Pentair easytouch 8 only 2 valves????

[Davegnh]

I had planned to use 3rd valve for solar heater (still researching) I thought no issue I saw wiring diagram on door. See pic. I'm using A and B for water features. I couldn't find away to activate other valves in easytouch menu or app. I searched on tfp and found many threads for work arounds for a third and 4th actuator from years ago using aux ch. But based on door stickers A and B are options and there should be 4 valves available. I assume they made a change? Manual was little help. Any thoughts?

 

[mknauss]

Intake and Return Valve actuator slots are only used for a pool/spa system. They are the slots the actuators for the spa valves are connected.

 

[Davegnh]

So no way to use them in pool mode? I have to use work around using aux circuit? Told pool builder what our plans were for the future and this was the control panel they recommended. They said no problem.

 

[mknauss]

To my knowledge, correct. Let's see if @Jimrahbe has a work around.

 

[Davegnh]

I saw work around using aux ch and a external relay from a 7 or 8-year-old thread just looked like to me they had made some improvements.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dave,

While the EasyTouch can control 4 valves, two of them are restricted to being used for the Intake and Return valves only.

If you want to have Solar valve, then you must use Valve A for Solar. That only leaves you Valve B.

If you have a Pool And Spa EasyTouch and you don't have a Spa, there is nothing that prevents you from putting the EasyTouch into the Spa mode and turning the Intake or Return valve. In the big picture, if you don't have a spa, then from the EasyTouch's point of view, the Spa mode and the Pool mode are basically the same.

As an example.. In the pool mode water flows from the pool through pump and filter and back to the pool. In the Spa mode (when you don't have an actual spa) water follows the same path. The only difference is that the EasyTouch just 'thinks' it is in the Spa mode.. Valve wise it is still in the pool mode.

I use my EasyTouch to control a standalone spa.. Since I don't have an integrated spa, when I switch to the spa mode, nothing really changes about my pool's operation other than my ScreenLogic shows the system is in the spa mode.

Another option is to use an Aux relay port to control a SPDT relay that does the same thing as the valve drivers in the EasyTouch. Like this..

img058.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Nov 15, 2018

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Davegnh]

Thanks Jim that is what I plan to do. Just was surprised couldn't use the other 2 built in.

 

[Davegnh]

I just had a thought could I just set up my solar heating and tell it that it's my "spa heater" and I want to set my "spa" to my pool temperature and it would automatically run the heat circuitwhenever the "spa" called for it? Not sure if that makes sense or would work?

I might need a separate thermometer for the fake spa but that way I could use the automation without any modification maybe?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dave,

I don't understand why you don't just use the built in Solar controller on Valve A...

Running a waterfall on demand, or by schedule, would be much easier using the extra valve driver circuit, or by switching to the spa mode.

I think you are making this harder than it needs to be.

Thanks,

Jim R.