Wiring help for SWG

[BoneDr210]

Hi everyone - I am brand new to owning a pool and have been learning a ton this site. I need help wiring my equipment correctly.

Here is what I have
- We live in the San Diego area
- 14,000 gallon pebbletec pool
- Intermatic T21004R control panel
- Pentair mastertemp 400 heater
- Calimar 1.5hp variable speed pump
- Breeze salt generating system
- Pentair pool light
- GFCI outlet on the side of the control panel
- Sta-rite System 3 - 300 filter
- Pentair pool solar heater panel (panels are leaking and need to be replaced; don't use currently)

Currently my Breeze SGS has the service light on (cell stops functioning) whenever the pool pump isn't running. The SWG and the pump look like they are wired so that the SWG turns off when the pump is off, but currently the SWG doesn't turn off when the pump isn't firing as there is always power going to the pump. I have the pump programmed using its own internal timers to run 16 hours/day (at different speeds) to reduce energy cost by not running during "peak hours". I guess I could have the pump on 24 hours/day. However, I still worry about the current set up as a safety issue. I have read, having the SWG on while the pump is not working, its a no-no - could turn the salt cell into a chlorine gas bomb. I don't want to rely on the safety net of the service light coming on and stopping the SWG when it detects no flow. The intermatic timer is currently left on the "manual on" position.

One solution I read on the forum was to wire the pump directly to the circuit breaker and SWG to the intermatic timer and syncing the intermatic and the pump's internal timer up so they go on around the same time.

Could someone help me figure out how best to wire my equipment? I feel comfortable doing the wiring and following a diagram but don't have the knowledge to create the said diagram. I have attached a couple pictures of my control panel.

Another question - I only have 2 "on" legs for the timer. Are the "on" and "off" legs different? Or could I use the one of the "on" legs in the "off" position?

Thank you!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

You have three devices powered through the timer connection.

Two devices are connected to the switched load screws 2 & 4.

One device is always powered and connected to screws 1 & 3 with the power feed wires.

I can assume the two switched devices are the pump and SWG. And the always powered device is the heater but you need to confirm that.

You need to move the pump wires from screws 2 & 4 to 1 & 3.

However you should not have more then two wires under one screw and 1 & 3 already has two wires.

So you need to use a wire nut or Wago to create a pig tail connecting the other device on 1 & 3 and pump wire to have one other wire on those screws.

 

[ajw22]

Another question - I only have 2 "on" legs for the timer. Are the "on" and "off" legs different? Or could I use the one of the "on" legs in the "off" position?

I do not understand your question.

You have a 240v circuit that has two hot legs that the timer switch’s together.

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.

Another question - I only have 2 "on" legs for the timer. Are the "on" and "off" legs different? Or could I use the one of the "on" legs in the "off" position?

Yes the ON tripper is different from the OFF tripper. You can go on Amazon and search timer trippers to buy a pack. If you run 24 hours then a tripper is not needed.

 

[BoneDr210]

I do not understand your question.

You have a 240v circuit that has two hot legs that the timer switch’s together.

Apologies. @HermanTX (thanks!) confirmed what I was asking. The on and off trippers are different. What I was trying to say is that I have 2 “on” trippers. Just found them in the bottom of the panel. I’ll get a new set of trippers.

 

[BoneDr210]

Welcome to TFP.

You have three devices powered through the timer connection.

Two devices are connected to the switched load screws 2 & 4.

One device is always powered and connected to screws 1 & 3 with the power feed wires.

I can assume the two switched devices are the pump and SWG. And the always powered device is the heater but you need to confirm that.

You need to move the pump wires from screws 2 & 4 to 1 & 3.

However you should not have more then two wires under one screw and 1 & 3 already has two wires.

So you need to use a wire nut or Wago to create a pig tail connecting the other device on 1 & 3 and pump wire to have one other wire on those screws.

This is exactly what I needed to know! Thank you.

To confirm, it’s OK to have 2 wires under each screw. You’re just suggesting to use a wire nut/wago to pig tail the wire to screws 1&3 for future so there is room for one more there?

Also, if I set it up according to your recommendation, then the heater will also only see power during the times between on/off trippers. And out of that window, I would use the manual on lever to turn the heater on? I probably will never use the heater anyway especially since I’ll be replacing the solar pool panels soon… so doesn’t really matter much to me.

 

[ajw22]

To confirm, it’s OK to have 2 wires under each screw. You’re just suggesting to use a wire nut/wago to pig tail the wire to screws 1&3 for future so there is room for one more there?

No.

I would put the wire from the CB and the pigtail wire under screws 1 & 3.

Your pump is a high current device and the power from the CB should go directly to the screw and not through the pigtail.

Also, if I set it up according to your recommendation, then the heater will also only see power during the times between on/off trippers. And out of that window, I would use the manual on lever to turn the heater on? I probably will never use the heater anyway especially since I’ll be replacing the solar pool panels soon… so doesn’t really matter much to me.

You have not confirmed which device is currently connected to 1 & 3.

Whichever device it is, that is pigtailed with the pump wire to connect to 1 & 3.

If you never run your MasterTemp heater it will rot away. You should fire it up weekly for a few minutes to burn away condensation and keep rodents from nesting in it.

 

[BoneDr210]

You have not confirmed which device is currently connected to 1 & 3.

Here’s what I have:
1: from CB (red), to pool solar panel (black; currently turned off at its panel), white to timer
2: to pump (red), to SWG (red)
3: from CB (red), to pool solar panel (black, currently turned off at its panel), white to timer
4: to pump (black), to SWG (red)

Heater is connected directly to another CB with 2 black wires

What size wire should I get for the pigtail?

If you never run your MasterTemp heater it will rot away. You should fire it up weekly for a few minutes to burn away condensation and keep rodents from nesting in it.

Thanks - didn’t realize this. I’ll start doing this.

 

[ajw22]

Here’s what I have:
1: from CB (red), to pool solar panel (black; currently turned off at its panel), white to timer
2: to pump (red), to SWG (red)
3: from CB (red), to pool solar panel (black, currently turned off at its panel), white to timer
4: to pump (black), to SWG (red)

Heater is connected directly to another CB with 2 black wires

I cannot follow that.

I marked each wire with a color. Tell me what it connects to.

What size wire should I get for the pigtail?

12 gauge solid copper THWN wire.

 

[BoneDr210]

I marked each wire with a color. Tell me what it connects to.

Yellow - CB
Green - pool solar water heater
Blue - pump
White - SWG
Pink - pool solar water heater
Orange - CB
Red - SWG
Black - pump

MasterTemp is connected directly to another CB. No wires from that CB or the master temp heater go to the timer screws.

Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to help!

 

[ajw22]

Remove blue wire and pigtail it together with green wire and attach the pigtail to where green wire was.

Do the same with pink and black wires.

What is a "pool water solar heater" device that needs power? That seems like an oxymoron as a solar heater is passive solar panels that you pump water through.

 

[BoneDr210]

What is a "pool water solar heater" device that needs power? That seems like an oxymoron as a solar heater is passive solar panels that you pump water through.

I am probably butchering the name for what it’s called. It’s this guy. My understanding is that it controls when the water goes to the solar panels and when it doesn’t.

Remove blue wire and pigtail it together with green wire and attach the pigtail to where green wire was.

Do the same with pink and black wires.

Got it. “Always on” devices will be on 1&3. Switched/times devices on 2&4

 

[ajw22]

I am probably butchering the name for what it’s called. It’s this guy. My understanding is that it controls when the water goes to the solar panels and when it doesn’t.

That is your Pentair Solar Panel Controller since you do not have a full automation panel.

 

[BoneDr210]

That is your Pentair Solar Panel Controller since you do not have a full automation panel.

At some point I’d like to get that. But just trying to learn and fine tune what I have now.

If I wanted to get an automation panel, say the pentair one for discussion, would it work with the potpourri of devices I have or do I need to switch to all pentair products?

 

[ajw22]

If I wanted to get an automation panel, say the pentair one for discussion, would it work with the potpourri of devices I have or do I need to switch to all pentair products?

The devices would work about as well as they work now. Once you have the panel then over time as you replace the pump and SWG when they fail you can get devices that communicate with the panel and give you more capabilities. You have to start somewhere if you want to get to the results.

 

[BoneDr210]

The devices would work about as well as they work now. Once you have the panel then over time as you replace the pump and SWG when they fail you can get devices that communicate with the panel and give you more capabilities. You have to start somewhere if you want to get to the results.

Any particular recommendations for a Pentair automation panel that would work well with my devices? I don’t plan on adding anything further.

 

[ajw22]

With your solar control needs you need the IntelliCenter Lite I5P system.

IntelliCenter® Pool Control System

The IntelliCenter Pool Automation system works with the Pentair Pool app to put total pool control right in the palm of your hand.

www.pentair.com

Pentair IntelliCenter Lite i5P Pool Only

 

[BoneDr210]

Remove blue wire and pigtail it together with green wire and attach the pigtail to where green wire was.

Do the same with pink and black wires.

What is a "pool water solar heater" device that needs power? That seems like an oxymoron as a solar heater is passive solar panels that you pump water through.

Made the changes this weekend. Everything works perfectly!

Thanks again for your help