Does Intellicenter 521905 require Screenlogic Protocol Adapter?

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QPAndi

QPAndi

In The Industry
Dec 7, 2023
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Hi TFP form foks! I am new to TFP and will jump right into my question,

We have constructed and installed numerous inground pools with Hayward systems. This is our first Pentair build and we are getting conflicting information from internet searches, and even the pentair dealer where we purchased the Intellicenter from. One salesman says yes we need it, the other says no we don't, and none of them can provide an explanation beyond their yes or no response. Does the 521905 require the screenlogic protocol adapter to be able to connect to the homeowners wifi? We get the 'No Ethernet Connection' screen when we start the wifi connection process from the touch screen. I will do my best to respond to any questions, at home for the day and might not be able to respond until the next day when I am back in front of the system. Thank you in advance.

Andi
 
Andi,

ScreenLogic is only used with the old EasyTouch and IntelliTouch system..

The IntelliCenter comes with its own built-in system that replaces ScreenLogic..

With the IntelliCenter, you connect directly to the home network, the Protocol Adapter is not used.

You can either run an Ethernet cable from the IntelliCenter to the home network, or you can use a wireless link.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Welcome to TFP.

The IntelliCenter does not use the Protocol Adapter box. That is only required for EasyTouch Systems.

How do you have the IntelliCenter connected to the home network?
 

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Andi,

I do not have the IntelliCenter, but after reading what Allen posted, I can see why it is confusing.. :scratch:

It appears this 900 MHZ High Power Link can be used by both the new IntelliCenter as well as the old EasyTouch/IntelliTouch systems

When it is used by the older systems, the high power link is connected to the automation by an RS-485 cable. It sends this RS-485 single to the inside antenna, which sends them to the Protocol Adapter which converts the RS-485 signals into Ethernet singles that your home network needs.

When it is used by the new IntelliCenter, the high power link is connected to the Ethernet port inside the automation. This means it is transmitting Ethernet signals to the inside antenna box, so no Protocol adapter is needed. The inside antenna box is connected directly to your home network.

Let's see if Allen agrees... Calling @ajw22

Pretty typical Pentair manuals.. Their goal seems to be "The more confusing, the better"... :mrgreen:

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim is correct.

This area is particularly confusing since the IntelliCenter was originally bundled with an EnGenius Wifi link kit that did use a Wifi connection. The IntelliCenter setup software and the User Manual was written to use the WiFi link. That WiFi link turned out to have issues so Pentair pulled the High Power 900Mhz Wireless Link used on other systems out of their parts bin and said to use that.

What Pentair did not do was update their manuals or provide full instructions for how to get the 900MHZ link working with the IntelliCenter. The IntelliCenter User manual says to refer to the Installation Instructions in P/N 523445 that I attached in post #4.

Those Installation Instructions say how to hook up the hardware but don't go through what to do on the IntelliCenter Outdoor Control Panel. For a new IntelliCenter user you are left in a black hole poking on the outdoor screen.

I have had both the Wifi antenna and the 900MHZ link kit. They are both finicky to get running. After the hardware is all connected it can take a few reboots of the panel before it makes the network connection. And be patient as it can be slow. I have found it does not work, walk away to do something else, and when I return the network connection is up.

Once you get the network connection running and the panel registered with Pentair the connection is solid.

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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Thanks for all the responses.

Tomorrow I will follow Allen's instructions and see where that gets me before I begin asking more questions. I will report back with hopefully good news, but I have a feeling (knowing me) I will complicate things even more and need additional help.

~Andi
 
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It is time to swallow any shed of pride and start this process over with some hand holding. Not sure why pentair has put my brain into full meltdown, but Hayward is easy peasy for me to understand. And I am apologizing ahead of time if things will be repeated by those kind enough to answer.

I am a pentair newbie. This is a newly installed pentair tellicenter 521905 and we are unable to get the telecenter to connect to the internet. The electrician installed the outdoor transceiver enclosure to the panel. Electrician discarded the box but put the contents on a pile. Is this as simple as taking the screenlogic interface wireless link indoor box and just plugging the blue ethernet cord into the home router box? Next question is I see multiple warnings that ID numbers must match, well the yellow number on the indoor link does not match the number on the circuit board on the outside link. The pentair salesmen gave us the impression that pentair is far easier than hayward, more of a plug in and ta da! ugh. Thank you to those who hold my hand through this.

Andi
 
Show us pics of the boxes you have.

Yes, the ID numbers must match on the outdoor and indoor boards of the Wireless Link. Show us what you have.
 
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The indoor box says Screenlogic Interface Wireless Link even though it is used on the IntelliCenter without Screenlogic. (Thank you Pentair for the confusion)

That is a different box then the Screenlogic Protocol Adapter which is not used.
 
You should have this outdoor box plugged into the IntelliCenter RJ45...

screenshot-2022-10-29-143807-jpg.460263


screenshot-2022-10-29-143846-jpg.460264


and this indoor box plugged into the home network

1702055760830.png


And the ID numbers on the boards in the two boxes must match for them to talk to each other.
 

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QPAndi said:
Ended up calling Pentair and discovered that the electrician wired the "egg" wrong. Got it fixed so far, so good, now taking lunch waiting for the firmware update.

Andi
Click to expand...

I will bet he hooked it up using the RS-485 4 wire connection instead of the RJ45 grey Ethernet cable.

Let me know if you need any other help.
 
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Our location is South East of St Louis, MO on the Illinois side. We are weighing out the option of calling today a win, winterize and start fresh in spring when we come back to open. Heater and pump have been operational, manually. I have not tested the lights yet. Closing like this, I am assuming I should disconnect the indoor receiver if we are shutting down the panel for winter?
 
QPAndi said:
Closing like this, I am assuming I should disconnect the indoor receiver if we are shutting down the panel for winter?
Click to expand...

No reason to disconnect the indoor receiver. It will just be another thing you have to remember to connect in the Spring. I did not disconnect my indoor receiver when I closed my pool.
 
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