Suspect Problem W/ Pentair Easytouch Or Intellichlor Ic40

[jkusmier]

16x32 rectangular, 16,500 Gal inground vinyl-lined pool installed 9/2007. Have all Pentair equipment: EasyTouch, SuperFlo 1.5Hp, Sand Dollar SD80, IntelliChlor IC40, MasterTemp 400 BTU.

No problems whatsoever last year, used test kits describe below, FC was steady at 5-7ppm w/CYA at 60ppm and water was clear and stable all season long. Opened 2 weeks ago. Pool bottom is clean and water is crystal clear. Per both EasyTouch chlorinator diagnostic and AquaChek white/salt test strips, salt is 3900ppm. Per Taylor K-2006 test kit, FC is 1.2 (tested twice), CC is 0, pH is 7.8, TA is 120, CH is 150 and CYA is 60.

Problems:

Set IntelliChlor to 15% output two weeks ago once I'd vacuumed debris to waste and shocked 3 times (once w/ lithium, and twice w/ 12% liquid chlorine per the pool calculator). Why is FC only 1.2 tonight? At 15% output last year, FC was usually 5-6ppm.

Moreover, output status LED's on IC40 do not blink (as they should) when output per EasyTouch is not set to a multiple of 20 (e.g. blinked last year when set to 15%, not blinking now). In fact, the output status LED's don't light up at all when adjusting output via the EasyTouch. They do light up when I press the "More" output button on the IC40 unit itself. But I know that IC40 output is controlled by the EasyTouch, and not the IC40 unit itself.

Ran self-diagnostic test on Easy Touch, result was fail, code 146.

I suspect I have a problem w/ my IC40 cell or the motherboard on my EasyTouch, given the 1) low FC level, 2) lack of flashing status LED's on the IC40, 3) lack of any LED indication on the IC40 unless I manually press the "More" button on the IC40 unit itself, and 4) self diagnostic fail code 146.

Added liquid chlorine to raise FC, will continue to do so as necessary to maintain FC residual until problem is solved.

Would appreciate any thoughts/advice - just submitted above to Pentair via online form and e-mail to rep I talked to last year.

[Pool Clown]

I don't think the unit is on. No percent lights means not set to make Cl. The fact that there is no "flashing percent" means no com between IC 40 and easy touch. Easy check: check to see if com wire is still hooked up (some weekly service guys like to unplug them). Pentair rep should be able to diag. if you can get a good one (I always speak with James)

[jkusmier]

I don't think the unit is on. No percent lights means not set to make Cl. The fact that there is no "flashing percent" means no com between IC 40 and easy touch. Easy check: check to see if com wire is still hooked up (some weekly service guys like to unplug them). Pentair rep should be able to diag. if you can get a good one (I always speak with James)

The percent lights on the IC40 unit (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100) were operating last night - but they didn't blink when the output setting on the EasyTouch differed from these numbers, e.g. when set at 15% on the EasyTouch the 20% light on the IC40 normally blinks, same for 30% on ET and the 40% light on the IC40, etc. However, I forgot to mention that I never saw the cell light lit on the IC40 on last night.

Checked the com cable this morning - seems like a poor design. Anyway, I uncoupled and recoupled it a few times. The cell light came a bit later, but the percent lights still don't blink when I set output to a different number on the EasyTouch. I did notice tiny bubbles in the pool and on the wall around the returns earlier today, and more when I dove in a short while ago - this must be hydrogen gas, one of the products of the IntelliChlor reaction. Also, shocked before posting last night, measured FC at 5.5 this morning. Just measured FC at 6.6 a few mins ago, after setting output on the IC40 itself to 40% this afternoon.

Question: assuming fault is in the EasyTouch - will the IC40 still generate CL if I adjust the levels on the IC40 unit itself? I'm guessing the IC40 is now working, just not communicating w/ the EasyTouch, given the previous paragraph. I'll test FC again tomorrow AM.

Sent e-mails to Pentair (through website) and to Pentair tech I spoke to last year (directly). All equipment is over a year old, wonder if Pentair will make good under these circumstances.

[Pool Clown]

I probably should have told you NOT to disconnect or connect the 4 wire com cable while unit is powered. Turn the breaker off and disconnect the cable and use the unit without the easy touch connected, and see if the IC40 will work properly. This will tell you if it's the IC40 or the easy touch. Percent led's will not blink with the cable disconnected.

[jkusmier]

I probably should have told you NOT to disconnect or connect the 4 wire com cable while unit is powered. Turn the breaker off and disconnect the cable and use the unit without the easy touch connected, and see if the IC40 will work properly. This will tell you if it's the IC40 or the easy touch. Percent led's will not blink with the cable disconnected.

I should have read the manual - hopefully no damage done, as the unit is still operating (power, cell, life and flow lights all green, 20% output green, and hydrogen bubbles coming from the returns). I'm confused by your post - you mean open the panel and disconnect all but the power, or try the cell w/ the com cable disconnected? Because the com cable also supplies power to the unit.

I ran another self test on the Easy Touch today and got fail error 6, which is sensor/relay/valves - no problem here, since I don't have actuated valves in my setup. Output lights on unit still won't blink as they should.

Hopefully will get a call from a Pentair tech tomorrow.

Thanks!

[Pool Clown]

Disconnect the com cable (four wires with a red buss). Open the x former box for the intellichlor (small shoe box) disconnect at that end (the box). It doesn't need that wire for power. Percent output led's will not flash (normal).

[jkusmier]

That's what I thought - thanks! I've decided I'm not going to bother w/ the com connections until I talk to a Pentair rep - if I don't get a call by noon tomorrow, I'm going to call them.

Just tested, everything's more or less in order:

FC 8.0

pH 7.6

TA 150

CH 150

CYA 50

Noticed that my cell light seems to be off alot - it comes on, and I do see hydrogen gas bubbles coming from the returns when the cell light is on, but I don't recall seeing it off so often last season. Perhaps it's mere coincidence/timing, but it seems as if the cell light is off every other time I look at it - my cleaning mode is currently set for 3 hours. Just checked it again, on and I see bubbles.

Salt light started blinking today - and, indeed, salt measured 4040 per Aquachek a few mins ago. We're expecting heavy rain tomorrow PM/Wed AM (got all of 8 inches on Memorial Day) so I'm waiting to see if the weather will deliver and spare my water bill. If not, I'll drain 2-3 inches to waste and refill. I thought I added a tad too much salt (140 lbs) after draining the pool level back twice on Memorial Day.

Wondering if the cell light phenomenon is related to a failing unit. Percent lights still not blinking when unit isn't set to a multiple of 20.

Thanks for your input, Pool Clown - please keep it coming as I work through this.

[jkusmier]

Good news! Spoke w/ Pentair rep today. Although warranty for individual equipment components is 1 year, they automatically extend the equipment warranty to 3 years if you purchased 3 or more Pentair components at the same time.

Also, he assigned my case to a very, very good local builder. Promptly called them and left a message - their maintenance guy called me back within 15 mins, took all my info. He's never seen the problem I'm describing, but I'm confident I'll get a fix. Meanwhile, he explained that if I disable the IntelliChlor in the Settings menu on the Easy Touch, I can then control output via the IC40 itself.

Once the problem is diagnosed I'll report back in case any other IntelliChlor owners have a similar problem.

[jkusmier]

No diagnosis to report, but problem is solved. Local Pentair service rep came by while I was at work today and replaced both the EasyTouch motherboard and the IntelliChlor board. I'm guessing the boards would have cost me $400-500 had they not been under warranty. Noticed that the newest firmware offers all sorts of automated light features (party, caribbean romance, etc.) that can be used for SAm, IntelliBright, FIBERworks/photon generators (e.g. PG2000) and other laminars. Not sure when I'll be willing/have the time to program the circuits to play w/ those, but Pentair delivered. Boards have freshest firmware, dated June 22, if I recall.

Looking forward to maintaining FC between 5-9% (CYA = 60) without having to adjust anything besides my lounger...

[Pool Clown]

Since our last exchange, I have learned of another little bump the intellichlor has had. I won't go into it except that, It may be why you got a IC power center board AND a motherboard. I will tell you that Pentair has responded to this more aggressively than I have ever seen. They have sent replacements very fast, 2 to 3 days. Pentair shipped me double of what i requested just so I would have stock on hand for impending warr.

Don't forget to turn off power to the intellichlor before you unplug the cell.

[jkusmier]

Since our last exchange, I have learned of another little bump the intellichlor has had. I won't go into it...

Please do, I'm curious.

[Laker4ever]

My unit had a solid red pwr LED and i suspected something is wrong with it. My pool chlorine level was low and pool was becoming green on sides and every time i would open the DE filter the grids were full of algae.

So i took a sample of the water to Leslie, and they told me i have 0 chlorine. The unit had all LEDs green except the power that was red. When i first called Pentair, the rep told me there is no problem if the CELL led is green.

This time, i called the Pentair, and a nice lady asked me for the chemistry of the water and told me that they would sent a tech to check. 2 days after and service company came in and swapped the unit , no question asked with a new unit. Now ALL leds are green. I had to add 200 lbs of salt and Leslie and the service company found my salt to be at 2000ppm while the old faulty IC-40 was claiming Salt was good.

I had the cell for 2.5 years.

Two thumbs up for Pentair, i will sure recommend them to everyone i know and buy my next cell from them.

=====================================================================

40x20 30,000 gal plaster pool, 11 Fafco solar panels with Goldline 35 control, IC-40 salt gen, pentair 60sqft DE filter 1.5 HP pump.

[jkusmier]

I had the cell for 2.5 years.

Yeah, I was happily surprised when I heard the 1-yr warranty was automatically extended to 3 if you purchased 3 or more Pentair products at the same time.