Any gotchas to replacing the Pentair temp sensor?

[doncaruana]

After a little over 12 years in use, my temp sensor is finally going out. Water was significantly colder than the intellitouch thought! (verified by a pool thermometer). So I just got a couple of well reviews knockoffs from Amazon (too long to wait for oem, 4x the price locally).

Seems like it should be straightforward enough... Turn off pump, shut down power to panel, take old sensor off, put new one on, tighten clamp, thread wire into panel, fire it all up. Right? Or is there a big gotcha in there somewhere?

 

[mknauss]

No gotcha. I put a dab of pool lube on the sealing oring of the sensor.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Don,

I have found that over time, the part of the probe that is inside the pipe can swell..

This makes it a little harder to remove than to install..

Just something to keep in mind if it feels stuck..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[doncaruana]

Don,

I have found that over time, the part of the probe that is inside the pipe can swell..

This makes it a little harder to remove than to install..

Just something to keep in mind if it feels stuck..

Thanks,

Jim R.

ooohhh...good thought. Especially after 12 years and a saltwater pool! I'll be on the lookout for that!

 

[doncaruana]

Sensor replaced - no issues at all getting it out. It was reading 10 degrees higher than my old school pool thermometer! New sensor installed, matches the old thermometer, so all is right in the world now.

But here's the weird part. Before I installed the new sensor, I put my meter on it and set the new probe next to a good thermometer in my office and it was right on the mark.

I decided I wanted to see how the old one fared in the same situation. It was only one degree off! I know it's air vs water but that seems weird to me. Anyone have a theory as to why it would be accurate for the air but not the water?

 

[1poolman1]

Sensor replaced - no issues at all getting it out. It was reading 10 degrees higher than my old school pool thermometer! New sensor installed, matches the old thermometer, so all is right in the world now.

But here's the weird part. Before I installed the new sensor, I put my meter on it and set the new probe next to a good thermometer in my office and it was right on the mark.

I decided I wanted to see how the old one fared in the same situation. It was only one degree off! I know it's air vs water but that seems weird to me. Anyone have a theory as to why it would be accurate for the air but not the water?

Those sensors can get micro cracks (especially if it is installed between the pump and filter). Water will cause issues in the temp reading. The proper salt level in a pool with a SWG will not affect anything in the system.