Pentair VSF pump with CircuPool SWG. Automate?

[DrBubbles]

Hi, this is my first post to the forum, looking for advice on ensuring a SWG turns on and off with the pump.

I have a Pentair Intelliflo VSF pump and am planning to get a Circupool Edge 40 SWG (the IG pvc lined pool is ~20-25k gallons). I don't have any automation equipment attached to either yet. Would like to know if the pump can be made to switch on and off the SWG when the pump switches on and off.

I don't have any other automation requirements (no spa, or lights etc, just the SWG). Do I need to splash-out (oops) on an EasyTouch or similar product to do that, or can I connect the pump directly to the SWG via the RS-485 port?

I read that the Pentair SWGs can be connected directly to a Pentair VSF pump, but I wanted to go with what appears to be a more cost effective CircuPool Edge 40 SWG, which I decided on after reading posts here.

I'd rather not use a separate timer for the SWG on a separate circuit in case the pump hasn't switched on for some reason and would rather have another layer of safety before the flow switch kicks in (unless that is reliable enough on its own?).

Or do people here ever go with home-brew controllers (I mean DIY controllers, not literally "home-brewing" controllers, although that might work too) with a raspberry pi or arduino and some relays etc?

I was planning on setting the pump at 50gpm (minimum flow for the SWG is 20GPM) and letting it run 12 hrs a day to cycle the water ~2x per day.

Andrew

 

[chiefwej]

I, along with many others, just have a separate timer for the SWG and use the on board timer for the pump. The SWG is set to always come on well after the pump and turn off before the pump. On the off chance that the two should ever get out of sync, the flow switch is still there as a safety feature. I’m pretty safety conscious, so I do make it a point to check the flow switch operation regularly, as well as timer settings. That is already a “belt and suspenders“ level of safety. Adding an automation system just to sync the two is really an expensive solution to a nonexistent problem.
If you want or need automation for other reasons, that‘s fine. But this isn’t really a safety issue.

 

[markayash]

I have the Edge40 and love it. Raise my chlorine from basically 0 to 8 in less than a day.
I wired a 120V outlet off the pool panel to my pool storage room and put a 120V Plug on the Edge ( it autonego 120 or 240 ).
For a timer, if I need it, I just have a simple smart outlet from Etekcity and use with my app to set timers or turn on and off when I want.

 

[DrBubbles]

Thanks for the feedback chiefwej and markayash, I'll try with a separate timer for the SWG. (I am probably getting carried away with too much automation anyway).

I'll set an appointment in google calendar to remind me when we switch daylight saving time to go and change the pool pump clock time as it isn't automatic, whereas a smart timer might be.

Glad to hear you are happy with the Edge40

 

[chiefwej]

I’m using the onboard timer on my Pentair Intelliflo pump and an old fashioned electrical/mechanical Intermatic timer for the SWG. In over 25 years of use I have had to replace only one timer motor, so I consider the Intermatic timers very reliable. I have smart switches on my pool and patio lighting, as well as my spa pump and heater. But, I personally would avoid an electronic smart switch for any mission critical use.

Maybe I’m a bit old fashioned, but I don’t have unconditional trust in them yet.