Valves-Pentair Actuator Valves or Manual?

[cskuse]

Finalizing another thing in our system before I put in the order and since I have not had any other valve type on a pool system, I need advice!
Using the Intellicenter for our automation on our SWG system that is pool only, with no other water features and no heater (that may be in the future). We will have two main drains and two skimmers. Do I need the Pentair valve actuators or should I go with the manual ball valve? If I go with the actuators, how many do I need? Or if a manual, what type is recommended? I searched for a thread in this, but didn’t find one.
Thank you!

 

[BMerrill]

Go with the Jandy never lube valves.
Pentair valves second choice.
No third choice.

 

[cskuse]

I guess that I am not educated enough on the actuators vs. regular valves to know what I need to know! From what I gather, you still need valves with actuators?

 

[mknauss]

If you have no spa nor any water features, you have no reason to remotely move the valve positions. So you do not need actuators.

 

[ajw22]

Your choice is ball valves or diverter valves.

Jandy, Pentair, Hayward and CMP all make diverter valves that are basically the same.

Then if you have a diverter valve - 2-way or 3-way - you can put an actuator on top of it to automate the valve.

You never want ball valves. Over time they stick and break and are not repairable. They need to be cut out to replace.

Diverter valves are repairable and rebuildable and the housing rarely needs to be cut out.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Do you plan to have a heater? Are you purchasing the actuators separately or do they come bundled with the automation system?

 

[cskuse]

R

Do you plan to have a heater? Are you purchasing the actuators separately or do they come bundled with the automation system?

Right now we will not have a heater, but plan for one in the future if we find we need one. The actuators would be a separate purchase as they didn't come with the package I selected.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

R

Right now we will not have a heater, but plan for one in the future if we find we need one. The actuators would be a separate purchase as they didn't come with the package I selected.

Ok. Then just go with manual Jandy NeverLube valves. Actuators aren’t hard to come by if you need them later.