New SoCal IG shotcrete pool build - equipment set, Final Inspection Passed, Pebble Done! Salt added. Back deck in process

[Ahultin]

Did you turn the bypass on in the heater menu? In order to gain access to the heater menu, you have to remove the RS485 connection to the heater board.

--Jeff

You are correct, it somehow managed to get to disabled. I enabled it and am cycling it now

 

[Ahultin]

You are correct, it somehow managed to get to disabled. I enabled it and am cycling it now

So I got it enabled and ran into the same issue I beleive you warned about. Bypass will open but won't close . I'll put the call into pentair and see if they will do anything with expectations of nothing lol. Anyone successfully convince them to provide a valve expansion card to resolve the issue?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Yeah. Maybe they'll have it fixed in the next Intellicenter firmware update. But no telling when that will be. Has something to do with the comms. If the heater is not connected, the bypass works just fine.

--Jeff

 

[Ahultin]

The salt needs to be added THEN wait 24 hours with the pump running to really mix it up good before turning in the SWG.

Swg is reading 3450 today with Taylor test reading 3600 so Darn if patience is not in fact a virtue Lol

 

[Ahultin]

Today's issue... tried to kick on the heater but the mastertemp is reading the water at 120 even though the intellicenter is reading 84.
Ideas?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Is your bypass valve completely closed? It'll hold water in the exchanger and not be accurate. I have mine set so it's about halfway between the bypass and heater. So bypass allows flow through the heater and the bypass line, and not bypassed completely closes the bypass line. Hopefully that makes sense.

--Jeff

 

[Turbo1Ton]

This is mine in the bypass position. Up is heater, to the left is the bypass.

--Jeff

 

[Ahultin]

So the Bypass wasnt opening , found the valve expansion module online for $65 so I just going to order it.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Boo on the bypass not opening, Yay on the valve expansion module.

--Jeff

 

[Ahultin]

So...I made an error lol. I received my expansion board yesterday, installed it, rerouted the heater valve actuators wire, cut it and re-terminated it ...then realized I bought the comm expansion board not the valve expansion board . Since I had the wires routed already I opted to remove the deck jet actuator wire and install the heater actuator in its place. I have configured it and it now opens and closes but it seems to close too quick. I have the cool down set to 5m in intellicenter but as soon as I switch heat modes the valve closes immediately. @Turbo1Ton I don't think that is right so I'm guessing I have some configuration wrong?
Since the actual valve expansion board seems to be significantly more expensive I am going to try pentair support before ordering one.
Since I know everyone likes pictures we did add the connecting table to our polywood chairs which worked out great and keeps them from floating. I did have to drill a new hole for the umbrella as it was going to put the chairs off the shelf in stock config

In addition, the wife and her friend decided that we were barbecuing....even though the outdoor kitchen is future phase 2. This resulted in the need to make a 3pm HD run for block to rig up the grill we have had sitting in a shed for 16yrs lol.
Trying to figure out the permanent layout now as if this sits here like this working for any length of time it will fall off my list of projects

 

[kimkats]

the connecting table to our polywood chairs which worked out great and keeps them from floating. I did have to drill a new hole for the umbrella as it was going to put the chairs off the shelf in stock config

SWEET! I can many a drink in PLASTIC cups sitting out there to be enjoyed!

the wife and her friend decided that we were barbecuing.

OH NO! Do we need to keep those two apart so they don't come up with any more ideas???? LOL When my best friend and I come walking up to our husbands they try to cut and run before they hear what we have come up with for THEM to do next

Trying to figure out the permanent layout now as if this sits here like this working for any length of time it will fall off my list of projects

Looks good to me like it is except for the rain part so yeah might want to get a gazebo to go over it for now. They should be going on sale in a bit.

oppsie on the wrong board. Hopefully that will be easy to sort out and make work for your set up!

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I have configured it and it now opens and closes but it seems to close too quick. I have the cool down set to 5m in intellicenter but as soon as I switch heat modes the valve closes immediately. @Turbo1Ton I don't think that is right so I'm guessing I have some configuration wrong?

I believe that the cooldown mode in the Intellicenter only leaves the pump running at a higher speed for whatever time you have it selected. I don't believe it has anything to do with the bypass valve. I have my bypass valve set so that I still get flow through both paths when it is off. I would recommend this as you don't want stagnant water sitting in the heater. And it also negates any need for the valve to stay open for a set amount of time.

From the Intellicenter User's Guide...

Cool Down Delay (min): The gas
heater Cool Down Delay (min) can
be set from 0 to 10 minutes (5 min.
default). After the heater is turned off,
this feature keeps the pump on (up to
10 mins) to circulate water through the
heater to avoid corrosion.

--Jeff

 

[Ahultin]

I believe that the cooldown mode in the Intellicenter only leaves the pump running at a higher speed for whatever time you have it selected. I don't believe it has anything to do with the bypass valve. I have my bypass valve set so that I still get flow through both paths when it is off. I would recommend this as you don't want stagnant water sitting in the heater. And it also negates any need for the valve to stay open for a set amount of time.

From the Intellicenter User's Guide...

Cool Down Delay (min): The gas
heater Cool Down Delay (min) can
be set from 0 to 10 minutes (5 min.
default). After the heater is turned off,
this feature keeps the pump on (up to
10 mins) to circulate water through the
heater to avoid corrosion.

--Jeff

Ok, I have it set to stay open 2 positions so I should be good to go

 

[Ahultin]

SWEET! I can many a drink in PLASTIC cups sitting out there to be enjoyed!

Looks good to me like it is except for the rain part so yeah might want to get a gazebo to go over it for now. They should be going on sale in a bit.

Plastic cups!!! We had guests over enjoying the seating last week and our first and last glass disaster. Luckily she was not near enough to the pool to put glass in the pool but Darn if I'm not still finding glass slivers...with my bare feet... 4 days later

Re a cover over the grill area, I hesitate to do this as it would impede the hillside view from the spa which was the whole reason I went long and low with the fence on that end of the yard.

 

[kimkats]

Ouch and gurrrrr on the glass.

I see what you mean about the view. Maybe a fitted cover then.

 

[Ahultin]

I believe that the cooldown mode in the Intellicenter only leaves the pump running at a higher speed for whatever time you have it selected. I don't believe it has anything to do with the bypass valve. I have my bypass valve set so that I still get flow through both paths when it is off. I would recommend this as you don't want stagnant water sitting in the heater. And it also negates any need for the valve to stay open for a set amount of time.

From the Intellicenter User's Guide...

Cool Down Delay (min): The gas
heater Cool Down Delay (min) can
be set from 0 to 10 minutes (5 min.
default). After the heater is turned off,
this feature keeps the pump on (up to
10 mins) to circulate water through the
heater to avoid corrosion.

--Jeff

So per Pentair tech, the cooldown should be keeping the bypass open for the specified period of time. The automation guys couldn't troubleshoot it (and also stated he had zero training on the updated mastertemp board ) and forwarded my inquiry to the heater group. I am currently awaiting a call back from the heater group.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Interesting, since it is in the Intellicenter manual as not having anything to do with the bypass. Will be curious to hear what comes of it. I never contacted them about it because I read the manual and it didn't apply.

--Jeff

 

[Ahultin]

Interesting, since it is in the Intellicenter manual as not having anything to do with the bypass. Will be curious to hear what comes of it. I never contacted them about it because I read the manual and it didn't apply.

--Jeff

Had a call back that "they are still trying to figure out the issue" and someone would call me back.
In the meantime, valve expansion has been installed and all of the valves are working.
My salt level is still eluding me. The ic40 is reading 4500ppm but I ran the Taylor test and came up with 15 drops or 3000ppm. I'm assuming this is the "brick" red?

 

[Newdude]

Mine is more Salmon than Brick. The old kit was Brick. The big color change is the important part for any of the tests.

 

[Ahultin]

Got my robot today, went with the Smorobot cordless during prime days for under $700. We shall see how it works lol. I did notice one concern when reviewing the manual that I did not see anywhere else. It states in the manual max chlorine is 4ppm and we are currently testing at 6ppm.


Still trying to figure the bypass out. Cooldown keeps the pump going for the prescribed time but closes the bypass immediately which is counterintuitive. No return call from pentair as of yet .
On the non build related side, all three of our kids are home this weekend and everyone is thoroughly enjoying the new addition...in between berating me for doing it after they left
Since I now have room for 5 more intellivalves, I'm trying to figure out a way to automate the three way between the slide and waterfall. That valve is located on the stairs so further than 20ft away.
I also am trying to think thru how to replumb the deck jets to the feature pump as they should have been. The kids wanted the deckjets on and the spa spillway which can't happen as currently plumbed