Valve settings for pool/spa mode

[Sidemoves]

Hey folks. New to the forum and new to owning a pool. Looking for advice on valve settings.

Just bought a home with a pool that has an iAquaLink set up. It has two valves with actuators that change setting depending on whether the app is set to “spa mode” or not (aka pool mode). Both actuators have a switch with 3 options: on 1/off/on 2. I accidentally flipped the switch on the actuator on the right side in the attached pic and don’t know what setting it was previously on. I am looking for advice as to what direction the “off” position on the two actuator valves should be pointed for “spa mode” and which direction the valves should be facing for “pool mode”. The valves with actuators I’m referring to are on the bottom of the pic.



Any advice is greatly appreciated. Want to make sure I don’t break the pool plumbing by doing something dumb.

Note: I tried to label the pipes by writing on them. Not sure if it’s accurate or not so please do not assume they are correct.




View attachment 440586

 

[ajw22]

The right side valve actuator is for the pool/spa suction. In the pic it is set in POOL mode and will pull water from the pool.

The left side valve actuator is for your return. Right now it sends water from the pool both to the pool returns and to the spa for your spillover.

Your Aqualink system has a SPILLOVER mode that you can enable with dip switch #3 to control when your spa spillover runs. Read Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

 

[Sidemoves]

The right side valve actuator is for the pool/spa suction. In the pic it is set in POOL mode and will pull water from the pool.

The left side valve actuator is for your return. Right now it sends water from the pool both to the pool returns and to the spa for your spillover.

Your Aqualink system has a SPILLOVER mode that you can enable with dip switch #3 to control when your spa spillover runs. Read Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

Thank you for the quick reply. So if the app is in pool mode, then the valves in the pic are in the correct setting? And if I select spa mode, they should be in the 180° opposite position?

 

[ajw22]

Tee right valve should rotate 180 degrees.

The left valve should rotate 90 degrees and shutoff the pool returns when in SPA mode.

Do you understand that the left valve in the pic has both the pool return and spa return open?

Look where it says OFF on the handle. Whichever pipe that label is in front of is what is OFF.

 

[Sidemoves]

I didn’t realize that the left valve has both returns open. Is that the correct setting?

Just to keep it simple, can you please tell me what setting each valve should be in for pool mode, and spa mode?

Appreciate your help and patience. I’m super new to this and don’t want to damage anything.

 

[ajw22]

We have to talk about spa spillover operation. There is no one correct way.

Confirm that when in POOL mode you have water flowing over your spa spillover?

 

[Sidemoves]

Yes, when in pool mode…the water spills over the wall from the spa into the pool.

 

[ajw22]

So most of us don't want the spa spillover running all the time. The aeration from the spillover causes the pH to rise faster requiring more frequent acid additions. The spillover causes evaporation of the water and can cause scale to form on the spillover tile.

On the other hand some folks put up with those problems since they like the sound and look of the spillover running.

The return valve can be adjusted to turn off the spillover when in POOL mode. Or the return valve can be adjusted to partially close the valve to reduce the water flow over the spillover.

If you turn off the spillover then you need to refresh the spa water once or twice a day to keep it fresh and chlorinated. To do that you enable SPILLOVER mode on your Aqualink and schedule it to run once or twice a day for 20 minutes or so.

Your Aqualink system has a SPILLOVER mode that you can enable with dip switch #3 to control when your spa spillover runs. Read Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

 

[Sidemoves]

Appreciate the heads up about the spillover. That was just the setting it was in when we moved in. I’d like to follow your lead and turn it off except for the 1-2x per day to refresh the water. However, I’m afraid I don’t know how to follow the instructions in the link you provided…seems like I have to physically wire it in the controller box. If that’s the case…I will have to likely hire someone to help. Unless you think it’s easy to do?

Until I can get that fixed. Can you please tell me if this is the correct settings for each mode…?

POOL mode:
Left actuator OFF facing south
Right actuator OFF facing east.

SPA mode:
Left actuator OFF facing west
Right actuator OFF facing west

 

[ajw22]

See if the picture below helps.

POOL mode:
Left actuator OFF facing south and water flows to both pool and spa returns.
Right actuator OFF facing east.


SPA mode:
Left actuator OFF facing west east
Right actuator OFF facing west

 

[Sidemoves]

See if the picture below helps.

POOL mode:
Left actuator OFF facing south and water flows to both pool and spa returns.
Right actuator OFF facing east.


SPA mode:
Left actuator OFF facing west east
Right actuator OFF facing west


View attachment 440601

Super helpful! Thank you!!