Pool valve actuator - add to my home automation

[berniedp]

Hi all,

Last year, I integrated my solar pool heater into my home automation system so I could see temperatures and pool heating state. See How I added a Hayward solar pool control to HA via ESPhome

Now, my next project is to add an actuator to the valve to my pool waterfall that I want to control through automation.

This is the valve I intend to buy: actuator and I've seen on youtube how to set it to turn 90°, so I'm one step forward.

I also understood from a bunch of internet searches that I will need a 2 channel relay to make the valve turn in either direction - something like this: 2 channel relay board

That's about as far as I got with this...

How would the 3 wires (from the valve) connect into this board?
I'll then also have to figure out the ESPHome configuration

Anybody have any hints / suggestions?

Thanks a ton in advance,
Bernard.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bernard,

Valve actuators work off of a 24 Volt AC input provided by a relay.. When the relay is off, the 24 VAC goes through the NC contacts and driving the valve one way, and when the relay is on or energized, the 24 VAC goes through the NO contacts and drives the valve the other way.

Here is the basic idea... (Forget about the "off" pin on the drawing..)

img080-1.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Nov 19, 2020

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Jim helped me out with my DIY automation too. Here's a little write up I did:

Low Budget DIY Automation

When we built the pool, I decided against full automation for a variety of reasons including cost, the proprietary nature of available devices, and the fear an expensive system would quickly become obsolete and unsupported. I've seen a few forums members using Raspberry PI and Arduino...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[berniedp]

Valve actuators work off of a 24 Volt AC input provided by a relay.. When the relay is off, the 24 VAC goes through the NC contacts and driving the valve one way, and when the relay is on or energized, the 24 VAC goes through the NO contacts and drives the valve the other way.

Hi @Jimrahbe - thanks so much for sharing!

So, if I got it right, as my valve is just an open/close one (in-line on a single pipe), in your diagram it would be open/close instead pool/spa.

Also, I understand that the actuator is under constant 24V load and:
- it's the contacts inside the actuator that stop the motor from running once it hits the internal CAM switch (if I understood the terminology) on either side
- the relay just triggers the motor to run in either direction
Is that the correct assumption?
If so, I just would need my ESPHome to flip the relay... And that I can figure out!

Re transformer (240 to 24 AC), would this be a suitable one? - I guess the 40W is quite sufficient for the actuator seeing it only pulls .75A

@Rancho Cost-a-Lotta - Thanks for that link - that case looks amazing for the price - may get one of those to replace what I have now (and will be too small to put the new parts in).

Thanks,
Bernard

 

[flynwill]

Also, I understand that the actuator is under constant 24V load and:
- it's the contacts inside the actuator that stop the motor from running once it hits the internal CAM switch (if I understood the terminology) on either side
- the relay just triggers the motor to run in either direction
Is that the correct assumption?

Yep that's how they work. From the factory the cam stops are 180 degrees apart for your typical 3-port valve, but they are easily adjusted to any position you want.

Re transformer (240 to 24 AC), would this be a suitable one? - I guess the 40W is quite sufficient for the actuator seeing it only pulls .75A

Yep that transformer will work fine, assuming you're planning a suitable enclosure for the whole system. I would recommend adding a 0.5 or 1A 250V rated fuse in series with the primary.

 

[berniedp]

Another quick question - the RED & WHITE wire define the rotation direction, I guess - does anybody know which does which?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

It won't matter. Once you get it hooked up you can flip the toggle switch on the actuator to change the direction.

 

[berniedp]

Superb - thanks @Rancho Cost-a-Lotta - as soon as my relay arrives I am ready to hook it up.

And one other question, sorry, I'm a question machine today - in the box in which my Intermatic valve actuator came, there was a spring in the bag and I'm wondering what that's for, any ideas?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I don't remember a spring. Maybe @1poolman1 knows.

 

[1poolman1]

I don't remember a spring. Maybe @1poolman1 knows.

Never seen one in an actuator.

 

[berniedp]

This is what it looks like

 

[1poolman1]

This is what it looks like
View attachment 525432

Long forgotten memory. I have seen them, but not in a very long time, or at least haven't paid attention to them. Some actuators used them in a hole in the middle of the actuator portion that fits over the stem. If you have that hole, just put it into it before the actuator is fastened. It would, to me, just get in the way as I tightened the actuator down. I never removed one and never missed it if it wasn't there. Some valve stems have a hole that will match that spring and it will just fall into it. Not an issue.

 

[berniedp]

Hi all - thanks for all the help - was finally able to complete my project so now I can control my waterfall from my Home Assistant. I now have an automation set up to open the valve 3 times a day for 1 hour so I make sure the water in there circulates frequently.

How I added a Hayward solar pool control to HA via ESPhome

 

[MyAZPool]

@berniedp
Cool setup! Outstanding write-up over on the HA portal.
Thanks for sharing.
r.