Recent Feedback
I am having issues with my Pentair Easy Touch with respect to controlling the solar heating system. It didn't work until the end of last season when I had a service tech flash the system to update the firmware. Over the winter, the temperature sensor installed by the panels went bad and I replaced it. Everything seems to work fine now except the system doesn't start up automatically. The temperature sensors seem to be working fine ... and the solar is actuated properly when I turn on the Filter Pump relay (recognizes temperature properly and only turns opens the solar valve when the temp differential is greater than programmed). What am I missing?
Hello, how can I help you today? i'll see what i can do to help out, but the controller systems can be a little tricky to troubleshoot like this, what do you mean when you're saying the system won't start up?
The solar should start up automatically when all the temperature criteria are met ... it does nothing. If I turn on the filter pump relay when the temperature criteria is met, the solar kicks on. If I turn on the filter pump relay when the temperature criteria is not met, the pump runs as it should without engaging the solar valve. When I referred to "system", I ment the solar heating.
ahh, got ya, so basically the pump isn't kicking in when the solar panels are calling for heat, is the pump set up an any type of timer through the system as this will overide the call for heat function from the solar
There is no schedule set for solar ... made sure of that.
okay, but what about the circulation pump itself, is it set up to only run certain times during the day, or to be totally controlled by the solar systems sensors when they call for heat. if the pump is set up on a time of day running cycle, it normally won't override that schedule to run through the solar panels if it's in the off position due to timine
timing
There is only one pump. It is a variable speed unit and is set up to run at different speeds for different applications. It is set to run it's chlorination and sweeping cycles at night ... there are no schedules set during the day.
So it circulates continuously during the day?
No ... it runs the intelliclor in the morning and a higher speed cycle to get the sweeper moving a little later in the morning. The rest of the day, the pump does not run.
ok, i may have to wait until morning to check my diagrams I've got at my office, sorry on the delay , but i should be able to post you some instructions in the morning. How old is the unit, would you happen to have the model and serial off of your box, i may have to check out the programming for the specific chipset.
It's two years old ... I can check on the numbers ... are they on the box somewhere?
yes, normally right inside the door, or on a label outside
I will go look and then post the information ... give me a few minutes.
I could not find the serial number ... it is the Easy Touch with IntelliChlor and 4 relays. The pump is the VS-3050. The panel currently has software rev UOC 2.080 and Bootload UOC 1.010. What else do you need? Should I open up the interior panel to look further for a serial number?
no, that should be fine, i'll see what i can dig up and get back with you in the morning as soon as i find something out. thanks for your patience
Thank you
Any updates?
actually checking on it right now, be right back
okay, just got off the phone with my pentair rep, it turns out it's pretty much what i was thinking. The solar will only engage based on when the pump is running. if the solar sensors call for heat and the pump is NOT running already in a timed cycle, then the sensors themselves will not trigger the pump on, it has to already be programmed to run during the daytime hours when you want the solar panels active. If the pool reaches the set temperature, the panel valves will divert back to the pool, but the pump will continue to run until it has completed its pre-programmed cycle. unfortunately it won't trigger the pump based solely on the sensors themselves. So you're going to need to set your pump up to run each day for whenever you want the panels to heat and you can set it to cycle off whenever you don't have sun on the roof to save circulation time
I will test it today and get back to you on the results.
alrighty, thanks
I verified this same information with technical support yesterday. Thank you for your help on this item. I need to follow up with them more on the programming, as this fact requires that I run the Filter Pump all afternoon, which is how the Chlorinator is run. I was hoping to run the pump at an ultra low speed during the potential heating times, but then the Chlorinator needs a higher speed to be effective. Looks like the Easy Touch is not the best panel for running solar whereas the SunTouch allows the thermostat to trigger the pumps even while off. Not a very effective use of energy.
Experience: Servicing pools and all brands of spas for over 28 years.