Pentair Compool Power Controller LX220 actuates valve for solar, but deactivates a minute later??

[Howonurth]

Hi, looking for advice. You guys have been great with guidance before.

Recently our LX220 seems to get the signal that it’s reached the temp at which to open the valve so pool water gets pumped to our black collectors on our roof, but it seems that only a minute or two after the valve is opened, the green solar indicator light on the LX220 goes out, the valve closes and water drains back down rather than getting heated. I see no red lights lit on the LX220 to indicate that sensors need service, but I suspect that the one on the roof may be at fault. But I don’t know for sure that this is the problem. Wondering if anyone reading this has dealt with this issue before? Do you know what could be causing this? What might I try to correct it? Any other cause for this valve behavior? Bad roof/sun sensor? Time to replace that one? Or some other fix? The manual override position does activate the valve and get the water up there, but I want it to work as designed and turn on and off automatically according to air/water temps. SO APPREDIATIVE OF ANY ADVICE!!

HOWONURTH

Thank you SO MUCH!! You guys are great!!

Howard Gindoff

 

[ajw22]

Check your solar temperature sensor on the roof using a multimeter and checking against the chart in Temperature Sensors - Further Reading

 

[Howonurth]

Check your solar temperature sensor on the roof using a multimeter and checking against the chart in Temperature Sensors - Further Reading

Thank you for this suggestion! I’m going to try to do this. I’m not very gifted technically and don’t really know my way around the use of a multimeter, though I own several I inherited from my Dad who was an electronic wiz! (Skipped a generation with me, I’m afraid.) Do you know what triggers the red “service needed” lights on the LX220? Mine are not lit. Wondering if they only indicate a short of some kind and don’t reveal a faulty sensor. Thank you so much for your help!!

 

[ajw22]

Why are you asking about the Service Needed light if it is not lit?

 

[ajw22]

Compool uses a TSSL temperature sensor and not a 10K sensor.

Pentair Temperature Sensor TS5L

Pentair Temperature Sensor TS5L. Pentair TS5L. Linear Temperature Sensor for Pentair Compool, and LX80 Control Systems.

sunplay.com

It may be best for you to just replace it. Although you have a b30+ year old system and there is a time to move on.

 

[Howonurth]

I asked about the Service Needed light because I wonder under what circumstances the light gives a warning. I feel the system isn’t working properly, possibly the bad sun sensor, yet not light is lit. Maybe it only can indicate a short or a break, etc., not a malfunctioning sensor.

I’ve managed to find what I think is a replacement sensor, the “TS-5T TEMPERATURE SENSOR, 10K,” which seems like it is a 10k. Does it seem to you that this is the item to get? Also, from shopping online it looks like sensors come with only about 20 feet of wire attached. Would you happen to know the proper wire necessary for extending the run? I have to go close to 100’ all together. Thanks.

 

[ajw22]

I gave you a link above to the correct TSSL sensor.

Why not splice the new sensor into the existing wire run?

 

[Howonurth]

Hi, AJW22,
Actually came across our old Lx220 SOLAR CONTROL SYSTEM Installation & Operating Instructions which indicates the original part used was a “TS-ST Temperature Sensor,“ so I’ll shop for that. I would love to replacer the whole wire run from our rooftop to the controller because the old wire has been in the sun for years and is looking pretty cooked, just thinking it would be very good to replace, if I knew exactly what wire to use for replacement.

Thank you very much for your help!!

 

[Howonurth]

Hi, AJW22,
Actually came across our old Lx220 SOLAR CONTROL SYSTEM Installation & Operating Instructions which indicates the original part used was a “TS-ST Temperature Sensor,“ so I’ll shop for that. I would love to replacer the whole wire run from our rooftop to the controller because the old wire has been in the sun for years and is looking pretty cooked, just thinking it would be very good to replace, if I knew exactly what wire to use for replacement.

Thank you very much for your help!!

Oops! “TS-5T” temp sensor as per the manual.

 

[ajw22]

Oops! “TS-5T” temp sensor as per the manual.

Yup, and I think any 2 wire 20 gauge solid copper outdoor rated will do for the wire.

I did not realize you had a solar only Compool controller.

Consider upgrading to a Pentair SolarTouch controller.it comes with new temperature sensors.. you cannot use your TS-5T sensors. It should be an easy swap once you get the solar sensor on the roof.

SolarTouch® Solar Control System

The SolarTouch Solar Control System offers full digital control for precise, efficient swimming pool heating. The digital thermostat is set with the touch of a button and will monitor the temperature of the pool water and solar collectors. SolarTouch Control System integrates with IntelliFlo3...

www.pentair.com

 

[Howonurth]

Yup, and I think any 2 wire 20 gauge solid copper outdoor rated will do for the wire.

I did not realize you had a solar only Compool controller.

Consider upgrading to a Pentair SolarTouch controller.it comes with new temperature sensors.. you cannot use your TS-5T sensors. It should be an easy swap once you get the solar sensor on the roof.

SolarTouch® Solar Control System

The SolarTouch Solar Control System offers full digital control for precise, efficient swimming pool heating. The digital thermostat is set with the touch of a button and will monitor the temperature of the pool water and solar collectors. SolarTouch Control System integrates with IntelliFlo3...

www.pentair.com

Hi, AJW22,
Okay, now I’m really making myself a bit crazy. I’m shopping online for a TS-5T temp sensor, assuming that my rooftop sensor is the likely culprit, but it occurs to me that as I was rebuilding our system last year, I didn’t pay real close attention to the sensor I used for water temp, the one clamped into the PVC pipe. Now I’m wondering if the generic air/water/sun sensor I put there may be causing my problem. Should I be shopping for two TS-5T’s to replace them both, I wonder? Do you think using a TS-SL or some other sensor instead of the prescribed TS-5T possibly throw the whole system off? As we’ve discussed, I don’t ever get a red light indicating service is needed, but the system does have the problem I’ve described.

As to replacing the whole thing with the new system: that would be lovely, except for the big $$. Besides being kind of a cheapskate, I’m also a pretty dedicated “try to make the old thing work, if at all possible” kind of guy. Value your opinion.

 

[ajw22]

Your system is old enough that none of us know the answer to. The full Compool automation system used TSSL sensors, according to old postings here.

Until you posted your manual, that is what I thought you had. Your Compool solar control system is the first I have seen. So if your manual says it uses TS-5T sensors thrm go with that.

Pentair acquired Compool in the late 1990s, and the Compool systems became the Pentair EasyTouch and Solar Touch. At that time, Pentair decided that industry-standard 10K sensors were better for their product.

I wish you luck keeping your system on life support. You are on your own to figure it out. Sooner or later you will lose the battle. Depends on how much you mind throwing good money after bad.

 

[Howonurth]

I hear you about good money after bad. This effort I’m making now is my last ditch attempt to getting the system back to working on “automatic,” which will thrill me, if I can get it to work. It’s possible that sometime in the future we’ll make the Great Leap Forward. I do thank you very much for your advice!