Spa Is Spilling Over Into Pool When In Spa Mode

[tankcj]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post and I am a relatively new pool owner. Here is my problem.

When in spa mode, the spa is pouring over the spill way into the pool. I have the JVA 2440 actuators and I can rotate the valve by flipping the small toggle switch but ONLY when the equipment is off. Then I can turn the spa on and everything works as expected. But if I turn the spa off, the spa will drain into the pool and I have to flip the toggle back to the original position. I see the same results if I use the Aqualink control in the house or turn the spa on at the service panel. I'm not sure if the JVA is bad since it will rotate but it doesn't appear to rotate automatically. Does this sound like something is wrong with the electronics in the JVA as opposed to the Aqualink controller? I'm trying get some certainty that this is the problem before I pay ~$100 for a new JVA.

I did find another thread on this but the person had inadvertently turned his valve off.

Thanks in advance!

[Pool Clown]

Sounds like the switch is in the wrong place. Not turned off, but wrong orientation. Try flipping it to the other side.

[tankcj]

Sounds like the switch is in the wrong place. Not turned off, but wrong orientation. Try flipping it to the other side.

yeah I did flip the switch to get it to work but like I said, in my post, I then have to flip the switch back or when all of the equipment is off, the spa will drain down into the pool. Normally, when I turn the spa on, the JVAs do there thing correctly and when the spa is off, the JVAs return to the non spa (pool) mode. It just puzzled me that they weren't working automatically but were working if I flip the switch manually.

[Pool Clown]

"When in spa mode, the spa is pouring over the spill way into the pool."

"Then I can turn the spa on and everything works as expected. "

You can see why what your explaining is confusing.

You must first determine where these four major pipes are.

Spa suction

Pool suction

Spa return

Pool return

When you are in pool mode, the pump should be taking(suction) water from the pool and returning it to the pool. This is where the automation will try to default to when the pump turns off, or when you put it into service mode. Place the system into service mode and watch where the valve handles turn to. They should both point toward the pool side. Now while still in service, push the spa mode button (on the right side) and confirm that both handles are turning, pointing to spa.

If this does happen, then the actuators should be in the correct orientation. Now switch back to "auto" and the handles should go back to pool. If they don't , the system may be in the middle of a scheduled spa run time, or the spa button was pushed before we began. You should check programs for both pool AND spa to determine this. Typically there wont be a program for spa, but it is possible.

If both actuators turn when you are moving their respective toggle switches, they are likely OK. If only one actuator turns when placing it in "spa" the problem is a software/firmware issue within the automation. you may have a bug, and need to reset, clear memory, or worst case change the chip.

Does this make sense???

[tankcj]

"When in spa mode, the spa is pouring over the spill way into the pool."

"Then I can turn the spa on and everything works as expected. "

You can see why what your explaining is confusing.

You must first determine where these four major pipes are.

Spa suction

Pool suction

Spa return

Pool return

When you are in pool mode, the pump should be taking(suction) water from the pool and returning it to the pool. This is where the automation will try to default to when the pump turns off, or when you put it into service mode. Place the system into service mode and watch where the valve handles turn to. They should both point toward the pool side. Now while still in service, push the spa mode button (on the right side) and confirm that both handles are turning, pointing to spa.

If this does happen, then the actuators should be in the correct orientation. Now switch back to "auto" and the handles should go back to pool. If they don't , the system may be in the middle of a scheduled spa run time, or the spa button was pushed before we began. You should check programs for both pool AND spa to determine this. Typically there wont be a program for spa, but it is possible.

If both actuators turn when you are moving their respective toggle switches, they are likely OK. If only one actuator turns when placing it in "spa" the problem is a software/firmware issue within the automation. you may have a bug, and need to reset, clear memory, or worst case change the chip.

Does this make sense???

Yes, everything makes sense. Sorry for the confusion. Your last sentence where you say "If only one actuator turns when placing it in "spa" the problem is a software/firmware issue within the automation. you may have a bug, and need to reset, clear memory, or worst case change the chip" Appears to be what I am seeing. The weird thing is that the JVA will only move using the toggle switch if the equipment is off (no program running). If I flip the toggle while the pump is on (in spa or pool mode) nothing happens but the other JVA will respond when I flip the toggle regardless of whether the equipment is on. Just seems strange. I did buy a new JVA to try. Worst case is that I will have a spare!

[Pool Clown]

Just to be sure, you are trying to turn on the spa from the panel in the house and not from the panel out at the pump(s)? If you are outside, there are 4 positions to that button: pool mode, spa mode, spa fill, spa drain. If you are doing everything right, clear the memory and reset (this is done at the indoor panel), this will require you to re-assign labels and programs (starting from scratch). Lets hope that clears the actuator problem.

[tankcj]

Will do. Thanks for your assistance. I'll post up what I find.

[vtwinbarblaster]

There is a spillway option during the initial first time setup of the aqualink that the installer or builder determines whether or not it needs to be "on" or "off" this option can only be activated via the dip switch on the motherboard (dip is 1 1/2 inches long by 1/2 wide approx. it is red in color,with 8 white,tiny little slide switches and mounts on main circuit board on outdoor control box where you can bypass indoor controler ) during initial set up one of the steps asks whether or not you want spillway "on" or "off" then installer verifies the dip switch position based on his assesment of the pool/spa plumbing schematic, it may be that your pool needed to have spillway "on" to ensure that spa has circulation when pool mode is on, which would explain why when equipment is off the jva toggle switch will operate jva, but when pump is on that jva toggle will not allow jva to turn, why?? if dip is set to "on" for spillway the main board considers that to be important enough to not allow jva to be manualy operated while pump is on, a counter measure , locking out jva toggle , spillway "on" trumps jva toggle switch ,,maybe homeowner wanted spillway on, purely for the effect, etc,etc. sure, there are ways to program spa to isolate itself from pool an hour or two daily via indoor control ensuring it gets proper filtration, but then your looking at everyday activating jvas,and auto shut off of pump when jvas need to turn, why do that when you can opt for spillway "on" combining pool and spa , as part of daily pool filtration schedule you programed on indoor controler , i think it is set up this way, as i am almost certain that you still have proper function when selecting "spa on" button on indoor controller ,then to go out to pool equipment area and be able to see jvas turn isolating spa from pool, then back inside to turn spa off , then back outside to watch jvas turn to isolate pool from spa, but one jva will will stop turning at the middle point due to spillway "on" this is the return jva,,middle position means water goes to both pool and spa which means spa fills then goes over spillway back into pool, but if you are manually toggling return jva ,while equipment off you will be able to make the full turn of jva.,and not be able to do anything by toggling it when pump is on, your logic wanted to see a mirror like jva position when watching them turn point a to point b but when you went point b to point a one jva stopped in the middle while the other kept turning, i think it tricked your eyes and brain into at one point seeing them turn and stop together,but when reversed you noticed one stopped before the other.can you see where im going with this? but if spillway "off" was choosen they would both turn in a mirror like pattern,see? 180' each spillway "off" "vs" 180' for one jva and only 90' for the other spillway 'on'

[vtwinbarblaster]

There is a spillway option during the initial first time setup of the aqualink that the installer or builder determines whether or not it needs to be "on" or "off" this option can only be activated via the dip switch on the motherboard (dip is 1 1/2 inches long by 1/2 wide approx. it is red in color,with 8 white,tiny little slide switches and mounts on main circuit board on outdoor control box where you can bypass indoor controler ) during initial set up one of the steps asks whether or not you want spillway "on" or "off" then installer verifies the dip switch position based on his assesment of the pool/spa plumbing schematic, it may be that your pool needed to have spillway "on" to ensure that spa has circulation when pool mode is on, which would explain why when equipment is off the jva toggle switch will operate jva, but when pump is on that jva toggle will not allow jva to turn, why?? if dip is set to "on" for spillway the main board considers that to be important enough to not allow jva to be manualy operated while pump is on, a counter measure , locking out jva toggle , spillway "on" trumps jva toggle switch ,,maybe homeowner wanted spillway on, purely for the effect, etc,etc. sure, there are ways to program spa to isolate itself from pool an hour or two daily via indoor control ensuring it gets proper filtration, but then your looking at everyday activating jvas,and auto shut off of pump when jvas need to turn, why do that when you can opt for spillway "on" combining pool and spa , as part of daily pool filtration schedule you programed on indoor controler , i think it is set up this way, as i am almost certain that you still have proper function when selecting "spa on" button on indoor controller ,then to go out to pool equipment area and be able to see jvas turn isolating spa from pool, then back inside to turn spa off , then back outside to watch jvas turn to isolate pool from spa, but one jva will will stop turning at the middle point due to spillway "on" this is the return jva,,middle position means water goes to both pool and spa which means spa fills then goes over spillway back into pool, but if you are manually toggling return jva ,while equipment off you will be able to make the full turn of jva.,and not be able to do anything by toggling it when pump is on, your logic wanted to see a mirror like jva position when watching them turn point a to point b but when you went point b to point a one jva stopped in the middle while the other kept turning, i think it tricked your eyes and brain into at one point seeing them turn and stop together,but when reversed you noticed one stopped before the other.can you see where im going with this? but if spillway "off" was choosen they would both turn in a mirror like pattern,see? 180' each spillway "off" "vs" 180' for one jva and only 90' for the other spillway 'on'