New Pool - SWG/Heater/VSP Questions

[CookieJar]

Long time researcher here, first time posting. We finally bit the bullet and purchased an inground pool this year. It is a 18x40 liner with 8.5’ deep end. I balanced the water and added enough salt to bring it to within the optimum range (currently 3300ppm). I’m struggling a bit to understand how everything ties together, specifically the SWG, Heater, and VSP.

Equipment:

• Hayward AquaRite S3 Series Salt Water Pool Chlorinator
• Pentair WhisperFlo VST VSP
• Sta-Rite System 3 Modula Media Filter
• Nirvana FV140 heat pump

Currently, we (electrician and I) are struggling to determine where the low voltage wires from the AquaRite S3 tie into the Nirvana Heat Pump. Nirvana’s tech support is useless. My outstanding questions so far are:

• Does the AquaRite S3 have to be connected to the heater with these 2 low voltage wires? If so, where? (electrical diagram attached). My guess is that it ties into the 3 wire remote somehow, but unsure if it’s normally open or closed.
• Is a check valve after the Heat Pump and before the SWG required? I read on here that there has been some premature failures as highly concentrated chlorinated water flows back into the heater.
• Per the AquaRite manual, I need to purchase a Hayward HLPMPCONV converter to connect to the Pentair VSP. If not, the SWG will just use its flow sensor to not allow it to generate when the pump is off. I think I read on this forum that the flow switch is more of a backstop protection, and shouldn’t be the primary on/off. Is that true?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Cookie,

When using an automation system, you connect the heater to the 3-wire remote connection, just using the 2-wire connection using the P and C pins..

You will not be switching the heater between the Pool mode and the Spa mode, as this is done inside the automation. You just set the heater to run full hot and the automation will control the heater's temperature.. Your automation will need a temp probe installed.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[CookieJar]

That's incredibly helpful, Jim. Thanks. Kind of a "duh" moment I suppose, but don't think I knew what the p/c/s pins stood for.

Strange that I need a temp probe installed, wouldn't the heater have that? I don't know how else it would know when to turn on/shut off

 

[Jimrahbe]

Cookie,

P for Pool, S for Spa, and C or Common..

When connected to an automation system the heater is set to max heat (104 degrees).. Whether you want the water to be 104 degrees or not.. The temp probe in the heater is just a safety device to keep the temp from ever going over 104 degrees.

The automation needs its own temp sensor...

Basically, you set the temperature you want in the Automation. If water temp is below the set point, then the automation connects pins P and C.. This tells the heater to start heating.. Unless stopped, the heater will heat until the water is 104 degrees... But.. when the water temp gets above the set point, the automation opens the connection between pins P and C, and this cause the heater to stop heating..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[CookieJar]

Thanks Jim!!!