Pentair Intellitouch not recognizing Pentair Pump

[vj950]

Moved from here.
Hi,
Sorry to bring this old thread up. Purchased a house with pool and Pentair system. I have a couple of Pentair Inteliflo variable speed pumps connected to Intellitouch control panel i9+3. One pump is for the pool and another for a separate fountain. One after another, both pumps have lost connection to the control panel in last 3 weeks. They were both working fine before this time (both showed "Display Not Active"). They both work fine when turned on manually. I believe the com bus works fine as I can control other features of the system through the wireless remote (mobiletouch) and the i5x extension panel connected with main panel through the same port also works.
I am unsure what to do next. The panel is only accessible through mobiletouch remote which shows pool pump at address 1 and fountain pump at address 2. I don't think it's the cable, as it would be very unusual to break 2 cables in a span of 1 week.

Any help will be appreciated. I was hoping to go by raspberry Pi route to access the control panel and ordered usb converter, but now it will be pointless if I can't control the pumps through it.

 

[Jimrahbe]

vj,

I believe that the IntelliTouch has two RS-485 ports... Let's see if that is true... Calling Tom @ogdento

Tom, does the IntelliTouch have two RS-485 ports, where one could be working and the other one not working.

I find it hard to believe that you have two bad pumps.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ogdento]

For all practical purposes the intellitouch has a single comm port... there are two comm port terminal blocks on the i7/i9/i10... but they are connected in parallel, just like the little $70 comm port "expansion" board.

If the mobiletouch is working - i.e. you can see the time/temp and turn on the aux circuits, then the comms are ok at the outdoor board. If there's nothing else on your comm ports then the problem must be with the pump cabling or the pumps themselves. How are your two pumps and the mobiletouch transceiver wired to the personality board? All on the same terminal block? Both pumps on one block, transceiver on the other? Maybe a picture is best..

I would shut the power off (it is very important to shut power off before messing with the comm port!!)... and do the following:
1. disconnect everything from the comm ports (unplug the blocks - you might not have to unscrew any wires) and connect 1 pump to the system... see if you get display not active (repeat for next pump).
... if #1 fails...
2. check the terminal blocks for loose wires and/or corrosion
3. unplug the pump cables from the pump and check for corrosion there too
4. double check for continuity on both pump cables - from the pump end to the outdoor board. If your multimeter probes don't reach you can short green to yellow at one end, and measure for continuity from green to yellow at the other

DON'T MESS WITH THE COMM PORTS WITH THE POOL PANEL POWERED UP (you want the panel and pumps off while you're fiddling with the wires... get it all connected before you turn it back on. if you short your green/yellow data wires to a live red or black you will kill your comm port)

Let us know how you make out and if you have any questions!
Tom

@Jimrahbe ... is it time for a comm port sticky??