Pump 2 Communication Lost

[drjsparker]

Howdy!

So I am a newbie when it comes to pools. We finished building ours a couple of months ago with the exception of our water feature which we just finished up.

Everything has been running fine until now. When we fired up the water feature pump, we’re getting the communication lost error. The pump works, but we’re getting this error.

I’ve read through a good number of post, but just can’t seem to connect the dots… I’m missing something.

Here’s some info others with similar issues were asked about:

• System in Auto and ‘filter pump’ turned on, both pumps start up, then waterfall pump shuts off after about 30/60 seconds and pool pump shuts off a minute or so later
• both pumps read ‘display not active’.
• Put in Service mode, after 30 seconds the display on both pumps show zero RPM
• If I go into Settings/Intelleflo/Pump 2/Status on the panel, it shows ‘No Comm’

Attached is a pic of our equipment list and the wiring inside the panel.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated… thanks in advance!!

 

[Jimrahbe]

dr,

Show me a pic of the button labels on the main panel.

Show me the following two ScreenLogic set-up pages.


View media item 1964

Heater Speed.PNG

• Jimrahbe
• Jan 3, 2019

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

dr,

If these are new VSF IntelliFlo pumps they may not have the updated F/W.

In the Service mode, use the pump's display and find what F/W is installed. I suggest that you look at both of them.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[guinness]

Can you Create Your Signature with the equipment listed below. If will help us with both this and future questions.

 

[drjsparker]

checking f/w now... be in touch

 

[drjsparker]

My pool pump is on version 2.11 which is communicating correctly

My waterfall pump is on version 3.03 which is not

 

[Jimrahbe]

dr,

It appears to me that the power for the waterfall pump is being run through the Aux 5 (waterfall) relay. VS pumps need constant AC power, the relay should not be involved. The speed of the pump and whether it come on or not, should be controlled by the RS-485 commands.

Sorry I was not too clear. I really need to see what speeds are assigned to pump number 2

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

sr,

Something else to check while you are looking around is to make sure that pump number 1 has an address of #1 and that the waterfall pump has a different address. You do this from the pump's control panel also.

When in auto, with the main pump running, when you push the Aux 5 button on the main panel does the waterfall pump come on and turn off when you push the button again?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[drjsparker]

Do one of these pics show you the button labels on the main panel and speed assigned to pump #2?

Regarding the power to the waterfall pump, could you dumb that down a tad for me? If it needs to be re-wired, I can handle that… just need to know what to plug in where… thanks!

 

[drjsparker]

I had to head out for dinner… I’ll check the pump address and the Aux 5 button as soon as we get back… many thanks for your help!!

 

[Jimrahbe]

dr,

Well, whoever installed your EasyTouch did not add circuit names to your main panel.. Normally where is says Aux 1, Aux 2, etc, it would say what each button does. As an example, Aux 5 would say "waterfall".

You showed be a ScreenLogic set up page for pump number one. It shows the Pool runs at 2700 RPM and the Spa at 3300. Not to be picky, but the point of having a VS pump is so that you can run it at different speeds... It is not a requirement; I'm just surprised that your pool builder only set up speeds for your Pool and Spa and nothing else.

Select the pump #2 tab and you should see the speeds that are set up for your waterfall pump. I need to see that ScreenLogic page.

I think to fix your lost comm issue, you simply have to move the two wires on your Aux 5 relay, from the load side of the relay over to the Line side of the relay. This would provide constant AC power to your waterfall pump. But.. I need to see if there are any speeds assigned to pump #2 set up page first.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[drjsparker]

Jim, the pump address was the issue… both were setup with “1” as the address. I changed the waterfall pump to “2”, then reset the system and that resolved the communication error. WOOHOO!! Thank you!

Regarding my pool builder… It's a long story, but he passed away just after we shot the gunite… I GC’d it from that point forward.

Regarding the Aux 5 button… it does control the waterfall. With that, while it may not be necessary, would you think it best to re-wire it as you described above?

Regarding the speeds assigned to pump 1, how would you recommend I set this up?

Attached are pics showing the speeds assigned to pump 2 as well as the labels on the panel.

 

[Jimrahbe]

dr,

I would set up the waterfall pump so that it gets constant AC power. I assume that the Aux 5 relay is controlling the AC going to the waterfall pump. If that is true, I would move the two wires from the load side of the relay over to the line side of the relay, so that the pump gets constant AC power. I am not sure that the lost com was caused by the pump address, but it makes sense to change it as both pumps would try to run at the same time. The lost com is usually caused when the power to the pump is suddenly removed from the pump by a relay.

Your system is set up to run the Waterfall pump at 1750 RPM. If that makes the waterfall look the way you want, then I'd just leave the speed alone. If not, you can adjust it up or down.

Your main pump (pump #1) runs at 2700 RPM when in the pool mode. Each pool and plumbing are different of course, but that seems way too fast for me. As an example, I run my pump at 1200 RPM. In my case I run my pump 24/7, for less than $20 bucks a month.

Since you have a SWCG, I'd run the pump as slow as possible, but at a speed that would keep the SWCG's flow switch closed. For me that is about 1100 RPM. I added a 100 RPM to compensate for the filter getting dirty.

If you have a heater, which I assume you do, then you'd have to run at 1400 to 1700.

If you have other water features, like bubblers or deck jets, you can find a speed that works for them, so you could turn them on or off.

I have a couple of extra speeds that I can use if we get a lot of debris floating in the pool after a storm, or if we just want to make the water move more when using our floats.

Each pool and each pool owner have their own ideas as what works best for them. The whole point of have various speeds is that you can adjust the water flow to fit your needs and not be stuck with just one speed.

Thanks,

Jim R.