V-Green Fault Light Prevents Start

[xLunchboxx]

Tl;Dr - V-Green 165 red fault light prevents motor from starting.

We had a new V-Green 165 pump installed to replace an old one of the same model that stopped working after a storm knocked it out last fall. So it's only about 8 months old. It has been running fine ever since until this past weekend. We left for a long weekend trip and it was running fine. Came home on Sunday to find it not running. The panel buttons were completely unresponsive. When I flip off the timer switch or breaker and then turn it back on, the start button and Step 1 lights will light up green for a second, but then the red fault light will turn on and then all the lights will turn off and the buttons become unresponsive again. There is no sound from the motor and no attempt to turn on from what I can tell.

I called the guy who installed it for us and he came out to the a look. He said he needed to talk to V-Green technical support and has contacted them 3 times now with no response. I'm at a loss of what to do. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[mknauss]

@cowboycasey has your style pump. Let’s ask him!

 

[cowboycasey]

Welcome to TFP

There is a part that will let you see error codes.. I actually have it and it connects to the pump using the RS485 connection...

A.O. Smith V-Green 270 User Interface - 2520652-001 - INYOPools.com

V-Green 270 User Interface - 2520652-001

www.inyopools.com

Benefits of adding an optional V-Green 270 user interface with the V-Green 165 motor • Ability to conduct field troubleshooting (i.e., view FAULT codes and real time operating parameters). • Ability to set a pump running schedule based on a real clock setting (i.e., must input actual time which then determines pump start and stop times). • Ability to remotely mount the V-Green 270 user interface (provides easy access of user interface depending on pump location). • Ability to configure prime speed and prime duration. If power is connected to the V-Green 165 motor, pressing any of the following buttons referred to in section 2 could result in the motor starting. Failure to recognize this could result in personal injury or damage to equipment. v 5 • Ability to configure freeze protection temperature. • Ability to view actual speed and power of the V-Green 165 in real time. • Ability to adjust the V-Green 165 motor speed in 25 RPM increments (to fine tune flow for certain pool installations). • Battery backup to store time setting.

Do you have a surge protector on your panel that feeds the pump? These VS motor HATE and I mean HATE power fluctuations, lightning, and any other kinds of power anything...

I have 1 for my pump, 1 for the whole house, 1 for the air conditioner and a 12 plug surge protector on ever plug in my house... Welcome to OK where the lights go out once a week...

Amazon.com: Intermatic PS3000 Pool and Spa Surge Protective Device : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Amazon.com: Intermatic PS3000 Pool and Spa Surge Protective Device : Patio, Lawn & Garden

smile.amazon.com

With all this said I am not sure if this interface will tell you anything or if the motor is fried again... Did the same thing happen last time?


This is what is in the manual and there are not any fault codes, once you get a code you may have to call Century and ask what the code means...

 

[xLunchboxx]

Welcome to TFP

There is a part that will let you see error codes.. I actually have it and it connects to the pump using the RS485 connection...

A.O. Smith V-Green 270 User Interface - 2520652-001 - INYOPools.com

V-Green 270 User Interface - 2520652-001

www.inyopools.com

Do you have a surge protector on your panel that feeds the pump? These VS motor HATE and I mean HATE power fluctuations, lightning, and any other kinds of power anything...

I have 1 for my pump, 1 for the whole house, 1 for the air conditioner and a 12 plug surge protector on ever plug in my house... Welcome to OK where the lights go out once a week...

Amazon.com: Intermatic PS3000 Pool and Spa Surge Protective Device : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Amazon.com: Intermatic PS3000 Pool and Spa Surge Protective Device : Patio, Lawn & Garden

smile.amazon.com

With all this said I am not sure if this interface will tell you anything or if the motor is fried again... Did the same thing happen last time?


This is what is in the manual and there are not any fault codes, once you get a code you may have to call Century and ask what the code means...
View attachment 357695

View attachment 357696

Wow thank you, that's great info. I had thought about a power surge. I do live in the lightning capital of the country and the Duke power grid is notoriously unreliable. But nothing else seems to have been effected and I didn't get any notifications about a power outage. But if the pumps are very sensitive to that kind of thing, maybe even just a flicker got the pump and nothing else?

I have seen that interface you posted before. If just the controller is bad and I get that, can it replace the existing controller and run off of that?

 

[xLunchboxx]

Update: my pool guy finally got a hold of the company. They are just going to replace the whole thing under warranty. I will definitely take your advice on the surge protector though! Thank you so much!

 

[cowboycasey]

That part will allow you to run it without the part on the pump.. It takes over and the pump side no longer works when it is connected...

On a separate note I wish they had this whole house surge protector when I did mine cause I would have gotten it..

Amazon.com: Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole Home Surge Protector,Black: Home Improvement

Buy Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole Home Surge Protector, Black: Surge Protectors - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

smile.amazon.com

 

[xLunchboxx]

That part will allow you to run it without the part on the pump.. It takes over and the pump side no longer works when it is connected...

On a separate note I wish they had this whole house surge protector when I did mine cause I would have gotten it..

Amazon.com: Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole Home Surge Protector,Black: Home Improvement

Buy Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole Home Surge Protector, Black: Surge Protectors - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

smile.amazon.com

Thanks! Great recommendation, I think I will get that one. Are you saying that it would be beneficial to get both the whole house surge protector and the pool/spa surge protector? Or do you just need the whole house one?

Also, it turned out that the problem was that water somehow got into the pump enclosure, maybe through the electrical conduit. That's what happened last time as well so I'm hoping the guy I have installing the replacement will be able to figure out how that happened and fix it this time. Luckily, they replaced the pump under warranty, but I want to make sure this doesn't happen again in another 6 months. Can you fill the conduits with silicone caulk at the junction with the timer box to seal of water ingress from there on the box is possibly leaking?

 

[cowboycasey]

ahhh, it is a known issue.. you can fix it one of 2 ways

1. a dab of silicone over the bolt securing the cover as it leaks water.. where I circled on the picture, it has to cover the whole bolt and area...



2. The better way I think is to cover the motor as it will keep rain off the motor and protect it from the sun and heat.. It has worked perfect on my motors for 9 years now.. my 8 year old motor looked the same as when it was new...

Amazon.com: Horizon Industries Pump Cover Pool Pump Cover - Protects & Covers Pump Motor - Sprinkler - Well - Spa - Pool Pump Motor Cover 2PMC16: Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com: Horizon Industries Pump Cover Pool Pump Cover - Protects & Covers Pump Motor - Sprinkler - Well - Spa - Pool Pump Motor Cover 2PMC16: Garden & Outdoor

smile.amazon.com

If it were me and I did, I would do a surge protector for both the whole house and the pump.. it is one of those more is better things.. it is a whole lot of protection for not much money...