John_and_Val
wow......trying to gather in all this information!!!!
I am a little confused!
I know and I get ya. Been there, done that and got the t-shirt to prove it!
Let me tell you a story. When I decided to completely re-engineer, re-plumb and re-wire my entire equipment pad and install nearly all new equipment (I only kept the heater and filter
), I went through the exact same thing. I joined TFP and asked a ton of questions (the threads are still here). I also did a tremendous amount of my own research, and asked a ton of more questions. I got a lot of conflicting information. Conflicting information from what I researched online, documentation and advice I received here. Also, conflicting information between various TFP members and conflicting between my own thoughts and other members. They all had GREAT intentions mind you and were just trying to help me along.
Sometimes, it was extremely frustrating. But I continued to formulate my plans by using all of this conflicting information to my advantage. Some of the advice I took and some of the advice I neglected (but I always appreciated the advice regardless). Here are just some examples of some of the advice that I received but choose to instead, "go my own way".
1. I was advised by many good intentioned folks, not to opt for IntelliCenter (too new, don't need it, etc., etc.) I threw that advice out and thank goodness I did. I am super happy with the IntelliCenter now. Especially, after learning a tremendous amount of detailed information based on my own personal "hands-on" experience.
2. I was told not to opt for a heater bypass, a filter/sanitation manifold bypass or use a "Flo-Vis" in combination with a check-valve. But, I did anyway, due to other positive advice that I received, and now that I have realized the benefits and see no drawbacks, boy am I glad I stayed "on-course".
3. I was told by many to NOT opt for the VSF pump (like yours). But I stayed on course and guess what. I LOVE THAT PUMP! for a variety of reasons.
4. "Don't get a IC-60 (too big for your pool)", Other's said I should.
5. "Don't buy IntellipH. Just use manual dosing of MA".
My gosh, I went through six (6) revisions of my equipment pad plumbing schematic before I settled on the final.
HOWEVER, I can't even start to put together a list of various advice that I received that I
did heed. I got some GREAT advice here that I did incorporated in the final plans and I'm thankful to many here who got me to where I am now.
So, I guess what I am trying to say is: Yes, there will be some confusing and conflicting advice that you will receive. Some of it, merely personal preferences of the members. Take all of the advice that you can get, pair it with want you know, you really want. Compare the conflicting advice and make your own decisions. Also, I "weighted" a lot of the advice from people that actually had experience with a particular piece of equipment or set-up. i.e. "Don't buy IntellipH", I then asked myself, does that person actually have an IntellipH listed in their signature and they're not happy with it's performance? I gave more credence to the one's who actually owned and operated the IntellipH and gave me their honest assessments of its strengths and weaknesses.
That is how I got through it all and you will too! Hang it there, stay on-course, and before you know it, you will be having a cold one for all of us, while sitting next to the nighttime oasis that is the talk of the neighborhood!
I know i don't have a traditional spa (with a dam wall and separate drain in the spa area) but I do have "spa jets" in that seating area. They way that i think it will be plumbed is the main pump (after equipment) will output to a actuator which will send water to pool returns or "spa jets" and/or a combination of both (if the intellivalve ever gets the update).
Right.
If you would like a bit of advice on how best to setup your valves (IntelliValve Actuators), can you please provide an updated list of all "Intake" items (Drains, skimmers, etc.) and "Return" items (pool return jets, seating jets, bubblers, water features, etc.)? I have been all through your thread here in order to ascertain those facts but there is a lot of conflicting information from the point at which this thread was initially started and how it (your pool and features) has evolved to what you actually have plumbed now.
Note: Keep in mind that the IntelliValve still works like any other standard actuator at the moment. You can currently set (program) any "Home" position and any "2nd" position between 0 and 180 degrees. It's just electronically accomplished (which is "way cool") I love IntelliValves!!. The firmware update that is coming soon, will then allow you to set (program) five (5) positions on the IntelliValve instead of the current two (2). I can't wait. The possibilities will then be endless. Especially for you, if all of your "water features" are independently plumbed. And controlled all by the use of "Circuit Groups (macros)". I'm curious if there will be "timing" modes incorporated? If so, you may end up with a "poor-man's" Bellagio Water Show!
NOTE: While speaking about the IntelliValves, I just remembered this very important piece of information. Please don't forget this when it comes time to "plumb the pad". If you plan on using ALL IntelliValve Actuators for all of your valves,
PLEASE do not plumb the 3-way valves any closer than about 8" apart I think. Otherwise, the IntelliValves will NOT fit on the valves properly!!!! I made this mistake and I jumped through some very tricky hoops (to include "McGivering" three Jandy Valve diverter splines) in order to keep from re-plumbing! See my thread:
Valve Actuator Mounting SOS, for detailed information. That was scary!
....
So in your post ref: 1, "There is no difference in lighting capabilities between the i10P and the i10PS (this will be re-confirmed on Friday). The only difference between the two, is that the i10PS logic "thinks" that you have a Spa. This is what the +3 option is. It's not a big deal BUT it "might" bug you to see a Pool/Spa intake valve and Pool/Spa return valve feature(s) in the programming and the "2 pools" (Pool and Spa) feature in the POOL(s) tab."
I can still use the pool/sap return feature - I just don't need the Pool/Spa intake. Not sure what the "2 pool" (pool and Spa) feature is in the Pool(s) tab?
If you are seriously toying with the idea of exchanging the "
PS" and opting for the "
P" instead, I can send you some screenshots (posting) of the differences. Also, I think that it might be helpful to also "wipe" my system (don't worry, I'll have an updated configuration file that I can reload after this experiment), and go through the setup wizard and take some photos of the touchscreen to ascertain if its possible to NOT use the spa configuration during setup. I just can't remember that detail in the steps of the wizard.
Just let me know if you want to at least consider that option of exchange first, before I go through all of that. If you do, then I will
. If you are considering it, maybe give R*** a call over at PolyTec and see if he will entertain the idea of an exchange (that would be super important). He seems to be pretty cool and "customer service oriented".
Let me know if I can assist John and I certainly will. Sorry for the "wordy" response.
r.
. I want a guided tour of the Moorpark facility.