Pentair MasterTemp RS485 Control

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GMCfourX4

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Jun 28, 2017
15
MA
I recently purchased a 400K BTU Pentair MasterTemp heater to replace my old Sta-Rite heater. The website advertises RS485 capabilities, yet the heater which I received (with a very recent build date of Feb-2021) does not have this capability. The manual included also has a revision date of 10/2018, which is quite a bit older than the manual they have on the Pentair website, which currently has a date of 08/2020.

I was very disappointed to not see the RS485 connection, as I was looking forward to connecting it to my Intellicenter and having a lot more information than I had previously.

I reached out to Pentair, and the person who has been responding to my inquiries keeps telling me that I just need to connect to the fireman's switch, and ignoring all of the other detail of my request. After I pushed the issue he told me that it is an old feature that was removed from the newer heaters.

I'm trying to be patient, but this is very frustrating. I could have spent quite a bit less on another brand of heater if I just wanted simple on/off control.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a resolution from Pentair, or a contact there who may be able to help? I have no problem swapping out the control board if they will send me the correct parts.

Thank you,
-Chris
 
I am curious what RS485 control of the heater would gain you? The simple fireman's switch seems to work well in all the cases I have seen.

I have not heard of RS485 control on a heater. My Mastertemp is almost 7 years old and did not have that.
 
OK -- but -- what is it going to gain you? Will you have multiple heaters connected? The other items are really just gee whiz data. Temperature control with the Intellicenter (not in your signature - do you have that automation?) works.
 
Another member inquired about it and was told "This product is not available yet."

The Pentair website shows RS-485 upgrade kits for the MasterTemp. So it is a new feature coming someday.

IntelliCenter and MasterTemp 400 Communication

Hi all, I have been researching the forums to find out the proper way to establish communications between the intellicenter and the mastertemp. The instructions are not 100% clear and I wanted to get some advice on the proper way to hook them together. I believe you just remove the jumper at...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
The last reply I got from their tech support: "I am telling you do not use the RS485 on the heaters anymore on the docs provided the unit goes to the fireman’s switch fuse the Rs485 is no longer used for automation- I have spoken with our internal trainer to confirm."

This doesn't make any sense, the older doc that came with my heater does NOT show RS485, and the most recent doc available on their website DOES have it, so it certainly seems new. Very annoying that they don't make it clear that it doesn't come on their current hardware.
 
Just to add to your annoyance…


RS-485 Combo Conversion Instructions for USA and Australian heater models
The following instructions describe how to replace the PCBA, Membrane Pad, Ignition Control Module (ICM) and Wiring Harness in a MasterTemp or Sta-Rite pool and spa heater (USA and Australia models) that doesn’t have RS-485 communication capability.


Control PCB Membrane Pad replacement Instructions for the USA and Australian heater
For heaters that do not have RS-485 communication capability, the following instructions describe how to replace the PCBA, and Membrane Pad in a MasterTemp or Sta-Rite pool and spa heater (USA and Australia model) for RS-485 compatible.
 
I just asked Pentair Tech Support about that part # and received this response:

"That’s for the old style board that is no longer being produced, I can assure you its no longer needed or used. Its all to the fireman’s switch fuse-"

Very frustrating.

Does anyone have any other contacts @ Pentair that may be able to shed more light?
 
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