work just fine. I do, however, think it is important to know the advantages and the disadvantages of having an automation system.

1. Automation will help you with pool maintenance, but it will not replace the need for you to test your water, understand what you are looking at, and then making sure your water is balanced. (Another reason you need the accuracy of the TF100 test kit.)

2. The main downside to automation is cost. So before going too far down this path, you might ask your PB what it's going to cost. That said, the best time to install automation is when the pool is being built, because all the connections to the system can be made without having to figure out how you are to get power across 50' of new deck. Also, the additional cost, when compared to the cost of the pool, will be miniscule.

3. Automation systems work best when the same brand is used because then the pieces can "talk" to together. So, in your case I would recommend the EasyTouch 4 (or 8) that has a built in power supply for the SWG and generally comes with the SWG and two valves. ScreenLogic2 is an absolute requirement if you want to be able to control things from your PC or Phone.

Here is a list of what I think the advantages are:

1. Appearance. Instead of having a bunch of different boxes hanging on your wall you have one, professional looking enclosure.

2. Circuit Breaker Panel. The bottom half of the enclosure is a circuit-breaker panel where the breakers for your pool equipment (Pumps, Heater, etc.) are located. This panel is also an excellent place to add surge protector, which is an absolute must if you have the Intelliflo pump. Even if you do not get the automation, make sure your PB includes a surge protector for the pump.

3. SWG Control. Without automation, your SWG will have to have a timer, synced to the pump timer so that it does not run when the pump is off. This function is built into the EasyTouch.

4. Spa mode and SWG output. Normally all the water flows through the SWG, so when in the Spa mode, the EasyTouch reduces the amount of chlorine the SWG produces, so that the Spa users are not subjected to high levels of chlorine.

5. Pool Lighting. The EasyTouch allows you to control your pool lighting from your PC and/or from a schedule. This is another reason to add the EasyTouch now. Once your pool light is wired to switches inside your house, it might be very difficult to get the wiring to any automation system.

6. Control of Spill-over and bubblers. Right now I'm sure you are thinking I want that spillover running 24-hours a day because it is so beautiful.. Well, after a few weeks of having your pH go through the roof, you'll appreciate the ability to only turn it on, when you want it on. The same with the bubblers. With the Easytouch, you can program them to run on a schedule for a few minutes a day to keep the everything properly chlorinated or when you want to "show off" to your guests..

7. Relay Control. The EasyTouch 4 has four (really three) relays that can be used to control other things, such as landscape lights. (The EasyTouch has 8 (really 7) relays.

8. Built in Valve controls. The EasyTouch has the ability to control 4 valves. Two work for switching between the Pool and Spa modes, while two others can be programmed to do whatever you might want, like bubbler control. I would note that a lot of bubblers are controlled by manual valves that cannot be automated. You need to be sure to tell your PB that you want Jandy style valves for your bubbler control.

9. Heater Control. The EasyTouch can control your heater.. So, you can be inside and tell your PC what temperature you want the Spa to be and it will tell you when it is ready.

10. ScreenLogic. ScreenLogic allows you to program the EasyTouch with various schedules. It lets you see most all of the inputs and output to the EasyTouch and lets you decide what you want on/off and in the case of your SWG, lets you adjust the % of output on the fly.

11. Pool pump speed... The EasyTouch can be programmed to adjust your pumps speed. So when running just the pool, it can run slow, but when running your waterfall, it will automatically increase the speed to make your waterfall or other water features look exactly how you want them to look. (When you have a VS pump...)

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.

 

[Mamabev]

This is an older thread but hopefully Jim will see it and respond. Jim, when you say surge protector in the panel, so you mean a full size surge protector like I plug my computer into? Or is there some electrician version I’ve never seen. Just not sure how that would fit into the panel.
Thanks,
MB

 

[Jimrahbe]

MB,

I was talking about a surge protector that is designed for installation in a circuit breaker panel. There are two basic types... One looks similar to a two-pole circuit breaker and plugs into the load center, just like a circuit breaker. The other is a little box that hangs below the EasyTouch/load-center and is attached using one of the conduit knockouts on the bottom of the ET.

Any good electrician would know what they are and how to install them. The device itself costs about $100 to $200..

Thanks,

Jim R.