I want to upgrade my pool equipment and I need some advice! All the equipment works OK. The Chlorinator is new and the Jandy Filter keeps the water very clean (it is probably oversized for my 12000gal pool + spa). A full list of existing equipment
Hayward H250FDN
Hayward SP2810X15
Intermatic Control RC2163BFE
Jandy CS200
The property is a rental so I’m not looking for the Rolls Royce solution or to be able to link in the pool & spa lights
etc, but
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I want to change the single speed pump to variable speed (it is getting old and variable speed will save energy)
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I would like control over the heater (on/off & temp) so I can monitor if guests are altering the settings
If I was changing the lot I would probably go for a Jandy setup with the iAqualink, but I would prefer to change the pump and controller now and keep the heater until it finally dies on me (2 membrane PCBs have been replaced in the last 2 years so I’d like some use from them)
What pump would you recommend? - I’m less interested in the bells and whistles than reliability and costs. I used to like Pentair until I learned that if the $20 membrane keypad goes it needs a new $600 drive unit, plus my Pentair Intelibright LED pool light has failed in under 2 years and they are not honouring what I was told was a lifetime warranty! I’ve also seen Jacuzzi pumps, a good brand but they don’t seem popular in Florida so service and spares could be a problem.
Controller - If I went with a Jandy pump and iAqualink controller, could that interface to the heater now (on/off & temp control). Even if it isn’t perfect now, when I upgrade the heater later I could change to Jandy which would then work with the iAqualink.
Would another option be to go for a pump with smartphone control ? I don’t need the pump and heater integrated into a single app if that simplifies things.
Altenatively, have you heard of HeatReader - it is a pool controller designed to retrofit to any pool equipment, but it only has single speed control for a pump (which is crazy!) but it looks like it would provide a basic timer for a pool pump (I assume it could be programmed to power up the pump which would then run through a preprogramed sequence) and the heater controls. At $1K it isn’t cheap and I’m not sure the company behind it are big enough to last. If you have any knowledge of this or similar systems it would avoid being tied to one manufacturer.
Sorry for so many questions - It is a complex area!