Raypak heater compatible with Jandy iAqualink 2.0? Conflicting advice.

[lawdoc]

I was going to replace my old Laars gas heater with a Raypak 406A digital heater, but when I contacted inyopools to order, their service agent said that I have to order a Jandy heater to be compatible with the controller. I told him that I though it had a remote mode, but he said that it doesn't work with newer controllers.

Can anyone confirm whether the iAqualink panel will work with the heater's remote mode, letting me set thermostat and on/off using the Jandy temp sensor and Jandy Aqualink app? Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

The Raypak heater will work fine with the Aqualink connecting the 2 wire fireman’s switch circuit to the Aqualink heater relay.

You can check the Raypak heater Installation manual and the Aqualink manual to see the connection points.

Heater Control with Automation - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[lawdoc]

Great! That was my read, too--but the inyopools rep was pretty adamant that it woudln't work. Maybe I miscommunicated my question to him.

 

[ajw22]

See page 30-31 in https://s3.amazonaws.com/AWSProd/sites/raypakcom/documents/241236.pdf

You always run the heater in SPA mode and connect the BLU and ORN/BLK wires to the same place your LAARS heater was connected to on the Aqualink.

 

[wayner]

The Raypak heater will work fine with the Aqualink connecting the 2 wire fireman’s switch circuit to the Aqualink heater relay.

You can check the Raypak heater Installation manual and the Aqualink manual to see the connection points.

Heater Control with Automation - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

What about temperature adjustment, is that possible? Is that possible with Jandy heaters and the Aqualink system?

I am guessing not. Pool equipment seems about 20 years behind the curve in terms of smart equipment and being able to integrate into a HA system. I don't understand that. How hard is it to add Wifi capabilities to a pool heater, SWCG, etc. The hardware costs very little these days, as you can buy smart light switch controllers for less than $20.

 

[ajw22]

The Aqualink does the temp control for the pool by turning the heater on and off as necessary. The Raypak temperature control is not used when connected to the Aqualink.

Folks have designed their own pool equipment control systems. Plenty of threads on DIY equipment controls.

 

[wayner]

I guess I could roll my own if I had a temperature sensor. I may do that with a Raspberry Pi or some other way of getting the temperature into Control4.

 

[ajw22]

Temperature sensors are just a 10K thermistor whose resistance varies with temperature.

Temperature Sensors - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[wayner]

Thanks, I will likely do something like the Home Automation sensor showed on that web page as you need something to read the thermistor and I don't have an Aqualink or - so I would likely use the DS18B20 connected to a Raspberry Pi. I wonder if you would get accurate enough readings by just taping the sensor the outside of a pipe, and then putting foil and insulation around it. You might need to do a calibration but this might work ok.

 

[ajw22]

I wonder if you would get accurate enough readings by just taping the sensor the outside of a pipe, and then putting foil and insulation around it. You might need to do a calibration but this might work ok.

That will not work well.

You should have a water temperature sensor in your pipe with the Aqualink.