Ideas to adding a simple remote for family and friends to control spa and lights

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tomas21

tomas21

Gold Supporter
Jan 24, 2020
231
California
Pool Size
29000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I have the intellicenter which can be complicated for family and friends...

Curious what others have done to help make controlling spa and lights easy when family and friends are using the pool with an intellicenter setup?

Was looking at adding something like the Pentair Quick Touch II Remote (4 buttons that could control; Spa, spa light, pool light) or get creative with iPad Mini or iPhone with waterproof case and some dumbed down interface to control the same?
 
I replied to your DM, but for others looking at the same question, that remote you mention is for the older Pentair systems, This is the one that works with the newer Intellicenter.

www.poolsupply4less.com

Pentair Intellicenter Wireless Remote W/ Charging Cradle 522036 | PoolSupply4Less

Pentair Intellicenter Wireless Remote W/ Charging Cradle 522036 will bring the features of your automation system inside your home for easy adjusting. Free shipping.
www.poolsupply4less.com

As you can see, it is a bit more money, which is why many would chose a dedicated tablet, or phone with the apps needed. The Penntair app is pretty simple, maybe not as simple as say a four button remote, but even my parents can use it and they struggle with just about everything digital haha!

I use an ipad mini, in a waterproof case and have everything for the "backyard control" loaded on it. The Pentair app, home audio, video steaming, and my smart home platform. Really makes it easy for everyone to be "in control" if I want them to be. This is my device (next to my old test kit)

IMG_5211.jpg
 
I'm having the same conundrum as the OP, and was going to try a similar route as others on the thread: have a simple dedicated old phone just for running the intellicenter app. But, I find that the app continually loses connection and I have to re-login frequently. Even local connections seems to drop and I have to manually back out to re-connect locally. This process can be slow and cumbersome, and it's hard explaining the troubleshooting to guests. So, is there some way you are keeping the intellicenter app "alive" even when the phone is sitting idle, or is this just something you live with? Or you don't have that problem at all and it's just me!?

I was going to just go with something like this:
www.poolsupply4less.com

Pentair SpaCommand Spa-Side Remote Control 521178 - PolSupply4Less

The 521178 SpaCommand spa-side remote also supports IntelliFlo pump speed and flow control. The SpaCommand can control ten functions from the spa location. Comes with a 150 ft. cord.
www.poolsupply4less.com
Since it'll give a lot of functionality and can be mounted spa-side. But, it's pretty old and I'm not sure Pentair even really supports it any more.
 
Last edited:
I've had my old phone setup for over a year and I have had no problems whatsoever with it losing connection. I have never had to log back in to my Intellicenter app on my poolside phone.

I did set mine up with the AutoConnect Local option.

Can I have another phrase that sounds more first world problems-ish? :laughblue:

--Jeff
 
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DGREENB said:
was going to just go with something like this:
www.poolsupply4less.com

Pentair SpaCommand Spa-Side Remote Control 521178 - PolSupply4Less

The 521178 SpaCommand spa-side remote also supports IntelliFlo pump speed and flow control. The SpaCommand can control ten functions from the spa location. Comes with a 150 ft. cord.
www.poolsupply4less.com
Click to expand...
This thread may help others looking for remote options, but if you are like the OP or others with the Intellicenter, this one is not compatible either.
Compatible with EasyTouch and IntelliTouch.

Many here do have the Easy Touch or IntellinTouch so this would work for you, but make sure to check any listings to make sure a Pentair remote is compatible with your automation.

As far as staying connected? My ipad mini has never had the issue. All the apps we have loaded on it for backyard control all seem to work fine as well. Try "AutoConnect Local" as @Turbo1Ton mentioned, see if that helps.
 
Too bad you couldn’t have user profiles that you could hide certain features vs see all that the single acct sets up
 

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I always found for us that nothing app driven works for my wife. She is just not interested in anything on the phone other than talking and texting, and even that, she has to be in the mood. Computer app, forget that. As it currently sits, she could not turn anything off or on with the pool.

I get around home automation for her mostly with Alexa, as she can relate to telling the lady what she wants done. Has it's limits, but best I can provide that she will use. I have seen Alexa and Screenlogic are buddies, so when the time comes, I'm going to eye what that offers in reality.
 
I did end up getting the SpaCommand, and it's working pretty well. The hard part is deciding what to assign to all the buttons. I made a spa pre-heat feature (switch to spa-mode and turn on the heater, but don't run the pump at full speed) but I can't seem to make it one of the buttons. Admittedly, I haven't debugged that issue too much yet, though.
 
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