Pentair master temp 400 not turning on

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Gregpool

Member
Jun 27, 2021
9
Jacksonville, Fl
My Pentair master temp 400 heater had the error for the stack flue sensor, which I replaced(second time in just over 1 year). When investigating the issue(open panels on the heater) I had also pressed the buttons on the heater control panel to try to get it to show more information like the exhaust temp. My suspicion is in doing so I have overridden the Easy touch/screen logic automation and my heater won’t turn on. When I ask for the heater to run via the automation, in pool or spa mode I see the control panel on the heater light up for about 10 seconds, shuts off and the heater never turns on or fires up. The heater was at least turning on just days ago when I discovered the stack flue sensor error.

Any thoughts? My flow is good to the heater, salt water pool around 12-15k gallons with the water chemistry balanced.
 
Greg, welcome to TFP.

Gregpool said:
My suspicion is in doing so I have overridden the Easy touch/screen logic automation and my heater won’t turn on.
Click to expand...

The MasterTemp has no such override on the control panel.

Gregpool said:
When I ask for the heater to run via the automation, in pool or spa mode I see the control panel on the heater light up for about 10 seconds, shuts off and the heater never turns on or fires up.
Click to expand...

If the heater control panel lights up then the EasyTouch is powering up the heater. It is up to the heater controls to light itself off.

Does the blower begin running?

Gregpool said:
My flow is good to the heater, salt water pool around 12-15k gallons with the water chemistry balanced.
Click to expand...

Did you check the diagnostic LEDs on the back of the board or on the Fenwal?

Pentair MasterTemp Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
ajw22 said:
Greg, welcome to TFP.



The MasterTemp has no such override on the control panel.



If the heater control panel lights up then the EasyTouch is powering up the heater. It is up to the heater controls to light itself off.

Does the blower begin running?



Did you check the diagnostic LEDs on the back of the board or on the Fenwal?

Pentair MasterTemp Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. The blower doesn’t begin to turn on, nothing happens other than the lights come on the control panel and then shuts off, nothing happens after that, no other error codes or a service heater light.

I did have the service heater light a couple of days ago with the sfs light on the back of the panel. I replaced the sfs yesterday.
 
Did you test the SFS before installing it? We are hearing about many new sensors that are defective.

Pentair tech support suggests testing their new ones before installation. The sensor may be tested with an ohm meter (3.8 MegOhms @ 77F)

MasterTemp_SFS_Multimeter_Test.jpg
 
I havent tested the sensor, but even with old sensor in the heater stopped turning on completely.

The heater would turn on for about 1-2 minutes and then throw the sfs error on the back of the panel. Shortly after that it stopped turning on at all with the bad sensor still in. The same experience I am seeing now with the new sensor in. All started when I held down I believe pool on button on the heater control panel.
 
After the heater display shuts down have you tried pressing the POOL ON or SPA ON button?
 
And there are no diagnostic LEDs lit on the back of the board or on the Fenwal box?

A guess is that a button is stuck on the membrane keypad with all of your pushing. You can try replacing the keypad.

Disconnect one of the wires on the SFS and see if the heater shows an E05 error.
 
Turned on the heater for the pool through automation and nothing happened again. This time though I saw the r14 and then the current water temperature on the heater control panel display, which wasn’t displaying before now. I selected temp up and it let me change the temp there, which was set below the current pool temp. Of course when I increased the temp to above the current water temp the heater kicked on and was warming the water.

I switched over to run in spa mode via the automation and the heater kicked on right away , like normal and was warming the water. Only thing I notice now is the control panel still says it is in pool mode, but automation is set to spa. I can’t recall if that is how it always displayed. Any concern with it displaying that way?IMG_0268.jpeg

I increased the temp to 104 manually on the control panel in case that is now the “ceiling”. No error diagnostic codes.

IMG_0269.jpegIMG_0266.jpeg
 

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Gregpool said:
Turned on the heater for the pool through automation and nothing happened again. This time though I saw the r14 and then the current water temperature on the heater control panel display, which wasn’t displaying before now. I selected temp up and it let me change the temp there, which was set below the current pool temp. Of course when I increased the temp to above the current water temp the heater kicked on and was warming the water.

I switched over to run in spa mode via the automation and the heater kicked on right away , like normal and was warming the water. Only thing I notice now is the control panel still says it is in pool mode, but automation is set to spa. I can’t recall if that is how it always displayed. Any concern with it displaying that way?View attachment 615485

I increased the temp to 104 manually on the control panel in case that is now the “ceiling”. No error diagnostic codes.

View attachment 615486View attachment 615487
Click to expand...
Another update, put panels back on and the heater still kicked on via automation. In spa mode the heater control panel was still showing pool mode, but interesting enough the display wasn’t showing the temp or r14 code (light was on it though)when it powered on. Again not sure that matters or if it means my control panel is failing
? I did kill the breaker power when I put the panels back on.
 
Gregpool said:
Only thing I notice now is the control panel still says it is in pool mode, but automation is set to spa.
Click to expand...
The automation only closes a relay contact to turn on the power to the heater, it is not able to tell the heater if it should be in pool or spa mode. Most likely has always had pool selected.

--Jeff
 
POOL mode or SPA mode make no difference. It heats the water either way and the water goes where the automation valves are set.
 
Yes. Water temperature should be displayed when the heater is running.
 
Thanks again. A bit off topic but what is your recommendation for bypassing the heater when not in use? I have read of course it is better to bypass for the efficiency impact on the pump and filtration. Should I leave the heater partially open to get some flow or completely bypass when not in use?
 
Gregpool said:
Should I leave the heater partially open to get some flow or completely bypass when not in use?
Click to expand...
In summary, times the heater should be bypassed include when:
  • the heater is leaking or needs repairs
  • opening the pool in the Spring and balancing the water chemistry
  • the pH may fall below 7.0
  • using any chermical that may lower the pH below 7.0
  • the heater is not being used for periods of time in which case 90% of the flow should be bypassed and a small amount allowed to flow through the heater.

Heater Bypass - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
Gregpool said:
Thanks again. A bit off topic but what is your recommendation for bypassing the heater when not in use? I have read of course it is better to bypass for the efficiency impact on the pump and filtration. Should I leave the heater partially open to get some flow or completely bypass when not in use?
Click to expand...

Partially open gives the same efficiency savings as 100% closed. Watch your filter PSI gauge as you open the bypass and close down the water to the heater. You will see the PSI drop up to a point before it is 100% closed. That is the point where you have maximum efficiency while letting the remaining water pass through the heater.

Pentair with their automatic bypass and Jandy with their Versaflow bypass allow water to continue circulating.
 
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