zaphod Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I know from past threads that pool automation is one area where C4 doesn't seem to do very well. Has that changed at all? If not, what about the automation products from the pool equipment manufacturers - anyone have any advice on those products such as the AquaLink controllers? Do they allow you to control pump, heater and salt chlorinator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstafford388 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 We have done several pentair integrations and control4 does pretty well. You can control everything except salt. This includes pumps, heaters and anything on any of the pool panels auxiliaries including lights, fire bowls, water features, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 What's the ballpark cost for automation over and above the equipment like pumps, filters, salt cholorinator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstafford388 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 For pentair you need an integration module which is $300-$400 i think. It's actually a pentair part so you get it from your pool company. You also have to have an intellitouch panel. Once you have that stuff you can control everything except the salt cholorinator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 My stuff, at least my heater/pump controller and cholorine generator are both Jandy (which has been bough by Zodiac) so I don't know that I could use the Pentair stuff unless I replace those components. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekohn00 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 What's the ballpark cost for automation over and above the equipment like pumps, filters, salt cholorinatorAfter 3 years of looking at the pool, I just ordered the parts to connect to my intellitouch. The pentair kit was about $350. It lets me connect wireless from the intellitouch cabinet to my home switch. This is truly a geek project for me. I get to control lights and temp, but do wish I could access the salt level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstafford388 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Jandy integrates as well, although it's been a few years since i've done one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 It would be nice to have the system send you an email when the salt level is below 2.7ppm or whatever is considered the lower range. You rarely have to worry about this so I almost never look at it. While we are on the topic of pools has anyone looked at using passive solar heaters - either the attic heat exchangers or the systems that are essentially a bunch of black pipes that you put on your roof or wherever. It might almost make sense to have a system that combined these two methods since if you are going to pump the water up to your attic you may as well go a few more feet to your roof. Or is there some other sort of heat exchanger that takes advantage of the fact that all summer I am running an A/C to cool my house and a heater to heat my pool. Move the heat from house to pool and everyone is happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 With Jandy it looks like you need the AquaLink Z4 or a few other similar products. This seems to list at around $800 but you can find it on Amazon for $500. Then it looks like you can buy remote controls, use your iPhone or, presumably, integrate into C4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanmark Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Interesting. I have the latest Zodiac/Jandy iAqualink firmware and control everything via WiFi and the iAqualink app. C4 integration would be nice. What's involved in making that happen - is it just a driver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstafford388 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 No you need an integration module so you can use RS-232. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanmark Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 No you need an integration module so you can use RS-232.Thanks avleadtech. I was hoping (wishfully), that since the iAqualink provides two-way IP control, that it would just be a C4 IP driver. Sounds like that doesn't exist, but am I right in thinking that it would be possible - if someone were to create a driver? If serial control is the only option, is this the integration module you're referring to: http://www.amazon.com/Zodiac-7620-Automation-Interface-Replacement/dp/B0039QEOBS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poisenoire Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 urban, That's it. It works fine, though it looks like it came straight out of the design labs of 1972. I have one on an RS-8 and connect to it via one of the globalcache flex wireless units. That way it's out of sight in the garage and no worries with some of the grounding / lightning issues I read about. It works well - I can control all that was written about above just fine. Would be nice to alert on things like salt, but our main purpose is the ability to turn on the lights, water features, spa, etc... and for that my family loves it. PS - I put off buying this part for several years as well - just couldn't get over the price. If you look on ebay they come up from time to time. I think I paid around $150 for mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 @poisenoire - What unit did you get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poisenoire Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Zaphod, The one urbanmark linked to above. Exact same unit for my Jandy RS-8 controller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 really hoping control4 puts out an updated pool proxy in the near future, i spoke with Jandy a year ago...their interface already has the capabilities for us to access the LED colors..people always asking me about this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poisenoire Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 hah - yeah. upgrading the proxy and / or c4 software: likely affordable or free upgrading my traditional pool light to equivalent LED power...expensive retrofit. haven't looked at those in a while, though, so maybe they have a plug-and-play solution now for those of us with traditional lighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawkyns Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I have the pentair system with the integration to c4.it is OK, but it is easier to pull the app up on the iphone, ipad or desktop than try to get things working in the c4 system. The real problem is the programming, the c4 driver is a serial driver, and it wont let you hide relays. so to use my system as an example, I have relays which control four different pumps, six different valves and two lights. to program this in the pentair system, you have to specify which relay controls which circuit, and then use feature circuits to get it all to work together. so to clean, I have the pool relay on, the valve which switches water flow to the cleaning system on and the heat relay on. this is all done with one button on the pentair control using a macro command which sets each of the relays to the appropriate position. using the pentair interface, these feature circuits (macros) are listed as items 41 to 49, and there is no way to change them, so to access them on c4, you have to scroll down 5 or so pages of options which are not used and which cannot be hidden to be able to use the macro button. for simple things like heat on, off, pool on and off, and temp control it works fine. but I could not ealy tell it to turn on the lights, clean the pool, or have the air blowers turn on for the spa. if C4 would just provide a simple way to hide unused items on the driver, it would be perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnGordon Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 This is what you need for the Jandy to integrate with Control4. We've been using it on our own system for almost a year and a half. http://www.poolsupplyworld.com/Jandy-7620-Serial-Adapter-Interface-with-Home-Automation/7620.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wappinghigh Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Ok. So now 2.6 is out with all the advertised pool control, where are we at with Controlling the Jandi iAqualink? Thanks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnGordon Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 I believe that's one of the supported pool platforms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wappinghigh Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 ^ so this works now? There is a driver right now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnGordon Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I'm 90% sure. I don't have 2.6 on my desktop (only on my laptop) so I can't check right now. The info should be in the 2.6 release notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullseye Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Is there anything new for the pentair integration?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viperman Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I have an older Jandy system without aqualink. What Jandy model would I need. I have a controller by the pool as well as one inside. I was looking on ebay and the RS8 was like $350. Could I get by with one, or would I need more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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