Pool Solar Heating: Enabled and On modes

[udayhomes]

We have an AquaLink RS 6613/6614 control center that manages our pool and spa equipment. I’ve programmed the Solar Heating to run daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the pool temperature set to 85°F. I’d like to confirm whether the solar heating system is functioning properly. We have a Pentair CVA-24 valve actuator to direct water to the solar tubes, and it appears to be working correctly (I’ve also tested it manually).

On the remote, I notice that the Solar Heating status toggles between “Enabled” and “On”. Could someone please explain what determines this status change, and how to ensure the system is set to function in the “On” mode? I’ve read a few forum posts mentioning Temp1 and Temp2 settings, but I don’t see these options on my Jandy PDA. I'm unsure how to locate or adjust them.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

I think ENABLED means the solar heat is enabled but water is not running through the panels because the pool temperature or solar sensor says not to.

ON means water is running through the solar panels and heating the pool.

Maybe @PoolGate @MSchutzer @HermanTX or someone else with Aqualink PDA and solar can confirm.

 

[PoolGate]

Enable (ENA) means the temp will take effect when the heat drops below the set point but it is not "on". When it just says the "Temp1", it is running. It is also "green" when in ENA mode and "red" when on.

Temp1 and Temp2 are keywords for temperature if you have a "pool or spa" only system. Other keywords are for other systems (see below pic).

 

[MSchutzer]

Allen is correct. Enabled means that the Solar Heat is enabled via the control center. The Solar Heat will only turn on when these three conditions are met.
1. The filter/pump is running
2. The temperature of the pool is below the Pool (or Temp1) setpoint, and
3. When the solar temperature sensor is at least 5 degrees above the actual pool temperature.

If any of these three conditions are not met then the status field will show enabled.

Your valve actuator with turn on and off as the system switches from enabled to on.

The idea is that the water is only sent through the solar panels when they are warm enough to add heat to the water. If windy, cloudy, or cold the system will stay in enabled and not turn on, as if it turned on in those conditions the solar panels would actually cool the water rather than heating it.

From what you describe the system is working as it should be,

 

[udayhomes]

Thank you all for your responses. The system we have is quite old (AquaLink RS 6613/6614) and don't have a web interface. Can you please guide me on what should I be checking to see why the solar heating mode is in enabled mode? And, what triggers it go into "ON" mode? I suspect there might be some problem with the sensors but I might be wrong. On the PDA, the Air Temp is displayed as 90 (not correct, weather outside is around 77 degrees) and Pool temperature is displayed 78 (looks correct).

 

[MSchutzer]

While I don't have a PDA system I think you answered your question in your first post. You said that: "On the remote, I notice that the Solar Heating status toggles between “Enabled” and “On”"; I think that is the remote showing you that the system is switching between being on, and being enabled when the panels are warm enough to heat the water. I suspect that if you turn on the filter/pump outside of the 9am to 5 pm hours you will see that the Solar Heat is showing "off" rather than "enabled", or "on".

But I don't have a PDA system so I'm only surmising that is what is going on.

 

[udayhomes]

Thanks again for your help. Solar Heat is programmed to heat the pool when the pump is running. The three conditions that you mentioned in earlier post are met for solar heat to toggle to "on" mode.

1. Yes, the filter/pump is running
2. The setpoint of the pool is 85°F which is above the temperature of the pool (78)
3. The solar temperature is above 5 degrees the pool temp. I see that Air Temp is displayed as 90 even though it is not correct.

Yesterday, the solar mode was set to "on". Today the whole day the solar mode is stuck in "enabled" mode. Trying to learn and debug what makes it to switch to "on" mode.

 

[PoolGate]

Do you have other heaters? You should have a "solar priority" setting. When enabled, I believe it will prefer the solar over other heating methods.

 

[udayhomes]

Yes, I have Sta-Rite heater also. In the System Settings, Solar Priority is "Enabled".

 

[PoolGate]

Yes, I have Sta-Rite heater also. In the System Settings, Solar Priority is "Enabled".

Show the screen with all the temps. (solar, pool, air)

 

[udayhomes]

More pictures attached. PDA displays only Air and Pool temperature. Don't see an option to display solar temperature.

 

[MSchutzer]

It’s not the air temp sensor that matters. There is a separate solar temp sensor that should be mounted up near the panels. That is the sensor that determines whether the solar switches from enable to on. Is it windy?, if it is it may be that the solar sensor is reading less than 83 degrees.

You can flip one of the dip switches on the main panel to put it in a test mode, and the solar temp sensor reading will show up in place of the air temp reading. DIP switch 1, position 5 displays the solar temp sensor reading, see below:


I suspect that it is actually cooler than you think up at the panels. Windy makes a big difference.

While the solar would likely be on with an air temp of 77 and sun, if it is windy you may not be reaching the 83 degrees (pool temp of 78 plus 5) on the solar sensor to cause it to activate.