Non Hayward automation for Hayward VS pump

[strategy400]

Sorry to revive this from the dead but the TH16 does not appear to be available anymore. Is this a viable alternative?

Sonoff TH Elite - call me impressed? - NotEnoughTech

ITEAD has released a new series of devices under Elite line. I received Sonoff TH Elite and here is everything you need to know about it.

notenoughtech.com

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Click the link below. You'll need to buy the temp probe separately...

https://www.amazon.com/SONOFF-Origin-Temperature-Humidity-Monitoring/dp/B0B5GM1LTG?th=1

 

[strategy400]

Thanks Rancho. I'm just up the hill from you in the high desert. In the process of building a solar panel array for the new cement pond. Going to need some automation.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Thanks Rancho. I'm just up the hill from you in the high desert. In the process of building a solar panel array for the new cement pond. Going to need some automation.

Lots of options and help available here. Here is a more advanced DIY automation system. It's beyond my skill set...

GitHub - tagyoureit/nodejs-poolController: An application to control pool equipment from various manufacturers.

An application to control pool equipment from various manufacturers. - tagyoureit/nodejs-poolController

github.com

Scroll through the Wiki topics for help on automation and solar heating systems.

 

[ajw22]

In the process of building a solar panel array for the new cement pond. Going to need some automation.
View attachment 473424

Solar Pool Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[strategy400]

I'm looking for an automation system that can work with my Hayward VS950 that I can purchase and install myself. I'm fine with using relays to select pump speeds (3 relays = 8 speeds). I'd like to add SWG to my pad and I'm setting up a solar panel array. I'm considering diy using sonoff or an easytouch just because someone will actually sell me one. I'll probably get a pentair pump once this hayward dies which is probably several years off. Are there any systems I haven't considered or heard about? I have pool/spa and hayward H400 heater so switching modes, solar, heater, SWG and pool/yard lights are on the list. Also access from phone/tablet/PC and alexa or similar. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I don't know much about the Hayward VS pumps, but it looks like they can be connected to external relays for control of at least 3 speeds.

Take a look at my low budget DIY automation set-up for some ideas (link in my sig). @rstrouse can provide guidance on the nodejs-poolController if you go that route. @Jimrahbe can assist with Easy Touch automation.

 

[rstrouse]

The Hayward relay controls are not 1 to 1. If more than one step is triggered then it will perform up to 8 speeds. This is much different than the SuperFlo pumps where the number of speeds are determined by the number of relays. Getting this to work on EasyTouch will severely limit your speeds and there is no way to trigger relays exclusively so there is that. njsPC supports the RS485 capabilities of this pump as well as the 8 speed relay settings. With IntelliCenter you could assign the speeds to groups so that the correct relays are triggered but given the way you can override these groups it would be overly complicated.

 

[strategy400]

The Hayward relay controls are not 1 to 1. If more than one step is triggered then it will perform up to 8 speeds. This is much different than the SuperFlo pumps where the number of speeds are determined by the number of relays. Getting this to work on EasyTouch will severely limit your speeds and there is no way to trigger relays exclusively so there is that. njsPC supports the RS485 capabilities of this pump as well as the 8 speed relay settings. With IntelliCenter you could assign the speeds to groups so that the correct relays are triggered but given the way you can override these groups it would be overly complicated.

njsPC requires knowledge of javascript? I can do that. I'm also fluent in C, C++, C#, VB, Java etc. Are there any opportunities to use these languages?

 

[rstrouse]

Actually njsPC is written in Typescript on a nodejs runtime but to get what you want to do, no coding is actually required. It supports the Hayward pump out of the box. I am unclear do you already have a controller or are you looking to build one? If you have a controller you need to add a second RS485 (which njsPC also supports) and connect the pump to that since you may only have one master per RS485 bus. This too is simply going through the UI and setting up the system. njsPC will bridge the communication between the equipment buses and command the pump to operate based upon the state configuration for the system.

 

[strategy400]

I have no controller.

 

[rstrouse]

Install njsPC and dashPanel then configure your system. The software can control input probes and sensors, color lights, circuits, features, heaters, pumps, chlorinators, chemistry controllers, and valves without having to program anything. Heck you can try it out without anything connected to it to simulate your pool.