Wind Sensor?

[drw4013]

Hello,

I'm looking for some way to shut off my pool pump during high wind. We get high winds frequently during the afternoon, and my waterfall is blowing saltwater all over my concrete coping and destroying it. Currently I have my pump timed to shut off early in the afternoon to avoid this, but my pool guy is telling me that now I'm not running the pump enough to create chlorine. Ideally I would liket o leave the pump on all day and afternoon, and just have it shut off if the winds kick up, then turn back on when they die down.

Is there any sort of wind sensor that will turn the pump on/off? I haven't been able to find anything. I'm on a Pentair system.

Thanks.

 

[Bama Rambler]

I don't know what it's worth to you, but they make Wind Speed Alarms with external relay outputs that you could tie into your automation system to tell it to stop the pump. They run $500 and above.

 

[cfherrman]

Turn off the waterfall, also that will cut down on rising ph

 

[drw4013]

I don't know what it's worth to you, but they make Wind Speed Alarms with external relay outputs that you could tie into your automation system to tell it to stop the pump. They run $500 and above.

Thanks for the info...that sounds encouraging. How would I handle turning the pump back on after the wind dies down? Du you know of anyone who has a similar setup?

 

[Bama Rambler]

Which system do you have?
Which pump do you have?

If the automation system can't be programmed to respond to a event input and you're not communicating with the pump through RS-485 then you could use an interposing relay to cut power to the pump during the wind event and it would restart when the alarm turned off as long as the pump was in the programmed run time.

 

[drw4013]

Which system do you have?
Which pump do you have?

If the automation system can't be programmed to respond to a event input and you're not communicating with the pump through RS-485 then you could use an interposing relay to cut power to the pump during the wind event and it would restart when the alarm turned off as long as the pump was in the programmed run time.

I have a Pentair system with an IntelliFlo VS pump.

 

[JamesW]

Pentair's system can accommodate some commands from other automation providers, like Amazon Alexa.

There might be a way to tell alexa or other compatible software to turn off the waterfall during wind events from weather reports or an on-site anemometer.

Check with Pentair for options.

 

[drw4013]

I have already contacted Pentair pool support and their response was basically "we don't offer this product". When I clarified that I wasn't looking for the product, just someone who might be able to help with how it would connect to my Pentair system, they said they couldn't assist with that.

I checked with a few pool companies in my area (Temecula) but none of them had done anything simiar before.

 

[drw4013]

Response from a local company: "I've talked to a number of technicians and guys at the warehouse and there's no way to hook up a wind sensor to pentair variable speed pump".

 

[JamesW]

Maybe you could use the solar feature to control the pump and turn it off or to control a valve to divert flow from the fountain to a regular return.

Solar relies on a solar temperature sensor that changes resistance based on the temperature of the sensor.

By using a relay triggered by the wind sensor, the solar feature can be activated by using resistors to simulate a lower or higher temperature reading.

The pump can be assigned to the solar circuit and be told what to do while on "Solar". I'm not sure if it can be told to turn off or go to zero speed.

If pump control doesn't work, there's a solar valve connection that can control a valve that can shut off water to the feature and divert it to something else.

One way to do the resistors to trigger the temperature is to put the resistors in parallel.

The 15k ohm resistor would always be in the circuit and you would use a single pole single throw relay and add a 7.5k ohm resistor in parallel.

A 15k ohm resistor and a 7.5k ohm resistor in parallel will read as 5k ohm.

You would need to rig a way to switch a simple single pole single throw relay on or off to put the 7.5k ohm relay in parallel with the 15k ohm resistor or take it out.

The relay should hold for a specific amount of time so that you don't get rapid on/off cycles.

 

[drw4013]

I'm not familiar enough with the hardware or software to attempt it myself. Is there a way on this forum to contact someone in my area who might be able to assist?

 

[JamesW]

You probably need an electrician or home automation contractor.

Do you think that the valve will do what you want?

You can use the solar trigger to change the pump speed and change a valve to divert flow to the regular return until the wind event is over.

Pentair needs to design in several remote inputs and special logic to respond to the inputs as instructed.

 

[drw4013]

Having zero luck finding anyone local that can do this for me. Is there somewhere on this board to get in touch with local experts/contractors?

 

[JamesW]

Check with home automation companies.

 

[PoolGate]

Why is your waterfall on when the pool is not in use? Also I never heard of pool saltwater damaging coping can you post pics of the damage?

 

[drw4013]

Why is your waterfall on when the pool is not in use? Also I never heard of pool saltwater damaging coping can you post pics of the damage?

It stripped the top coat of the concrete away and exposed the aggregate. This is what it did over the course of a year:

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

There's really no reason to have water flow to the spa the entire time the pump is running. You could probably get away with only running water to the spa manually for 20-30 minutes a day, while you're at home. Your automation should allow you run water to the spa for a set interval.

 

[Dirk]

Here's some thoughts...

Are you overthinking this?

Sorry, I don't have a spa. Does the waterfall need to run for maintenance, or just aesthetics? If maintenance, do that at night (or whenever it's usually calm in your area), and then just run it manually when you want to enjoy its aesthetics. Nothing to buy for that solution, just some reprogramming. My Pentair setup includes a remote that can be used to turn on the pump and/or control a valve. One button operates the vac, so I can turn it on or off at will. That could be your manual control for your waterfall, located inside, so you wouldn't have to visit the pad to turn on your fall.

My home automation system controls certain things in my house and yard based on current weather conditions and/or forecasts, which I could use to turn on my pump or operate a valve, but that's a bit complicated for someone without HA experience. And not all that cheap. Plus, using weather data for automation has its drawbacks, as the data is not always all that accurate, and sometimes just missing for hours or a few days (NOAA, anyway).

Are you going to address the damage? What about replacing that area of concrete with something else, like stone (I guess you'd have to do both sides to match). Instead of addressing the "perpetrator," address the "victim." What about a small shield of some sort to divert the overspray back into the pool? That could be stone, too (though it would have to jut out a ways).

If you just want to replace the concrete (or even if you don't), what about applying something to avert the wear? Some sort of coating? A clear material? Or a decorative material, like tile? Something tougher than concrete (which isn't all that tough when it comes to water damage). My sprinklers' overspray has ruined the surrounding deck's top coat, so this isn't just about salt water. Apparently, it doesn't take much.

Sorry, nothing brilliant to add. I'll keep pondering it...

 

[ajw22]

It stripped the top coat of the concrete away and exposed the aggregate. This is what it did over the course of a year:

The spillover should be tiled. Concrete coping is not waterproof and is eroded by water flow the same way the Grand Canyon was created.

 

[PoolGate]

It stripped the top coat of the concrete away and exposed the aggregate. This is what it did over the course of a year:

I would say the concrete has issues that would have happened with any water. I don't think you could trace this specifically to the "salt"water since saltwater pools simply don't have enough salt in them to damage anything that wouldn't be damaged by fresh water.