As I said in my last post, I have been digging into my various pool controls, and the pool automation market in general.
I have also been chatting with neighbors and pool maintenance folks about their experience and expectations for pool automation systems. What I have discovered is that many pool owners don’t have any real automation (just a simple timer), and those who do have no idea about the features or functionality. They just know they have an app on their phone that can turn on/off certain things on their pool.
I have also discovered that the pool automation (and equipment) vendors have mostly consolidated into just a handful; the leading vendors are Zodiac/Jandy (now rebranding under the Fluidra name), Pentair and Hayward. There are smaller, specialty vendors out there that have more limited product lines (like AutoPilot salt chlorine generators), but they don’t (yet) have the network or reach of the larger vendors listed above.
If you are interested in a pool automation system, then you are most likely going to be sold one from one of the 3 major vendors.
I will have more to say about these vendors in future blog posts, as well as a breakdown of their systems, components and controls. I am getting quite familiar with their products, particularly Jandy.
Over the last few weeks I have decided to focus on the automated pool filling applications, which I believe is woefully underserved (and easily automated). On the high end of the segment, you have products like the Jandy Levelor II, which I have installed at our vacation rental home. I installed it because this is an infinity edge pool, and keeping the water level in the overflow basin at the correct level is one of the critical operating aspects for these designs.
This system is pricey; if memory serves, I believe it cost almost $1000 at the time, but I had the options of the longer sensor probes and a longer wire length, which added to the cost.
I also dug into this because I have an issue with the Jandy Levelor. When the fill valve kicks off, it does so very quickly because it is a standard (24v AC) solenoid valve. That shut off sends a “hammer” on the upstream water pipes, and it is (currently) connected to my house pipes, so we have a banging noise in the one side of the house. This is a daily thing when the basin pump kicks on, causing the water filler to kick on.
I tried re-routing the pipes, but it did not alleviate the problem, so I went looking for alternatives, and I think I found one. I found a “slow close” valve, which is actually a motorized valve rather than a solenoid. I closes over a 4-5 second timeframe, and I am going to install this valve as soon as we are back at our vacation rental home.
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