Heater on/off question

Pool Equipment
1

Hi, all. I just replaced a 16-year-old Raypak NG heater with a newer, higher btu model.  Question: for operating the older unit, I would generally leave it on and rely on the pump (Pentair multi-speed/flow) to trigger the heater.  So, the heater would fire up when sensing the water flow, and stop when the pump stopped.  Of course, the heater would indicate the low pressure error when the pump powered down.

Now that I’ve invested in a new heater, I’m wondering if this approach to operating the heater is okay, or if it does any damage to keep triggering the pressure error.  I understand there are automation solutions I could look at, but I’m hoping that’s not the only way to get the heater to safely, automatically turn on/off in tandem with the pump.   My web searches trying to get answers to this question have produced nothing.  Thanks for your help.

2

Following up…I do now see that the manual mentions a fireman’s switch when operating the heater with a time clock (presumably, that also means when operating it with the Pentair pump with its own built-in scheduler).  Yet, there is a post on Inyo Pools that this isn’t neeeded…https://www.inyopools.com/Blog/psc-ep-72-need-fireman-switch-pool-heater/

So, does that mean I can just use my pump to do the cycling on/off and leave the heater on?

3

Although a fireman switch isn’t necessary for new Raypak heaters, we recommend putting the heater on a timer if possible. That way you wouldn’t be relying on the water pressure switch.

4

Ok, thanks.  So to clarify, I would turn the heater off with a timer, separate from the pump that has its own buit-in timer?  This way I could replicate the fireman’s switch by shutting the heater’s timer down prior to the pump.  Any concerns with cutting power to the heater with the timer?

5

Does your Pentair variable speed pump have an Aux terminal where you could connect the heater? If so, you wouldn’t need a separate timer.

There are no concerns with having the timer control the heater as long as it’s set to turn on/off at the same time as the pump.

6

Thanks very much.  My pump is a relatively new Pentair/Sta-rite Intellipro VSF.   ‘Fancy’ as that thing is, I can’t seem to find any indication it has the Aux terminal you describe.  I think I will just use a mechanical timer in the way you describe, as I happen to have one I’m not using anyway.  Thanks, again.

7

You’re welcome. Thank you for visiting INYOpools.com!