Pool and Spa = two pools?

[SuperMiguel]

Hello all, so my previous pool was just easy 2 valves deal, my new one has so many valves that im getting a bit confused on how it all works, so there is some automation and currently have two modes, Pool Mode and Spa Mode. On Pool mode all suction and return happen on the pool, and on Spa Mode all suction and returns happen on the Spa.

So when doing water chemistry, how do you guys do it? Do i manually move the Pool/Spa valves so there is suction and return from both? or do i treat them as 2 different pools haha =)

 

[Toxophilite]

Do you have a Spillway Mode that can be programmed for daily runs? That moves water from the pool suction and returns all to spa returns = pool suction open, spa return open. Pics of your plumbing might show additional valved line to spa from pool return, so would help if you post that. With automation, you don't need to manually adjust anything in order to circulate pool and spa together as one unit.

 

[Jimrahbe]

SM,

Most pools with spas are set up so that the spa spills over into the pool when in the pool mode. This keeps the spa chlorinated.

Since you have automation, your system may be set up with the Spillway or Spillover mode which you would have to schedule or manually turn on.

Does yours not do this??

Show us several pics of your equipment pad so we can see all the valves .

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SuperMiguel]

SM,

Most pools with spas are set up so that the spa spills over into the pool when in the pool mode. This keeps the spa chlorinated.

Since you have automation, your system may be set up with the Spillway or Spillover mode which you would have to schedule or manually turn on.

Does yours not do this??

Show us several pics of your equipment pad so we can see all the valves .

Thanks,

Jim R.

Do you have a Spillway Mode that can be programmed for daily runs? That moves water from the pool suction and returns all to spa returns = pool suction open, spa return open. Pics of your plumbing might show additional valved line to spa from pool return, so would help if you post that. With automation, you don't need to manually adjust anything in order to circulate pool and spa together as one unit.

Here are some pictures, So im guessing that when in pool mode i want to open the Spa Returns, so water flows into the spa, and overflows into the pool, so no need for that bottom spa suction?

 

[Jimrahbe]

SM,

Your pool set up can be used two ways.

1. Open the valves labeled "spa return". This should cause your spa to continually spillover into your pool when you are in the Pool mode. By adjusting the spa return valves, you can control the amount of the spillover. I have no idea why you have two of them...

2. Option two is for those people that don't want their spas overflowing into the pool all the time. If you use this option, you would shut off both valves that say "Spa Return" and then set up the "Spillway or Spillover" mode inside your automation system. The spillover would then only run when it was scheduled, or you manually turn it on via the automation. When the spillway mode is on, it turns the Intake valve to suck water from the pool and turns the Return valve to send all the water to the spa. This causes the spa to quickly spillover into the pool. You would normally schedule this to run twice a day for about 30 minutes each time.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

You can enable the Spillover function on the Jandy Aqualink with dip switch #3 on the main panel. When switch #3 is on then AUX3 becomes the spillover control. If you have any relay connected to AUX3 you need to move it to an available Aux position.

With Spillover turned on by AUX3 the POOL/SPA return valve will move to the SPA position. Water will be suctioned by the pool and returned to the spa.

The cam on the return actuator may need to be reset to fully close the spa return when in POOL mode.

 

[SuperMiguel]

You can enable the Spillover function on the Jandy Aqualink with dip switch #3 on the main panel. When switch #3 is on then AUX3 becomes the spillover control. If you have any relay connected to AUX3 you need to move it to an available Aux position.

With Spillover turned on by AUX3 the POOL/SPA return valve will move to the SPA position. Water will be suctioned by the pool and returned to the spa.

The cam on the return actuator may need to be reset to fully close the spa return when in POOL mode.

SM,

Your pool set up can be used two ways.

1. Open the valves labeled "spa return". This should cause your spa to continually spillover into your pool when you are in the Pool mode. By adjusting the spa return valves, you can control the amount of the spillover. I have no idea why you have two of them...

2. Option two is for those people that don't want their spas overflowing into the pool all the time. If you use this option, you would shut off both valves that say "Spa Return" and then set up the "Spillway or Spillover" mode inside your automation system. The spillover would then only run when it was scheduled, or you manually turn it on via the automation. When the spillway mode is on, it turns the Intake valve to suck water from the pool and turns the Return valve to send all the water to the spa. This causes the spa to quickly spillover into the pool. You would normally schedule this to run twice a day for about 30 minutes each time.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks for the replies!!! So i do want the spill over, so the two options here are :

1) Keep it on pool mode, and open the spa returns, this means suction from pool and returns to Spa returns on bottom
2) Activate spillover mode, where it will have suction from pool and return to spa jets

Im going to read more about AUX3, since they are adding 2 actuators, for the bubblers i heard something about using aux3 for that but not sure

 

[Toxophilite]

Even though the aeration adds to my pH rise, we (other half) like continuous overflow on the spa. To do so does not mean you have to be either/or on returns, spa or pool. You have bypass valves on the pool return for the spa. I have my spillover (spa return bypass) valve set (just cracked) so that at my slowest pool circulation pump setting, I get a very low flow over the spillover. The main bulk of return water is still going to pool. When my pump kicks in on daily scheduled high pool circulation, the spa spillover runs over more and pool circulation runs higher.

Those 2? valves are only bypass valves tied to your pool return, and you can control how much water to bypass to the spa during pool mode. When your turn on spa mode to use your spa only, spa circulation but no overflow, your control valves will switch to all spa suction and all spa return return via that single spa return on the RH side of the valve.

 

[SuperMiguel]

Even though the aeration adds to my pH rise

SM,

Your pool set up can be used two ways.

1. Open the valves labeled "spa return". This should cause your spa to continually spillover into your pool when you are in the Pool mode. By adjusting the spa return valves, you can control the amount of the spillover. I have no idea why you have two of them...

2. Option two is for those people that don't want their spas overflowing into the pool all the time. If you use this option, you would shut off both valves that say "Spa Return" and then set up the "Spillway or Spillover" mode inside your automation system. The spillover would then only run when it was scheduled, or you manually turn it on via the automation. When the spillway mode is on, it turns the Intake valve to suck water from the pool and turns the Return valve to send all the water to the spa. This causes the spa to quickly spillover into the pool. You would normally schedule this to run twice a day for about 30 minutes each time.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I like to bump this thread since im running into high pH issues very quickly. How can i tell if aux3 is available?

 

[ajw22]

How can i tell if aux3 is available?

Do you have anything controlled by the AUX3 button?

Open up the Aqualink panel and see if anything is connected to the relay plugged into AUX3.

 

[SuperMiguel]

The cam on the return actuator may need to be reset to fully close the spa return when in POOL mode.

Do you have anything controlled by the AUX3 button?

Open up the Aqualink panel and see if anything is connected to the relay plugged into AUX3.

So i physically dont have anything connected to Aux3, but i guess one of the actuators is taking its place?

 

[ajw22]

You need more AUX buttons by upgrading to a RS6 or RS8 CPU. You can replace the CPU board. Always some on ebay but be careful of warranty issues. The are very easy to swap out takes like 10 minutes. System will need to be totally re-programmed when done. The instructions that come with them explain what to do. Make sure to get a current rev though a lot of people sell their old boards when they upgrade.

Here are the Zodiac/Jandy part numbers for the various RS CPU boards:

• Pool or Spa Only (1 body of water)
• R0466806 (RS/4 AUX)
• R0466805 (RS/6 AUX)
• R0466804 (RS/8 AUX)

• Pool & Spa Combo (2 bodies of water; shared pump/heater)
• R0466803 (RS/4 AUX)
• R0466802 (RS/6 AUX)
• R0466801 (RS/8 AUX)

 

[SuperMiguel]

You need more AUX buttons by upgrading to a RS6 or RS8 CPU. You can replace the CPU board. Always some on ebay but be careful of warranty issues. The are very easy to swap out takes like 10 minutes. System will need to be totally re-programmed when done. The instructions that come with them explain what to do. Make sure to get a current rev though a lot of people sell their old boards when they upgrade.

Here are the Zodiac/Jandy part numbers for the various RS CPU boards:

• Pool or Spa Only (1 body of water)
• R0466806 (RS/4 AUX)
• R0466805 (RS/6 AUX)
• R0466804 (RS/8 AUX)

• Pool & Spa Combo (2 bodies of water; shared pump/heater)
• R0466803 (RS/4 AUX)
• R0466802 (RS/6 AUX)
• R0466801 (RS/8 AUX)

So the upgrade to RS6 is about $400 and the RS8 one is around $800. Is there a way to combine both Actuator to a single AUX? I know they say fountain on the picture i sent but the reality is that they are bubblers ill be ok with turning them together (i guess i could join the pipes, but rather see if there is a software solution)

In the mean time i wanted to test it so i disconnect the one connected to Aux 3 and flip the switch to enable spill mode... It works as expected but the light on the app it self turns off... It comes on momentarily then goes off ( the light next to the word spill over mode), So is hard to know without looking at the pool if its on that mode or not

 

[ajw22]

So the upgrade to RS6 is about $400 and the RS8 one is around $800. Is there a way to combine both Actuator to a single AUX? I know they say fountain on the picture i sent but the reality is that they are bubblers ill be ok with turning them together (i guess i could join the pipes, but rather see if there is a software solution)

@PoolGate or @Jimrahbe may have ideas on how to control two actuators from one socket. What you have to be careful of is not drawing more amps then the board can provide.

In the mean time i wanted to test it so i disconnect the one connected to Aux 3 and flip the switch to enable spill mode... It works as expected but the light on the app it self turns off... It comes on momentarily then goes off ( the light next to the word spill over mode), So is hard to know without looking at the pool if its on that mode or not

@PoolGate may have ideas on what the app is doing. I don't have that to see.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Miguel,

There is no software solution, but you can tie two actuators to the same 3 pin actuator connector. You'd have to splice the cables from each actuator together and then into a single three wire connector.

As Allen points out, you don't want to draw too much current, so I would not tie more than two actuators together. Obviously, both actuators will turn at the same time, but you can have them both opening, or you could have one opening and the other closing, whatever works for you.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SuperMiguel]

@PoolGate or @Jimrahbe may have ideas on how to control two actuators from one socket. What you have to be careful of is not drawing more amps then the board can provide.



@PoolGate may have ideas on what the app is doing. I don't have that to see.

I actually rebooted it few times and finally worked correctly!!! Thanks Aj!

When the spillway mode is on, it turns the Intake valve to suck water from the pool and turns the Return valve to send all the water to the spa. This causes the spa to quickly spillover into the pool. You would normally schedule this to run twice a day for about 30 minutes each time.

So im finally here ^

Im currently running my pump at 3400RPM for 12h (pool builder recommendation for 1-2 months) so now im at this point where i need to tune it a bit.

So what is you all recommendation for each mode time wise and speed wise... Each mode as in, POOL mode and SPILLOVER mode, my spa is a bit larger than standard ones, it measures 5x11

 

[mknauss]

Im currently running my pump at 3400RPM for 12h

I would struggle with that request. Why? You can filter more water for far less money by reducing to under 2000 rpm and running 24 hours per day.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Miguel,

3400 RPM is a ridicules speed to run your pump. The whole point of a VS pump is to run it as slow as you can and still have it make chlorine and skim well.

I suggest that you find the lowest speed that you can run the pump and still make your salt cell turn on. Add 100 RPM and call that the slowest speed you ever want to run. For me this is about 1200 RPM, since you have a heater, for you it will be about 1600 RPM or so. You might need a faster speed when you want the heater to run. You will also need a speed that makes your spa work the way you want which will be about 3000 or more.

If you have the actual Spillover mode then you should adjust the speed for how you want the spillover to look. At 3400 RPM it will be like a tidal wave, so I would think it would be at the lower end of the speed range. I'd start off at the same speed that makes your cell work and see what it looks like.

I run my pump 24/7, most of the time at 1200 RPM. This costs me less than $20 bucks a month. I do it because I like the idea of making a little chlorine all the time and I like skimming all the time. Not a requirement, but something that works very well for me.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SuperMiguel]

Miguel,

3400 RPM is a ridicules speed to run your pump. The whole point of a VS pump is to run it as slow as you can and still have it make chlorine and skim well.

I suggest that you find the lowest speed that you can run the pump and still make your salt cell turn on. Add 100 RPM and call that the slowest speed you ever want to run. For me this is about 1200 RPM, since you have a heater, for you it will be about 1600 RPM or so. You might need a faster speed when you want the heater to run. You will also need a speed that makes your spa work the way you want which will be about 3000 or more.

If you have the actual Spillover mode then you should adjust the speed for how you want the spillover to look. At 3400 RPM it will be like a tidal wave, so I would think it would be at the lower end of the speed range. I'd start off at the same speed that makes your cell work and see what it looks like.

I run my pump 24/7, most of the time at 1200 RPM. This costs me less than $20 bucks a month. I do it because I like the idea of making a little chlorine all the time and I like skimming all the time. Not a requirement, but something that works very well for me.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks Jim, if i decide to run it 24h, how long should i run it with spillover mode to chlorinate the spa?

 

[ajw22]

I run my spillover at 9AM for 20 minutes to get chlorinated water in it for the day and then at 2pm for 20 minutes to refresh the spa water for the afternoon sun.

Twice a day for 15-20 minutes seems to work well.