Solved: Jandy Aqualink RS8 with 3.0 Antenna, SWG + Pentair Intelliflo 3: Pump turns on @ odd time consistently

[scott.kiran447]

Hello,

New Jandy Aqualink RS8 with 3.0 Antenna, PLC1400 SWG, and new Pentair Intelliflo 3.0. Pool and Spillover spa. I program per the attached image and pump should be off at 11 AM. Strangest problem is the pump turns on consistnetly at 11:32 AM. This is not programmed; temperatures are well above freeze control. Doesn't seem like it is bad breaker since this happens at a consistent time.

Any idea why this might happen? Thx!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Check that the clock in the Aqualink and iAqualink app are set correctly.

@PoolGate and others have had problems with ghost schedules in iAqualink.

 

[generessler]

Yeah what @ajw22 said. You'd expect an internet-connected thing would sync its own clock. Jandy: 90's tech at its finest. Getting off the soap box, there is a lithium button cell (CR2032 I think) on the Aqualink front board that preserves the clock through power offs and failures. Might do well to replace yours if things used to work as intended, and broke. Then reset the time in the app of course.

 

[scott.kiran447]

@awj22 and generessler, Thx! I set the time through the app, and there is a separte system clock on the controller board? How do I "see" that clock, RESET it, and ensure it is set correctly? The board/system are new, replacing the old one, which failed and seemed 10+ years old. So the CR2032 battery should be on the newer side, but I know they are fallible. I also thought of clearing the memory from the iaqualink app? Or maybe even the pump has some memory setting?

 

[generessler]

@awj22 and generessler, Thx! I set the time through the app, and there is a separate system clock on the controller board?

No the app is setting the clock on the system board, which is also backed up by that button cell. That's the only one. If the cell goes dead, any loss of system power (e.g. if you turn the breaker off or have an outage) will cause that time to be lost, so you need to reset it with the app every time or else see a skewed schedule as you've noticed.

Fwiw, mine also drifts a few minutes a year. So I tweak it every spring as part of de-winterizing.

 

[scott.kiran447]

Got it...thx! However, my problem isn't skewed time:

• The system runs all the expected steps, but it seems to add a step at 11:32 AM that isn't visible--it is a ghost instruction seemingly.
• While the pump/filter correctly start at 5:00 AM and stop at 11 AM, they again start later at 11:32 AM--and this isn't a program step.

Scott

PS The time was about 3 min off and I RESET the time from the app. I'll also replace the CR2032 battery.

 

[generessler]

The system runs all the expected steps, but it seems to add a step at 11:32 AM that isn't visible--it is a ghost instruction seemingly.

Cue twilight zone music...

First, you said "New." That officially makes this Jandy's problem under warranty. Bother their tech support for sure and haggle for a tech to visit at 11:31.

It's barely possible the RS8's persistent store has some corrupt bits that the UI ignores, but which are interpreted as schedule events by the control logic. Only thing I can think of is "Menu > System Setup > Clear Memory" and re-program everything from scratch. Painful. Shouldn't happen especially in a new unit.

I also wonder what would happen if you cleared just the schedule. Would the pump still start at 11:32? If so maybe the pump controller is wonky. Then factory resetting the pump would be something to try.

I'm just casting around for ideas. No special knowledge.

 

[MSchutzer]

Another thought, do you by any chance have the maintain temperature function enabled?

When enabled the pump will periodically start and stop so that it can measure the water temperature to see if it needs to run the heater to maintain the water temp. If the temp is below the set point the pump will run and the heater will fire until the water reaches the set temp, and then the pump will shut down after the heater cool down time. It repeats this cycle every hour, 2 hours, or four hours depending on how it is set up.

There’s also a seasonal time adjust that can be enabled that will shift the start and stop times in the schedule. When enabled it shifts the times forward or backward by a fixed amount each month. Its in the manual but I don’t know why anyone would enable it as it looks like it just scrambles up whatever you have set in your schedule.

edit: The seasonal time adjustment is called "ESP link" in the setup menu, in addition to scrambling your schedule it has a virtually indecipherable name!

You should check and make sure neither of these functions are enabled. Either one of these functions could contribute to what you are seeing.

 

[HermanTX]

I would delete all schedules on the schedule screen and see if the pump starts at 11:32.
Also, assume you have the RS485 cable controlling the VS pump. In Auto mode - does your pump screen state "Display Not Active"?
When you set up the pump - did you set it as a VS pump or VF pump?

 

[scott.kiran447]

These are all really good suggestions, @generessler, @HermanTX, @MSchutzer, Thx!

First, you said "New." That officially makes this Jandy's problem under warranty. Bother their tech support for sure and haggle for a tech to visit at 11:31.

LOL! Thx for the laugh!

The ESL and Maintain temps are disabled so that isn't problem. I think I have a few actions. Check the pump and clear the Intelliflow3 VSF if that is possible. Clear the schedule....and if still not resolved, clear the Aqualink Memory, which I was hoping to avoid. The pump is new and the technician just hooked up it up straight to the iAqualink. I'll bluetooth to it and see what settings I find.

@HermanTX: Good comments! The pump was setup as a VF pump (011075) by the technician. I didn't question it.

 

[scott.kiran447]

Cue twilight zone music...

It's barely possible the RS8's persistent store has some corrupt bits that the UI ignores, but which are interpreted as schedule events by the control logic. Only thing I can think of is "Menu > System Setup > Clear Memory" and re-program everything from scratch. Painful. Shouldn't happen especially in a new unit.

I also wonder what would happen if you cleared just the schedule. Would the pump still start at 11:32? If so maybe the pump controller is wonky. Then factory resetting the pump would be something to try.

Problem fixed. The phantom step that started the pump at 11:32 AM no longer occurs. Clearing the memory fixed the problem. Clearing just the schedule didn't.

@generessler, @HermanTX, @MSchutzer, @ajw22, thx for the suggestions!

Scott