[Pentair] Chlorinator seems to be working despite showing 'comms link error' on easy touch system

carzaddict

Member
Apr 3, 2022
19
Morristown, NJ
Just opened up my pool this weekend and everything seems to be working fine, including the chlorinator which has working lights on it, although it's showing 'comm link error' on the easy touch system when I try to read the salt measurement through easytouch

Any thoughts? I'm guessing there's an issue with the comms wire going to the control board. Im also assuming its working since the lights are all on. It's all pentair equipment

would this be something I should ask my pool installer for help with? or the pool electrician (system is out of warranty
 
C,

The cell itself, will work just fine without any communications.. You just can't adjust the cell's output using the EasyTouch, and the cell can't send the salt reading back to the EasyTouch.

Tell us more... Did your EasyTouch come with an internal SWCG Power Center, or do you have an External Power Center?

Troubleshooting would be different, depending on which setup you have.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
C,

You have an Internal SWCG Power Center.. :goodjob:

This makes it less likely to be a wiring issue and more likely that the RS-485 chip in your SWCG is bad..

Looking at your pics, there is a Surge card mounted to the back wall of your EasyTouch.. This card is connected to J20 RS-485 com port on the main card. The Surge card is were the cell gets its com port connection.. It is also where your pump gets its com port connection..

I 'assume' you have an IntelliFlo VS pump and that it is working fine.. If that is true, then the com port on your main card and the comport on the surge card are working fine... you might want to change pump speeds, using your EasyTouch, and make sure that the pump is responding to the changes..

The only thing between the Surge card and your cell is a connector at the bottom right of your EasyTouch.. I suggest that you remove this connector, inspect both sides, make sure it is not corroded and then reconnect it and see if your cell starts responding..

As a test, using your EasyTouch, set your cell's output to zero and see if the output changes on the cell's lights... This may take a few minutes to change.. If the lights change then you should have communications..

"If" the cell does not respond, I would assume the cell is bad... The good news it that the cell should still work, but you will have to adjust the output using the cell's more or less buttons rather than the EasyTouch.

Please let me know what happens.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
The only thing between the Surge card and your cell is a connector at the bottom right of your EasyTouch.. I suggest that you remove this connector, inspect both sides, make sure it is not corroded and then reconnect it and see if your cell starts responding..
i didnt fully understand this part, wasnt sure which connector was for the cell

i did adjust the chlorine output setting from ET, and the system did respond....so thats a good sign at least
 
i didnt fully understand this part, wasnt sure which connector was for the cell
C,

Well it sounds like things are working now... :goodjob:

The cell has a cable that plugs into the bottom left of the EasyTouch.. The connector where the Cell's cable connects to the EasyTouch, can corrode.

If the cell responds to the EasyTouch's commands, what no longer works???

When the EasyTouch shows a salt reading of 'Zero', it is not normally a com port issue... It is just a timing issue.. The reading gets to the EasyTouch a little late, so the EasyTouch reports zero.. If the Cell thought the salt level was really low, the cell would have a red salt light.

I have no clue why, but just restarting the cell will 'fix' this problem, and replacing the flow switch assembly will also fix the zero salt problem.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 

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C,

Not what I meant.. You should not get any com link errors... Just the fact that salt level reads zero, but the cell still has a solid green light...

??? Maybe the system can send commands to the cell, but the cell can't send commands back??

Where do you see the com link error??

I no longer have my EasyTouch, so please post a pic were you see the com link error..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
C,

So... I remember that sometimes the Diagnostic page would show salt as '0'.. but I don't recall if I ever saw it show a com link error at the same time.. :(

Just as a quick test... lower your pump speed until the flow light turns red.. Then look at the Diagnostics page and see if the cell reports low flow.. If it does, you will know the cell can talk to the EasyTouch and the com link it not a real issue..

If the low flow does not show up, then it means your cell is bad..

If the low flow shows up, then you could try replacing the flow switch...

Actually, I am not sure I would do anything unless having a zero reported salt level is a major issue for you.. The problem is that the zero salt failure is the flow switch about 75% of the time, but not always.. It could also the the Surge card or the main circuit card...

Thanks,

Jim R.