ScreenLogic / EasyTouch Scheduling Problem

[MaverickFL]

Been having some persistant issues with schedules through screenlogic/easytouch 4. On the weekend I have a Sat/Sun schedule that is supposed to run. You can see it in the attached screenshot. Instead, screen logic is running and showing the M-F schedules as active on the weekends. I completely rebuilt the entire schedule program today, economized down to only 9 schedules, rebooted and still the same thing. From the PC based version you cannot see which schedules are active for some reason, this seems to be a design oversight. it just tells you which features are active at the moment but not from which schedule, but when I look from the phone, its showing the M-F schedule active even on sat and sun? I checked the time and date in the system and its showing correctly. Deleted and rebuilt all the programs, rebooted the system, checked the firmware version (its current) and can't figure this out.

On top of that, a couple times a night, after all the schedules are complete, at around 11pm and 2 or 3 in the morning, I hear the system come on for 60 seconds, prime the pump and then shut off. There are no schedules for those times. Also, this is S. Florida so I know its not the freeze protection, I have that turned off. It seems to be consistent at those times but since it only runs for about 60 seconds its hard to see what is going on in the system when its happening but I was able to grab my phone once and it was showing no active programs when it happened.

I've attached some info here, it seems like this is probably a Pentair Support issue but I thought I'd try my luck here first to see if anyone might have a similar experience.
This screen was taken Sunday night at 7:15p, its ignoring the Sa/Sun schedule and running M-F for "Pool"

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mav,

The EasyTouch can only have 12 schedules max and that includes any egg timers not set to 12 hours (default).

How many schedules and egg timers do you have???

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MaverickFL]

Hey Jim, I have 9 schedules and 0 egg timers. But even if I was over, why would it run a M-F program on the weekends?

 

[ajw22]

Is the date and time set correctly in the panel?

 

[MaverickFL]

Allen, yes, date and time reading correctly on panel and apps.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mav,

The system does not normally react the way you say unless there are too many schedules..

It is possible for the system to have additional schedules that do not show up in ScreenLogic.. This usually happens when a replacement card is installed, that still had its original programming, but I assume it could happen at other times..

Use the little LCD and the Menu to look at what programs are in the EasyTouch.. Confirm there are no 'unwanted' schedules.

Sorry, but if that does not fix the problem, then I would erase the Eprom and reprogram everything. I'd print screen shots of every ScreenLogic set up page from the PC, which should make it easy to reprogram.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MaverickFL]

Checked on the easytouch, no unwanted schedules so went with EEprom erase and reprogram, we'll see how that goes. THx

 

[Dirk]

Checked on the easytouch, no unwanted schedules so went with EEprom erase and reprogram, we'll see how that goes. THx

Have you confirmed you have an EasyTouch 4, and not an EasyTouch PL4 or PSL4? The "L" stands for "Lite" and those models have even less scheduling slots (just 4).

When I had some unexplained glitches with the programming of my PSL4, a complete factory-reset (eprom erase) nuked 'em. I think you're on the right track.

 

[MaverickFL]

Hi Dirk,

Yes, had been successfully running 11 or 12 schedules previously with no issues, started behaving strangely just recently. The random running in the middle of the night doesn't seem related to scheduling, we'll see if the erase and reprogram fixes that as well.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mav,

In general, the EasyTouch does not do things randomly.. It might do things wrong, but it would normally do the same wrong thing, at the same time, every day.

If you still have issues after reprogramming, then I would pick just one 'random' thing it does, and troubleshoot just that one thing.

Keep in mind that freeze control comes on based on air temp... Not sure that would be your issue in Florida, but something to think about. The EasyTouch uses an air temp sensor that normally hangs below the EasyTouch, that can go bad, and cause the ET to believe it is much colder than it actually is.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MaverickFL]

@Jimrahbe **Seemingly random. For example: we have nice weather here in S. FLorida right now, slept with the door open last night. Heard it come on at 9pm and had never noticed it doing that at that time before. The night before was at 11pm and 3AM. Its a difficult thing to pinpoint because it requires observation

I can tell you the air sensor seems to be working normal and showing proper temps whenever I check it including today. The temp here hasn't dropped below 55 and I have the freeze protection turned off.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mav,

"Heard it come on"... I assume we are talking about the IntelliFlo3 that is coming on??? Correct?

I also assume that the IntelliFlo3 is connected to the EasyTouch with an RS-485 cable, and that it is getting constant AC power..

That means it is not wired through the Pump/Filter relay.

We have seen some issues with the IntelliFlo pumps having intermittent RS-485 communications, but this would cause the pump not to run, I can't see how it would cause the pump to run, when it is not being told to run.

Odd indeed...

Just for grins, show me all your circuits.. Like this...

Set up page 2a.JPG

• Jimrahbe
• Jun 11, 2020

Set up page 2.JPG

• Jimrahbe
• Jun 8, 2020

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MaverickFL]

Hey @Jimrahbe, yes, heard the Intelliflo 3 pump come on was what I meant. I get that its not normal but there is definitely some randomness too it. After erasing both the EasyTouch and the Intelliflo memory over the weekend and rebuilding all the data with Pentair support's assistance (connecting remotely to ScreenLogic), the problem seems to have actually gotten worse. I heard it two or three time last night, and twice already this morning, coming on a few seconds ago (9:45am) and about 1/2 hr before that, which it has never done before. This is a frustrating issue because I ran out there as soon as I heard it to try and visually see what the system and the pump are indicating when its happening and by the time I get out there it has already stopped. Its literally about 10 seconds, I typically can't hear the pump priming and don't hear anything until the waterfall is running. I'm starting to think I have a bad component in either the INtelliflo or the EasyTouch, a few months outside of warranty of course.

Anyway, back to your questions. Yes, connected via RS-485 and through PentairHome and on the pump it is indicating "Controlled by Automation".
Wired directly to the hot connection in the EasyTouch not through a relay, it has power constantly even when the relay is off, but just to be 100% sure I pulled the front panel to make sure. Verified.

And here is the circuit info below.

What I'm thinking now is to actually disconnect the pump from the EasyTouch and program directly on the pump to see if I can determine if the issue is with the pump or the EasyTouch. My money's on the EasyTouch but would be good to have certainty.

 

[mknauss]

What is PentairHome?

 

[MaverickFL]

What is PentairHome?

Controls newer Pentair 'connected' products like the IntelliFlo3. It doesn't do very much when its controlled by automation but you can program the pump through it when its not, you don't need a keypad/screen anymore.

 

[ajw22]

What is PentairHome?

Pentair Home is the app used to control the Intelliflo3 if it does not have the optional display.

It sounds like @MaverickFL Intelliflo3 is connected to his EasyTouch by RS-485 while he directly controls the Intelliflo3 using the Pentair Home app.

 

[MaverickFL]

Controls newer Pentair 'connected' products like the IntelliFlo3. It doesn't do very much when its controlled by automation but you can program the pump through it when its not, you don't need a keypad/screen anymore. If you add the relays to the Intelliflo it becomes a poor man's version of the easytouch/screenlogic.

 

[MaverickFL]

Pentair Home is the app used to control the Intelliflo3 if it does not have the optional display.

It sounds like @MaverickFL Intelliflo3 is connected to his EasyTouch by RS-485 while he directly controls the Intelliflo3 using the Pentair Home app.

You can't control the Intelliflo too much when it is connected but it will give you alerts and information on pump status etc. and you can program some of the configuration that is not done via the EasyTouch / Intellicenter.

 

[ajw22]

and you can program some of the configuration that is not done via the EasyTouch / Intellicenter.

Since you mentioned that, have you changed the Intelliflo3 configuration settings?

My WAG is the Intelloflo3 is going through priming sensing for some reason. I suggest you disable priming on the pump.

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

VS pumps like the Pentair IntelliFlo have their internal priming cycle. The pump can sense when it is primed and stop the priming cycle. The pump control panel has priming settings.

Pentair automation like EasyTouch and IntelliCenter also have priming settings.

With the Pentair IntelliFlo VS pump having priming settings and the ET or IntelliCenter having priming settings, neither one overrides the other. They both run, first the pump's internal prime routine, then the ET or IntelliCenter's, unless the user is smart enough to change that.

The shortest time the ET or IntelliCenter prime can run is 1 minute, and it doesn't matter whether the pump is primed or not; it just runs for the specified time. On the other hand, the pump itself can realize it's primed in 3 seconds. You can set the prime time on the ET to 0 minutes and the pump will no longer noisily and unnecessarily prime for a minute

 

[MaverickFL]

Since you mentioned that, have you changed the Intelliflo3 configuration settings?

My WAG is the Intelloflo3 is going through priming sensing for some reason. I suggest you disable priming on the pump.

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

VS pumps like the Pentair IntelliFlo have their internal priming cycle. The pump can sense when it is primed and stop the priming cycle. The pump control panel has priming settings.

Pentair automation like EasyTouch and IntelliCenter also have priming settings.

With the Pentair IntelliFlo VS pump having priming settings and the ET or IntelliCenter having priming settings, neither one overrides the other. They both run, first the pump's internal prime routine, then the ET or IntelliCenter's, unless the user is smart enough to change that.

The shortest time the ET or IntelliCenter prime can run is 1 minute, and it doesn't matter whether the pump is primed or not; it just runs for the specified time. On the other hand, the pump itself can realize it's primed in 3 seconds. You can set the prime time on the ET to 0 minutes and the pump will no longer noisily and unnecessarily prime for a minute

Thanks @ajw22 This has promise, I'll give it a go but not seeing any priming settings via EasyTouch/ScreenLogic ? WHere are those settings ?